by Johnson Leung reporting for AFANA in Melbourne
Geelong and Port Adelaide have each made one change to their respective teams for Saturday's AFL Grand Final. The Cats recalled former skipper Steven King at the expense of youngster Mark Blake, While Port picked defender Brad Symes to replace injured veteran Michael Wilson.
28-year-old King has only played five senior matches for Geelong in 2007, but pushed his case for a recall with an important role in last Sunday's VFL grand final win over Coburg. King will provide back-up for the Cats' No.1 ruckman Brad Ottens against formidable Port pairing Brendon Lade and Dean Brogan. 21-year-old Blake, who was named as an emergency, has played 22 matches this year but struggled in the Cats' preliminary final victory over Collingwood.
The change to the Power side was forced after the courageous Wilson ruptured an Achilles tendon during the preliminary win against North Melbourne. Symes, 22, has played only six games this season (most recently in Round 12), but has since been performing well at SANFL level. The GF will be his 20th AFL match.
Port forward Brett Ebert, who is battling a bruised knee he suffered three weeks ago, missed his club's main training session on Wednesday, but will play in the premiership decider.
The announced line-up:
GEELONG
B: Tom Harley, Matthew Scarlett, Josh Hunt
HB: Andrew Mackie, Darren Milburn, David Wojcinski
C: Joel Corey, Jimmy Bartel, Corey Enright
HF: Steve Johnson, Cameron Mooney, Joel Selwood
F: Paul Chapman, Nathan Ablett, Mathew Stokes
FOLL: Brad Ottens, Cameron Ling, Gary Ablett Jr.
Interchange: Steven King, Shannon Byrnes, James Kelly, Max Rooke
Emergencies: Travis Varcoe, Brent Prismall, Charlie Gardiner
In: King
Out: Blake
PORT ADELAIDE
B: Michael Pettigrew, Toby Thurstans, Jacob Surjan
HB: Domenic Cassisi, Troy Chaplin, Peter Burgoyne
C: Steven Salopek, Kane Cornes, David Rodan
HF: Daniel Motlop, Warren Tredrea, Danyle Pearce
F: Brendon Lade, Justin Westhoff, Brett Ebert
FOLL: Dean Brogan, Chad Cornes, Shaun Burgoyne
Interchange: Travis Boak, Brad Symes, Tom Logan, Darryl Wakelin
Emergencies: Alipate Carlile, Greg Bentley, Nathan Lonie
In: Symes
Out: Wilson (Achilles)
Sources: Herald Sun, afl.com.au
Article last changed on Thursday, September 27, 2007 - 8:05 AM EDT
