Stick with the formula

Magpies and Eagles name unchanged line-ups

COLLINGWOOD and West Coast have backed in winning sides by naming unchanged line-ups for the AFL grand final, dismissing injury concerns over key defenders.

West Coast defensive linchpin Jeremy McGovern has been named at centre halfback despite a nasty corked hip in their defeat of Melbourne.

And Jeremy Howe showcased his fitness for the biggest occasion in Aussie rules by training yesterday to take his place in Collingwood’s 22.

Howe tweaked his ankle during the Magpies’ preliminary final win over Richmond but took part in match simulation yesterday after failing to train earlier in the week.

“Howie looked fine. He’s done a fair bit and I reckon he’d be rapt with how he’s come up,” Collingwood assistant coach Robert Harvey said.

“He was a bit concerned after the game but he goes in really strong and 100 per cent fit.”

Fellow key defender Darcy Moore loomed as Howe’s likely replacement for tomorrow’s decider.

But Moore hasn’t even been named on Collingwood’s emergency list, sparing the out-of-contract 22-year-old the awkwardness of a place in the grand final parade.

Collingwood flag winners Ben Reid and Jarryd Blair have been named as emergencies, along with Flynn Appleby and Callum Brown. Appleby has replaced defender Jack Madgen.

Luke Shuey assuaged doubts on his ankle injury to take his place in the West Coast midfield.

It’s less than 100 per cent clear that McGovern will play given his discomfort shown last Saturday.

The three-time AFL AllAustralian was rested for most of the last quarter in the Eagles’ preliminary final blitz of Melbourne on Saturday.

McGovern didn’t train on Monday and didn’t join the main group on Wednesday.

Rumours the 26-year-old had broken ribs circulated but the Eagles have denied those claims, with assistant coach Jaymie Graham saying their star backman had bruised his hip.

It is just the second time since WWII that both AFL grand finalists have gone in unchanged – after Richmond and Adelaide last season.

Collingwood half-forward Will Hoskin-Elliott will play his 100th game in the showpiece match, while midfielder Tom Phillips will lace up for his 50th.

West Coast’s unchanged side also extends to their emergencies, with Oscar Allen, Jackson Nelson, Brayden Ainsworth and Brendon Ah Chee retaining the four positions.