AFL team news: Who's in for the elimination final?
IN FOR Friday night finals football.
Carlton has named its starting team of 22 for its elimination final against Sydney, recalling three names.
Captain Patrick Cripps is back after missing Round 24 with soreness, ready to lead his team into battle for his first final since arriving at IKON Park 10 years ago.
He’s joined by long-time teammate and great mate Sam Docherty as an inclusion, with the Blues veteran - who arrived at his boyhood club a month before Cripps in 2013 - will also be back in action for the elimination final.
The final inclusion comes in the form of Marc Pittonet, which was confirmed by Michael Voss in his press conference on Thursday morning: the change will see the Blues return to their two-ruck model, with Harry McKay playing exclusively up forward alongside fellow Coleman Medallist Charlie Curnow.
Pittonet will be playing his 50th Carlton game, as will dynamic forward Jack Martin.
After starting his own 50th game in Navy Blue as substitute a fortnight ago, Caleb Marchbank has been elevated into the starting side.
Coming out of the side are the omitted Paddy Dow, Corey Durdin, Zac Fisher and Ollie Hollands. One of Dow, Fisher, Hollands and Jesse Motlop will be named as sub an hour before the bounce.
Blake Acres has been selected to play after Voss stated the in-form wingman passed his fitness test “with flying colours”. He is one of five Carlton players heading into tomorrow night with finals experience, after arguably being Fremantle’s best performer in September action last year before his move to the Blues.
It will be the first time the Blues have a full midfield complement of Acres, Adam Cerra, Cripps, Docherty, George Hewett and Sam Walsh since the win over Port Adelaide back in Round 18.
Friday’s bounce takes place at 7:50pm AEST.
Elimination final team v Sydney
Backs:
Brodie Kemp
Jacob Weitering
Nic Newman
Half-backs:
Alex Cincotta
Mitch McGovern
Adam Saad
Centreline:
Blake Acres
Patrick Cripps
Sam Docherty
Half-forwards:
Jack Martin
Harry McKay
David Cuningham
Forwards:
Lachie Fogarty
Charlie Curnow
Matthew Owies
Followers:
Marc Pittonet
Adam Cerra
Sam Walsh
Interchange:
Matthew Cottrell
Tom De Koning
George Hewett
Caleb Marchbank
Emergencies:
Paddy Dow
Zac Fisher
Ollie Hollands
Jesse Motlop
In: Patrick Cripps, Sam Docherty, Marc Pittonet
Out: Paddy Dow, Corey Durdin, Zac Fisher, Ollie Hollands
After starting the last game as sub, Caleb Marchbank has been elevated into the starting 22.