Predicted ins, outs and lineups for week three of the 2024 AFL finals

Two mouth-watering preliminary finals are upon us, and all four clubs still in contention have crucial calls to make at selection.

The Swans and Power will both be forced into changes for Friday night's preliminary final due to injuries. At the same time, the Cats are expected to make changes with a handful of senior stars looking to return to a side that blew Port Adelaide away less than a fortnight ago.

The Lions are set to monitor a gun midfielder in the lead-up to Saturday's clash, with plenty of selection calls to come across both preliminary finals.

Here are our predicted ins, outs and lineups for week three of the 2024 AFL finals series.

Sydney vs Port Adelaide

Friday, September 20
SCG, 7:40pm (AEST)

Sydney

The confirmed loss of captain Callum Mills to a hamstring injury will force John Longmire into at least one change for the Swans' home preliminary final, with the door ajar for a potential Taylor Adams return.

Adams was one of four Sydney players who made way at selection for the club's opening final against GWS, with the ex-Magpie facing further finals heartbreak after missing out on last year's grand final victory at Collingwood.

Mills' absence, which could extend to this year's season decider, is likely to see Adams slot back into Longmire's side, with utility Robbie Fox the other leading contender for the vacancy.

Either Adams or Fox can be expected to take on the sub role in any return, with qualifying final tactical sub Braeden Campbell's run and attacking nous across half-back to come in handy with the loss of Mills.

The other will likely remain on standby as an emergency, with Aaron Francis, Caiden Cleary, Peter Ladhams and Corey Warner also in contention to be part of the extended squad.

Ins: Taylor Adams
Outs: Callum Mills

FB: Dane Rampe, Tom McCartin, Nick Blakey
HB: Jake Lloyd, Lewis Melican, Oliver Florent
C: Justin McInerney, Chad Warner, Errol Gulden
HF: Luke Parker, Logan McDonald, James Jordon
FF: Tom Papley, Joel Amartey, Will Hayward
FO: Brodie Grundy, Isaac Heeney, James Rowbottom
I/C: Matthew Roberts, Braeden Campbell, Hayden McLean, Harry Cunningham
SUB: Taylor Adams

EMERG: Caiden Cleary, Robbie Fox, Aaron Francis

Port Adelaide

The Power will be forced into a change of their own, with tall forward Todd Marshall re-entering concussion protocols following some friendly fire in last Friday's win over Hawthorn.

His omission from Ken Hinkley's side will come as veteran Charlie Dixon likely returns from illness that saw him ruled out of the semi-final late. It's expected Dixon remains ahead of youngster Ollie Lord in the selection pecking order, with the latter on standby if the senior Port Adelaide forward is again unable to suit up in September.

Dixon's replacement for the Hawthorn clash, Will Lorenz, could resume his role as the tactical sub, with his playing prospects likely hinging on the availability of two Port Adelaide defenders who missed the semi-final through injury.

Ryan Burton was one of three outs for the game, with a minor calf issue ruling him out as late as Thursday as last week. The ailment can be expected to keep Burton sidelined for another week as the Power looks to avoid any risk at selection to face Sydney.

Hamstrung half-back Kane Farrell remains a live chance to play again in 2024 despite being ruled out of a return shortly after his hamstring injury in Round 24. The long-kicking defender will push to play as early as this week, however is an outside chance.

Jed McEntee was the unlucky one to be squeezed out of the side last week and could be reconsidered for a spot as the sub.

Ins: Charlie Dixon
Outs: Todd Marshall

FB: Josh Sinn, Brandon Zerk-Thatcher, Miles Bergman
HB: Lachlan Jones, Aliir Aliir, Logan Evans
C: Jase Burgoyne, Ollie Wines, Travis Boak
HF: Willie Rioli, Esava Ratugolea, Connor Rozee
FF: Mitch Georgiades, Charlie Dixon, Darcy Byrne-Jones
FO: Jordon Sweet, Zak Butters, Willem Drew
I/C: Francis Evans, Jackson Mead, Jason Horne-Francis, Quinton Narkle
SUB: Will Lorenz

EMERG: Dante Visentini, Ollie Lord, Jed McEntee

Geelong vs Brisbane

Saturday, September 21
MCG, 5:15pm (AEST)

The Cats have the hardest selection questions to answer, with premiership stars Tom Stewart, Tom Hawkins, Sam De Koning and Cameron Guthrie all available after missing the qualifying final with injury, illness or otherwise.

Stewart is a guaranteed inclusion after battling an illness that ruled him out of the game against the Power two weeks ago, with his return likely meaning Oisin Mullin makes way after coming in as the late inclusion to face the Power in Stewart's place.

The returns of De Koning, Guthrie and Hawkins are less certain, with the latter duo getting through a return in the VFL just over a week ago after long battles with foot and Achilles injuries.

Hawks managed a goal but was quiet overall in the loss to Southport and might remain behind Shannon Neale at selection, with the young Cats ruck-forward having a strong outing against the Power.

Guthrie hasn't played at AFL level since Round 10 and has just four appearances to his name for the year, with any return for the Geelong veteran also unlikely given the strength of the Cats side that claimed an 84-point win to open their September series.

De Koning is a chance to come into Chris Scott's side however, with the Cats coach potentially needing further reinforcements in defence to try and quell the Lions' lethal attack.

The Geelong young gun has been positioned in the ruck for the second half of this season but could return to his more traditional role on the Cats' last line alongside Jack Henry, Zach Guthrie and Jake Kolodjashnij.

Small defender Jed Bews might retain his role to go head-to-head with Brisbane star Charlie Cameron, who was kept to eight disposals and one goal when the two went head-to-head in the 2022 preliminary final.

Zach Tuohy could be the one forced out of the side, while veteran Mitch Duncan is another who is no certainty given the expected inclusions. One of the veteran pair could take the sub spot, but it might be unfortunate for the other.

Geelong

Ins: Tom Stewart, Sam De Koning
Outs: Zach Tuohy, Oisin Mullin

FB: Jed Bews, Jack Henry, Jake Kolodjashnij
HB: Lawson Humphries, Sam De Koning, Zach Guthrie
C: Max Holmes, Tom Atkins, Oliver Dempsey
HF: Tyson Stengle, Shannon Neale, Gryan Miers
FF: Bradley Close, Jeremy Cameron, Oliver Henry
FO: Rhys Stanley, Patrick Dangerfield, Tom Stewart
I/C: Jack Bowes, Shaun Mannagh, Tanner Bruhn, Mark Blicavs
SUB: Mitch Duncan

EMERG: Zach Tuohy, Tom Hawkins, Cameron Guthrie

Brisbane

The Lions look to have gotten through their thrilling come-from-behind semi-final win over the Giants without any obvious injury concerns.

Two-time Brownlow Medal winner Lachie Neale is nursing a foot issue that he's dealt with more the last few weeks but will face the Cats on Saturday night.

Key defender Jack Payne looked back to his best by the fourth term after a difficult opening to his matchup with Coleman Medal winner Jesse Hogan, who was kept quiet against Payne when the game was on the line.

There will be a watch on the availability of fringe Lions Bruce Reville and Shadeau Brain, who suffered suspected hamstring and shoulder injuries in the VFL over the weekend.

Irishman Conor McKenna is likely to hold his role as the tactical sub, while young forward Logan Morris should hold his spot despite a difficult evening against the Giants that saw him subbed out after just two disposals.

Ins: -
Outs: -

FB: Dayne Zorko, Harris Andrews, Brandon Starcevich
HB: Darcy Wilmot, Jack Payne, Ryan Lester
C: Jaspa Fletcher, Hugh McCluggage, Jarrod Berry
HF: Cameron Rayner, Joe Daniher, Zac Bailey
FF: Charlie Cameron, Eric Hipwood, Kai Lohmann
FO: Oscar McInerney, Josh Dunkley, Lachie Neale
I/C: Callum Ah Chee, Will Ashcroft, Logan Morris, Noah Answerth
SUB: Conor McKenna