This weekend's opening of the 2025 AFL Finals will narrow the race for the premiership, with the remaining clubs in contention needing to settle on their squads for their first September showing.
Star players look set to return in time for the post-season, while a number of cut-throat calls will be made as coaches weigh up their best ensemble.
Here are the predicted ins, outs and lineups for all four matches in week one of the AFL Finals.
3. GWS vs Hawthorn
Saturday, September 6
ENGIE Stadium, 3:15pm (AEST)
GWS
The Giants are set to be significantly strengthened for their elimination final against the Hawks, with a handful of key players tipped to return.
Adam Kingsley is positioned to recall Jesse Hogan and Jake Stringer, as well as Brent Daniels, Josh Kelly and Jack Buckley.
Veteran midfielder Stephen Coniglio had a strong finish to his season before suffering a head knock, and may rely on the pre-finals break to be deemed fit to face the Hawks.
The wave of potential ins means a few incoming outs for Kingsley to consider, with young contingent Max Gruzewski, Leek Aleer, Jacob Wehr, and Ryan Angwin among the most likely to miss.
In-form winger Harvey Thomas and recent Rising Star nominee Harry Rowston are also in danger of being omitted despite a good end to their respective campaigns.
Hogan, Kelly, Buckley, Daniels, Wehr, Coniglio, Rowston, Thomas
Ins: Hogan, Buckley, Kelly, Stringer, Daniels
Outs: Gruzewski, Angwin, Aleer, Rowston, Wehr
FB: Idun, Taylor, Himmelberg
HB: Whitfield, Buckley, Ash
C: Thomas, Bedord, Kelly
HF: Daniels, Cadman, Jones
FF: Greene, Hogan, Brown
FO: Briggs, Callaghan, Green
I/C: Fonti, Stringer, O'Halloran,, Coniglio (sub)
Hawthorn
All eyes are on Josh Weddle's fitness in the lead-up to Saturday's contest, with the flashy Hawks flanker having gotten through a Box Hill final over the weekend unscathed and on managed minutes.
His potential inclusions could shake things up, potentially forcing Changkuoth Jiath to move from Sam Mitchell's side.
Jiath could slot into the sub role, which would mean the Hawks potentially drop triple-premiership veteran Luke Breust from their team. His September experience is sure to come in hand, however, with it potentially meaning one of Jiath or Jack Scrimshaw faces a nervous wait.
Ins: Weddle
Outs: Jiath
FB: Hardwick, Barrass, Battle
HB: Weddle, Sicily, Impey
C: Moore, Worpel, Amon
HF: Watson, Chol, D'Ambrosio
FF: Ginnivan, Lewis, Gunston
FO: Meek, Newcombe, Ward
I/C: Scrimshaw, Nash, Macdonald, Dear, Breust (sub)
