Cyril Rioli will play in Saturday’s AFL grand final, with Hawthorn also recalling burly ruckman Ben McEvoy.
The Hawks made two changes to the side that pipped Port Adelaide in last Saturday’s preliminary final.
Rioli and McEvoy are back for Jonathon Ceglar and Jonathan Simpkin.
Sydney name an unchanged side, coach John Longmire happy to rely on the same 22 players that delivered victory in week one and three of the finals.
Rioli has not played an AFL clash since round 15 due to a serious hamstring injury.
He returned in last Sunday’s VFL grand final, sitting out the final quarter.
“He looked really good and I suppose if the coaches had any doubt they probably have a bigger headache now,” Hawks midfield Jordan Lewis said of Rioli after Thursday’s one-hour training session at Waverley Park.
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“He trained really well.”
McEvoy, the club’s prized off-season recruit, has not played in the AFL since round 21 due to the form of Ceglar.
McEvoy knows the devastation Ceglar would be feeling well, having been dropped by St Kilda coach Ross Lyon for the 2010 grand final.
By the numbers:
Hawthorn v Sydney at MCG 2.30pm Saturday
Head to Head: Hawks 87 Swans 68 drawn 2
Head to head in finals: Hawks 4 Swans 2
Head to head in grand finals: Hawks 0 Swans 1
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Last clash: Round 18 2014 – Hawks 15.14 (104) bt Swans 13.16 (94) at MCG
Last final: Qualifying Final 2013 – Hawks 15.15 (105) bt Swans 7.9 (51) at MCG
Tab Sportsbet: Hawks $2.45 Swans $1.58
Sportingbet: Hawks $2.40 Swans $1.60
The reigning premiers face the minor premiers. The AFL’s best attack up against the league’s best defence. This is a grand final that threatens to be a classic. These two sides have been the best all year – both banking 17 wins in the regular season. Hawthorn dismissed Geelong in week one of the finals then hung on by three points in last Saturday’s preliminary final against Port Adelaide. Sydney outgunned Fremantle in their qualifying final, then crushed North Melbourne after earning the week off. A rematch of the 2012 grand final, this game is brimming with subplots. One year after winning his second premiership medal with Hawthorn, Lance Franklin faces his old side. Franklin’s teammate Adam Goodes could potentially be playing his final match, while Hawthorn superstar Cyril Rioli is back after three months on the sidelines.
Key: Buddy. The Swans are not such a one-dimensional side that stopping Franklin will mean a Hawthorn victory. But it will certainly put the Hawks on the path to go back to back. Josh Gibson is likely to man his good mate, but Brian Lake and Ben Stratton are also likely to spend time on Franklin. Hawks coach Alastair Clarkson will aim to limit Franklin’s space to lead into. Astute captain Luke Hodge is set to play a big role in that, but recalled ruckman Ben McEvoy could also be asked to rush back regularly and help crash packs. Ultimately the midfield tussle and quality of the service to Franklin, Kurt Tippett, Goodes and Sam Reid will decide if the Swans kick a winning score.
Tip: Swans by 9 points
On the MCG
10.30am Curtain Raiser – Australian U17s v Allies U18s
1.30pm Retiring Players Motorcade – Luke Ball, Simon Black, Campbell Brown, Jonathan Brown, Domenic Cassisi, Dean Cox, Daniel Giansiracusa, Darren Glass, Brent Guerra, Lenny Hayes, Josh Hunt, Darren Jolly, Quinten Lynch, Ash McGrath, Nick Maxwell, Ben Rutten, Heath Scotland.
1.36pm Tom Jones & Ed Sheeran
2.02pm Mike Brady
2.12pm Umpires enter arena
2.14pm Hawthorn enters arena
2.17pm Sydney Swans enter arena
2.25pm Premiership Cup Arrival
2.26pm National Anthem
2.28pm Two Sirens – Toss of Coin
2.30pm 2014 Toyota AFL Grand Final Commences
3.40pm Half-time (25 minutes) – Auskick and Grand Final Sprint
5.20pm Post match presentation / team photo
*In the event of a drawn game, the match is replayed the following Saturday.
