• Four burning questions ahead of the finals
• Nine things we learned from round 23
• Around the state leagues: how your seconds performed
• The injury list: Your club's sidelined players

Adelaide

All Australian defender Brodie Smith is highly likely to take on the Western Bulldogs in Saturday night's elimination final, despite starting the week in a moonboot. Smith was subbed out of last Saturday's loss to Geelong after rolling his ankle, but coach Scott Camporeale insists it's nothing to worry about. Adelaide was pummeled by the Bulldogs in round four but has improved vastly since and will field a side on Saturday missing up to five players from that 57-point loss. Matthew Jaensch is injured, while David Mackay, Matt Wright, Cam Ellis-Yolmen and Jake Kelly will all struggle to break into the side this week. With the Crows missing the SANFL finals, the club's players can't push for a senior spot through on-field form, instead training hard to maintain match fitness. - Harry Thring

Fremantle

The Dockers could have up to 14 players come back into the team this week. All the senior players that were rested last week will come straight back in. The queries surround those with injury clouds. Nat Fyfe needs to complete the week of training to be passed fit to play while Hayden Ballantyne is set to be available for his first game since his pec injury in round 16, but Ross Lyon has not guaranteed his selection. Michael Walters (calf soreness), Zac Dawson (groin soreness) and Cam Sutcliffe (shoulder) are all fine to play this week but Jon Griffin has been ruled out with a hamstring injury. The weather might dictate the Dockers' selections. Jack Hannath and Zac Clarke both played last week and one could keep his spot. Matt Taberner played up forward and kicked two goals but he had been out of favour in the previous five weeks. - Alex Malcolm

Hawthorn

Whether to risk Isaac Smith and how to combat Nic Naitanui loom as the key decisions for the Hawks' match committee. Alastair Clarkson said on Monday that Smith was more "unlikely that likely" after damaging his medial ligament against Carlton, but the Hawks will give the pacy wingman every chance to take his spot against West Coast. Ready-made replacement Billy Hartung starred with 30 touches in the VFL and is almost certain to win a recall on the expanses of Domain Stadium. The Hawks rested David Hale for the trip to Perth in round 19 and Jonathon Ceglar performed well – albeit with no Naitanui or Callum Sinclair in the Eagles' side. This time Ceglar's athleticism could see him preferred to incumbent Ben McEvoy. There's also the small matter of skipper Luke Hodge (suspension), Cyril Rioli (illness) and Luke Breust (rested) returning to the near full-strength side, while swingman Ryan Schoenmakers and backman Matt Spangher are ready to go if Clarkson wants more height against the Eagles. - Travis King

Cyril Rioli should be back to boost the Hawks for their huge clash against the Eagles. Picture: AFL Media




North Melbourne

The Roos will get an injection of fresh legs on Sunday with all nine of the players rested against Richmond – Shaun Higgins, Nick Dal Santo, Todd Goldstein, Jarrad Waite, Andrew Swallow, Scott Thompson, Michael Firrito, Ben Cunnington and Sam Wright – likely to return. Of the nine replacement players North brought in against the Tigers, only Kayne Turner seems a strong chance to retain his spot, but the small forward will have to prove he has recovered from the heavy head knock that saw him stretchered from the field late in last Friday night's game. Coach Brad Scott suggested on Tuesday that the Roos could pull a selection surprise and name star midfielder Daniel Wells for his first senior game since round two. Wells will have to prove he's recovered from the minor calf strain that sidelined him last weekend, and that his three recent games in the VFL have him sufficiently match fit. We expect North's match committee will keep the 30-year-old in cotton wool for at least another week. Lindsay Thomas (foot) remains in some doubt after missing the last two rounds of the home and away season, but North is confident he'll be fit to take on the Tigers. - Nick Bowen

Could the Roos spring a huge selection surprise and pick Daniel Wells? Picture: AFL Media



Richmond

It's unlikely the Tigers will make huge changes to their team this week unless forced to, but there are no players under major injury clouds. Reece Conca remains a chance, but coaching staff will have to take into account he's played just two games since round 17, and those were his only AFL hit-outs for the season, because of a hamstring injury. Tall option Ben Griffiths is in a similar boat. The forward had surgery to repair a finger tendon in late July and hasn't played since round 17. He's more likely to be considered later in the finals and will train this week, but appears unlikely with Ty Vickery putting in some good performances recently. Matt Thomas, fresh from his equal second place in the VFL's best and fairest on Monday night, is there if they need a midfield replacement after filling in for Trent Cotchin in round 22, while Steve Morris remains a possibility, but has been in and out of favour since round 16. - Jennifer Phelan

Sydney Swans

The Swans have been rocked by the withdrawal of Lance Franklin with an 'ongoing mental health condition', and with co-captain Kieren Jack (knee) joining star Luke Parker in the rehab room, the return of fellow co-skipper Jarrad McVeigh (calf) couldn't have come at a better time for coach John Longmire. Small defender Nick Smith (hamstring), who missed the final match of the regular season, will also miss the qualifying final. After a string a soft tissue injuries this year, Ben McGlynn has now played two games in the NEAFL after retuning from his latest hamstring strain and is another in the mix this week. McGlynn had 19 possessions and laid 10 tackles in the Swans' reserves loss last week that ended their season, which isn't ideal for the club's senior side. Craig Bird had 26 touches and 10 clearances in the NEAFL so he's another player Longmire might look at, with the midfielder a possible option to mind star Docker Nat Fyfe – if he plays. But, Bird has only played one game since round five and tore a calf in the opening minutes of round 16 against Hawthorn. South Australian teenager George Hewett continued his strong form in the NEAFL with another 30-possession effort, and while highly unlikely, he could make a shock debut if picked against Freo. The Swans will keep an eye on Gary Rohan (knee) at training during the week but he should be right to play the first final. - Adam Curley

West Coast

The Eagles are likely to make only a couple of changes from last week's side. Chris Masten is almost certain to miss despite a scan revealing his hamstring injury was only minor. Adam Simpson said he is touch and go to play, but more than likely to miss given it's a six-day break. Will Schofield appears set to return from a hamstring injury that has kept him out since round 20, but he will replace a defender. Scott Selwood, Kane Lucas and Patrick McGinnity are the likely candidates to replace Masten. McGinnity did not play last weekend. Selwood gathered 24 touches and kicked two goals in the WAFL, while Lucas gathered 30 touches and also kicked two. But the WAFL final was on Sunday, which gives those two players only five days to recover. Simpson said both had their minutes managed in that game to ensure they could be available to play on Friday night. - Alex Malcolm 

Western Bulldogs

The Bulldogs have received two big blows ahead of Saturday night's elimination final against Adelaide, with Jordan Roughead (finger) and Jason Johannisen (calf) expected to miss. In better news, in-form veterans Robert Murphy, Matthew Boyd and Dale Morris are near certainties to play after all three missed the weekend's loss to the Brisbane Lions with general soreness. Tom Boyd (groin) and Tom Campbell (illness) will also be available to face the Crows and could be drafted in to help curtail the influence of Sam Jacobs. Will Minson, an obvious match-up for Jacobs, is also in the frame to play his first senior game since round 15.  Lin Jong was Footscray's best in the weekend's qualifying final loss to Box Hill and the explosive midfielder could be recalled to help contain gun Crow Patrick Dangerfield. Lightly built wingman Bailey Dale continued his great state league form and is another young pup pushing his case. Veterans Brett Goodes and Jarrad Grant had limited impact against the Lions and will struggle to hold their spots while impressive draftees Zaine Cordy and Lukas Webb are likely to make way for the Dogs' returning stars. - Ryan Davidson

Does big Will Minson return for the Dogs? He's half a chance. Picture: AFL Media