Live coverage of the naming of AFL teams for the third week of the finals.
Welcome to Real Footy's live coverage of the naming of teams for the 2014 AFL preliminary finals.
We're down to the final four sides, but in essence there is just one story on everyone's minds - Cyril Rioli - and his quest to return for the penultimate weekend of the season.
We will soon find out just whether the vibrant Hawk forward has been named to face Port Adelaide at the MCG.
Jesse Hogan says Rioli is still a selection puzzle for the Hawks.
However as Liam Mannix reports, Lachie Hansen and Leigh Adams have both been ruled out at North Melbourne for their trip to face the Swans in Sydney tomorrow night.
Nick Malceski will take his place though for the Swans.
Jamie McMillan is another Roo who won't play, but Joel Tippett could be back to play his first game since round ten, with North needing to combat Sydney's army of talls, including Tippett's brother Kurt.
BREAKING: Cyril Rioli will play in the VFL for Box Hill on Sunday in the Grand Final, provided that Hawthorn wins on Saturday.
Footscray finally gets shot at a flag and up bobs Cyril! — Mark Stevens (@Stevo7AFL) September 18, 2014
Hawthorn football manager Chris Fagan on Rioli:
“He certainly would feel more comfortable playing in the AFL team if we’re able to get through to the Grand Final if he had a hit out first and got some real confidence in his hamstring,” Fagan said on the Hawks' website.
Cyril could theoretically 'do a Jonathan Simpkin' and win two flags in a week.
Hawthorn
In: Suckling
Out: Sewell (Omitted)
North Melbourne
In: Jacobs
Out: Macmillan (hamstring)
Port Adelaide
No change
Sydney
No change
Emergencies
Sydney: Laidler, Mitchell, Towers
North Melbourne: Currie, Tippett, Mullett
Hawthorn: Hartung, McEvoy, Sewell
Port Adelaide: Impey, Mitchell, Newton
Hawk veteran Brad Sewell has been dropped, a fortnight after playing his 200th game in the victory over Geelong.
Joel Tippett remains a chance to play. He is flying to Sydney with the side as an emergency.
The VFL Grand Final is this Sunday at Etihad Stadium. Hawthorn's affiliate Box Hill take on Footscray. The game begins at 2:15pm, and will be broadcast on the ABC live.
Box Hill's VFL team on Sunday will include four players with AFL Grand Final experience: Sewell, Rioli, Ben McEvoy and Ryan Schoenmakers.
NOW | Grant Birchall on Brad Sewell missing out: "Yeah it was a surprise. Sewelly has a pretty good record in finals. These things happen." — 3AW Football (@3AWisfootball) September 18, 2014
Thanks for joining us this evening for the live blog. Plenty more news to come soon as always on Real Footy.