Axe swung for do-or-die clash; stars return for blockbuster finals ...

Carlton will welcome back skipper Patrick Cripps as one of three changes to face Sydney in their elimination final on Friday.

Blake Acres has proved himself fit, while Marc Pittonet and Sam Docherty return. Zac Fisher, Ollie Hollands, Paddy Dow and Corey Durdin have all been omitted.

The Swans have also swung the axe with Robbie Fox, Dylan Stephens and Ryan Clarke dropped.

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Lewis Melican, Tom Papley and Justin McInerney are back for the do-or-die clash.

The Saints have been boosted by the return of Max King for their elimination final with GWS.

But his inclusion comes at the same time Sam Taylor makes his way back from a hamstring issue for the Giants.

Seb Ross is the second change for St Kilda with Liam Stocker the man to make way.

The Lions have named Lincoln McCarthy, while Port are boosted by experienced trio Scott Lycett, Todd Marshall and Trent McKenzie.

Veteran Travis Boak has been dropped for their qualifying final but looms as a likely sub.

Collingwood has made the big call to drop John Noble and Jack Ginnivan for Thursday night’s qualifying final, while the Demons have opted to once again overlook recruit Brodie Grundy.

For the Magpies, Ginnivan has been given the reprieve as the sub with the club opting to announce that decision on Wednesday when they unveiled their line up.

But it was heartbreaking scenes for Noble who had played 83 consecutive games – including every game this season.

Noble, one of just five Magpies to play in all 23 matches in 2023, was spotted being consoled by captain Darcy Moore after the decision was handed down.

For the Demons, Tom McDonald is the man who gets the nod to replace the injured Jake Melksham – and not Grundy.

McDonald comes back into the line up for his first game since Round 11.

Michael Hibberd also returns to Melbourne in one of two changes.

Collingwood has made the big call to drop John Noble and Jack Ginnivan for Thursday night’s qualifying final, while the Demons have opted to once again overlook recruit Brodie Grundy.

For the Magpies, Ginnivan has been given the reprieve as the sub with the club opting to announce that decision on Wednesday when they unveiled their line up.

But it was heartbreaking scenes for Noble who had played 83 consecutive games – including every game this season.

AFL FINALS WEEK 1 TEAMS AND FIXTURE (All times AEST)

COLLINGWOOD v MELBOURNE

Thursday September 7, 7:20pm at the MCG

MAGPIES

B: N.Murphy, D.Moore, I.Quaynor

HB: B.Maynard, O.Markov, S.Pendlebury

C: S.Sidebottom, T.Adams, J.Daicos

HF: B.Hill, B.Mihocek, J.Howe

F: J.Elliott, D.McStay, J.De Goey

FOLL: M.Cox, B.McCreery, J.Crisp

I/C: P.Lipinski, T.Mitchell, D.Cameron, W.Hoskin-Elliott

EMG: J.Noble, F.Macrae, B.Frampton

In: Moore, Murphy, McCreery

Out: Ginnivan (sub), Frampton, Macrae, Noble (all omitted)

DEMONS

B: M.Hibberd, S.May, J.Bowey

HB: J.McVee, J.Lever, A.Brayshaw

C: K.Pickett, J.Viney, E.Langdon

HF: L.Hunter, T.McDonald, A.Neal-Bullen

F: T.Sparrow, J.van Rooyen, K.Chandler

FOLL: M.Gawn, C.Oliver, C.Petracca

I/C: J.Smith, C.Salem, T.Rivers, B.Fritsch

EMG: B.Grundy, B.Laurie, A.Tomlinson, J.Jordon

In: McDonald, Hibberd

Out: Melksham (injured), Turner, Laurie (omitted)

CARLTON V SYDNEY

Friday September 8, 7:50pm at the MCG

BLUES

B: B.Kemp, J.Weitering, N.Newman

HB: A.Cincotta, M.McGovern, A.Saad

C: B.Acres, P.Cripps (c), S.Docherty

HF: J.Martin, H.McKay, D.Cunningham

F: L.Fogarty, C.Curnow, M.Owies

FOLL: M.Pittonet, A.Cerra, S.Walsh

I/C: C.Marchbank, G.Hewett, M.Cotrell, T.De Koning

EMG: P.Dow, J.Motlop, O.Hollands, Z.Fisher

In: P.Cripps, S.Docherty, M.Pittonet

Out: Z.Fisher, O.Hollands, P.Dow, C.Durdin (all omitted)

SWANS

B: L.Melican, T.McCartin, D.Rampe

HB: J.Lloyd, N.Blakey, O.Florent

C: E.Gulde, Ch.Warner, C.Mills

HF: T.Papley, H.McLean, S.Wicks

F: I.Heeney, J.Amartey, L.Mcdonald

FOLL: T.Hickey, J.Rowbottom, L.Pakrer (c)

I/C: H.Cunningham, B.Campbell, J.McInerney

EMG: A.Francis, R.Clarke, R.Fox, D.Stephens

In: L.Melican, T.Papley, J. McInerney

Out: R.Fox, sD.Stephens R.Clarke (all omitted)

ST KILDA V GWS GIANTS

Saturday September 9, 3:20pm at the MCG

SAINTS

B: J.Battle, C.Wilkie, Z.Cordy

HB: J.Webster, J.Sinclair, N.Wangeen-Milera

C: B.Hill, S.Ross, M.Wood

HF: J.Gresham, D.Butler, C.Sharman

F: M.Owens, T.Membrey, M.King

FOLL: R.Marshall, J.Steele (c), B.Crouch

I/C: H.Clark, W.Windhager, J.Higgins, M.Philllipou

EMG: R.Byrnes, L.Stocker, D.Howard, T.Campbell

In: S.Ross, M.King

Out: J.Hayes (injured), L.Stocker (omitted), R.Byrnes (sub)

GIANTS

B: J.Buckley, S.Taylor, C.Idun

HB: L.Ash, H.Himmelberg, LWhitfield

C: F.Callaghan, T.Green, J.Kelly

HF: T.Bedford, J.Riccardi, B.Daniels

F: D.Lloyd, J.Hogan, T.Greene (c)

FOLL: K.Briggs, C.Ward, S.Coniglio

I/C: I.Cumming, H.Perrryman, L.Keefe, C.Brown

EMG: N.Haynes, R.Angwin, X.O’Halloran, B.Preuss

In: S.Taylor, F.Callaghan

Out: R.Angwin, T.McMullin (both omitted), N.Haynes (sub)

BRISBANE LIONS V PORT ADELAIDE

Saturday September 9, 7:25pm at the Gabba

LIONS

B: B.Starcevich, H.Andrews (c), J.Payne

HB: M.McKenna, R.Lester, K.Coleman

C: H.McCluggage, J.Dunkley, D.Zorko

HF: C.Cameron, E.Hipwood, C.Ah Chee

F: C.Rayner, J.Daniher, Z.Bailey

FOLL: O.McInerney, L.Neale, J.Berry

I/C: D.Robertsob, L.McCarthy, J.Fletcher, D.Wilmot

EMG: K.Lohmann, J.Lyons, D.Gardiner, D.Fort

In: L.McCarthy

Out: J.Lyons (omitted), K.Lohmann (sub)

POWER

B: L.Jones, A.Aliir, D.Houston

HB: M.Bergman, T.McKenzie, R.Burton

C: Z.Butters, W.Drew, X.Duursma

HF: W.Rioli, T.Marshall, J.McEntee

F: D.Byrne-Jones, J.Finlayson, S.Powell-Pepper

FOLL: S.Lycett, O.Wines, C.Rozee

I/C: D.Williams, O.Lord, J.Hortne-Francis, K.Farrell

EMG: T.Boak, H.Jackson, F.Evans, S.Hayes

In: T.McKenzie, T.Marshall, S.Lycett

Out: S.Hayes, F.Evans, T.Boak (all omitted) T.Jonas (injured)