Collingwood coach Craig McRae has acknowledged the increased temperature forecasted for the grand final played a part in the Magpies' decision to swap Jack Ginnivan and Patrick Lipinski at selection.
Lipinski, who had started the Magpies' previous two finals win on the field, was revealed as the tactical sub ahead of Thursday night's selection, with Ginnivan named as the man to take his place in the confirmed 22 after serving as the sub so far this September.
The switch followed the injury to Collingwood forward Dan McStay in last week's preliminary final win over GWS, with a knee setback opening up a spot in McRae's plans for Billy Frampton.
The absence of McStay has also led to Ginnivan's inclusion, with McRae looking to add "a little bit more potency up forward" against the Lions.
The senior coaches and captain from both grand finalists addressed media on Friday at Yarra Park, with McRae accompanied by skipper Darcy Moore as their Lions counterparts in Chris Fagan and Lachie Neale also offer some insight into the build-up of Saturday's decider.
The Collingwood coach said Saturday's forecasted high temperature of 28ยฐC was also a factor in the selection committee's decision to swap Ginnivan for Lipinski.
"We just think Jack will give us a bit of a spark," McRae said.
"He's a big game player, he's proven that Anzac Day - he kicked multiple goals this year and last year.
"We wanted to get a little bit more potency up forward. With Dan out,ย we think Jack can play that role for us.
"[The weather's impact on the change] was to some degree [a factor]. We thought Jack can influence the scoreboard."
Fagan believed the warmer weather is likely to play into the Lions' hands given they'll be more acclimatised to the sunny surroundings and gruelling conditions.
"It sits around 24ยฐC to 30ยฐC most days of the year (in Brisbane), so we are accustomed to the warmer weather," the Lions coach said.
"We tend to play at night so it's not that hot, we're not used to the Sun beaming down on us. But in terms of adapting to conditions, I think it's favourable to us that we can train in that sort of weather more often than not."
Brisbane, who were met with an unwelcoming response when they stepped onto the stage at the Grand Final Parade in front of a Collingwood-strong crowd, will enter the season decider unfavoured to claim a victory.
While the Lions got the better of the minor premiers on both occasions during the home and away season this year, the Queenslanders haven't met the Magpies at the MCG since 2017.
With an unwanted recent record at the venue hanging over the Lions ahead of the grand final, Fagan said the "underdog" mentality could still work in his side's favour.
"We've never really talked about [being underdogs]. We've been more talking about our own stories this week and why we want to achieve our own victory tomorrow," he said.
"But there's no doubt we come into this game as the underdogs, and that's okay. In some ways it's easier than being the favourites I think.
"... I don't think we've played each other at the MCG yet. I think that might have happened in my first year.
"I think it's a different matter, they play there on a regular basis. Our record has been talked about a lot there. Despite that, though, I feel like in more recent times we've really improved our performances at the ground.
"We won a final there last year. And it's a grand final, I don't think you can where you're playing on grand final day. So we'll be giving it our best shot."
McRae paid warranted credit to his opposing coach ahead of the last game of 2023, with the Magpies' mentor well aware of the threat the Lions pose across all three lines of the field.
The Collingwood coach said it could be Lions co-captain Harris Andrews who has the biggest influence on Saturday's result, stressing his side must be smart with their ball movement inside 50 to prevent the Brisbane backman from stamping his authority on the contest.
McRae noted Andrews and his own captain in Moore will be "influential" and "integral" to their respective sides.
"I think everybody in the competition knows what his capability is," McRae said of the Lions skipper.
"He's an incredible intercept marker, not too dissimilar to the guy next to me. They're just so influential in the air and integral in their team defence.
"So I think the major part of taking care of guys like him is the way we move the ball. If you move the ball a certain way he's just gonna mark most things that come his way.
"So as much as we'd like to get that ball to ground, some of our ball movement will certainly suit or assist that."
Moore has led the Magpies to their strongest season in over a decade, with the Collingwood captain not necessarily wanting the season to come to an end.
The dual All-Australian spoke on his love for an "amazing group" and the "enormous journey" they've taken in 2023.
"It's the other part of tomorrow. Yes, it's a massive game, it's a grand final, but it's the end of our season,"
"It's been an enormous journey. There's been so many ups and downs. As a team, you definitely absorb all of those experiences, both the good parts and the parts where you have to really work through.
"So in many ways tomorrow is a full stop on a really incredibly rewarding and rich season for us where we've learned a lot about ourselves as a team.
"A lot of the time there's been some great results and some real highs and some fantastic wins, and other periods where we had to work through parts of our game.
"So in a way, it's a little bit sad that this season comes to an end, but it's been an incredible experience and it's an amazing group of guys who are going to run out there tomorrow."
One memorable moment from the emotional and entertaining week the Magpies have worked through came during Monday's meeting off the back of Collingwood's win over the Giants.
Moore revealed that wing-forward Will Hoskin-Elliott left the playing group in stitches with a joke at the expense of star midfielder Jordan De Goey that has bonded the team further.
"Will Hoskin-Elliott chose Monday's meeting to make a joke for the first time since he's been at the club," the Magpies skipper revealed.
"It absolutely brought the house down.ย I think most people were just laughing at the fact that he said something.
"I think it was just more shock that it came from him and that it was a great joke that landed."
Collingwood and Brisbane will meet at the MCG at 2:30pm (AEST) on Saturday.
