Howe and McGovern named for AFL GF

Collingwood and West Coast have named unchanged teams for the AFL grand final after Magpies defender Jeremy Howe proved his fitness at training.

Grand Final

Collingwood and West Coast are expected to name unchanged line-ups for Saturday's AFL grand final. (AAP)

Collingwood and West Coast have backed in winning sides by naming unchanged line-ups for the AFL grand final, dismissing injury concerns over key defenders.

West Coast defensive linchpin Jeremy McGovern has been named at centre half-back despite a nasty corked hip in their defeat of Melbourne.

And Jeremy Howe showcased his fitness for the biggest occasion in Australian football by training on Thursday to take his place in Collingwood's 22.

Howe tweaked his ankle during the Magpies' preliminary final win over Richmond but took part in match simulation on Thursday morning after failing to train earlier in the week.

"Howie looked fine. He's done a fair bit and I reckon he'd be rapt with how he's come up," Collingwood assistant coach Robert Harvey said.

"He was a bit concerned after the game but he goes in really strong and 100 per cent fit."

Fellow key defender Darcy Moore loomed as Howe's likely replacement for Saturday's decider.

But Moore hasn't even been named on Collingwood's emergency list, sparing the out-of-contract 22-year-old the awkwardness of a place in the grand final parade.

Collingwood flag-winners Ben Reid and Jarryd Blair have been named as emergencies, along with Flynn Appleby and Callum Brown.

Appleby has replaced tall defender Jack Madgen.

Luke Shuey assuaged doubts on his ankle injury to take his place in the West Coast midfield.

It's less than 100 per cent clear that McGovern will play given his discomfort shown last Saturday.

The three-time All Australian was rested for most of the last quarter in Saturday''s preliminary final blitz of Melbourne.

McGovern didn't train on Monday and didn't join the main group at Wednesday's session.

Rumours the 26-year-old had broken ribs circulated but the Eagles have denied those claims, with assistant coach Jaymie Graham saying their star backman had bruised his hip.

It is just the second time since WWII that both AFL grand finalists have gone in unchanged - after Richmond and Adelaide last season.

Collingwood half-forward Will Hoskin-Elliott will play his 100th game in the showpiece match, while midfielder Tom Phillips will lace up for his 50th.

West Coast's unchanged side also extends to their emergencies, with Oscar Allen, Jackson Nelson, Brayden Ainsworth and Brendon Ah Chee retaining the four positions.


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Source: AAP


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