Geelong v Brisbane Preview, MCG

In a rematch of the 2022 Preliminary Final, Geelong and Brisbane will lock horns again for a place in the AFL Grand Final when they take the field at the MCG on Saturday evening. The Cats secured their place in the season’s penultimate weekend with a comprehensive 84-point win over Port Adelaide on the road. At the same time, the Lions returned from 44 points down to defeat GWS at Engie Stadium in one of the biggest finals comebacks in competition history. While Brisbane went to war, Geelong sat back and watched and should welcome back star utility Tom Stewart (illness/hamstring) in a significant boost heading into this weekend’s clash. Chris Scott must decide over veteran duo Tom Hawkins and Cameron Guthrie, who pressed their claims in the VFL a week ago. At the same time, out-of-favour tall Sam De Koning will again be considered, especially given his recent performances on Lions star Joe Daniher – keeping him to one goal in 237 minutes played on him over the last three years.

Conversely, the Lions will look to ride the momentum from last weekend’s win into a second straight Grand Final appearance. They should have reigning Brownlow Medallist Lachie Neale at their disposal after he was spotted in a moon boot after the game, but the star midfielder downplayed those concerns on SEN, stating they have been managing a sore foot/heel over the last eight weeks. Geelong won the solitary meeting between the two teams earlier this year at the Gabba, returning 26-point victors in the wet. However, they have split their two finals meetings (since the Fitzroy/Brisbane merger), with the Cats winning the most recent meeting two years ago. The Lions’ win over Geelong in the 2004 Preliminary Final was their last victory against the Cats in Victoria, and they have only won two of their previous 18 matches at the MCG.

TIP: Geelong by 20 points, Jeremy Cameron to kick multiple goals