Hunt said it was good to have a stable side for the cut-throat final but said injured star Jack Osborne (broken leg) was unlucky to miss this week as he pushes to come back from injury.

“Jack was pretty close but just didn’t quite get there,” the third-year coach said.

“We have a lot of work to get through but the longer we go into finals the more chance he is of playing. That is what we are hoping for.”

South Rovers have named an extended bench as it eases five players back from injury for the sudden-death match at Mack Oval. 

Trent Anderson and Tyler O'Sullivan-Kirchner are the confirmed inclusions, while Tate Gardiner (ankle), Kerry Tarbolton (broken nose), Nathan Krepp (shoulder), Josh Brown (side strain), and Luke Payne (broken knuckle) will be monitored before a final decision is made by Lions mentor Adam Matheson.

“We could have five possibly inclusions to the side but we will wait to see how the boys pull up from training,” the second-year coach said. 

“They got through training so it’s just about seeing how they pull up.”

Brad Bushell, Josh Moloney and Luke Luke Coughlan are the Lions’ confirmed omissions. 

Kolora-Noorat have made wholesale changes at the selection table with 11 inclusions for Saturday’s qualifying final against Old Collegians.

Luke Tebble, Steve O’Connor, Ben Kenna, Ash McCorkell, Jason Moloney, Sam Williams, Ben Fraser, Sean Bourke, Scott Judd, Joey Conheady, and John Gleeson all return to the Power’s side.

Matt Deman (ankle) and Matt Harkin (knee soreness) were Kolora-Noorat’s forced omissions, while Brad Lucas, Paul McSween, Aaron Robertson, Jake O’Flynn, Jason Harlock, Tyler Beasley, Ned Payne, Tom Henderson and Bailey Kemp were omitted. 

Power coach Danny Finn said his side were ready for its clash against the Warriors at Merrivale.

“The group within itself as individuals know how to prepare themselves for the finals series and we are ready to go,” he said. 

Old Collegians also loaded up on experienced heads with Aaron Williams, Alex Wallis, Daniel Weel, Tom Lambevski and under 17.5 captain Jacob Brooks all included in the Saturday’s final side.

Bodie Hibberson (sore hip/corky) is the only forced out, while Warriors coach Josh Reichman said Xavier Quinlan, Nathan Wallace, Zach Brooks and Tim Lewis were unlucky to miss, but backed his players in.

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