Home
AFL

AFL Preliminary Finals Teams 2026: Full Team Lists, Ins and Outs

Jeremy Darke

Editor

Last updated: Fri. 18 Sep. 2026 07:59

Jeremy Darke 18 Sep. 2026

Share this article

Sydney Swans forced into 2 changes; Mills & Cunningham out injured
Fremantle, Hawthorn & Brisbane all unchanged for preliminary finals
Winners head to the AFL Grand Final after these pivotal match-ups

AFL Preliminary Finals teams (Photo by Cameron Spencer/Getty Images)

AFL Preliminary Finals Teams 2026: Full Team Lists, Ins and Outs

The 2026 AFL Finals Series has reached the preliminary finals, with Sydney, Fremantle, Hawthorn and Brisbane now just one victory away from the Grand Final.

AFL Preliminary Finals Teams 2026: Full Team Lists, Ins and Outs
Sydney Swans vs Fremantle
Hawthorn vs Brisbane Lions

Sydney hosts Fremantle at the SCG on Friday night in the first preliminary final, before Hawthorn and Brisbane meet at the MCG on Saturday evening.

There has been little movement at the selection table, with Fremantle, Hawthorn and Brisbane all backing in their last-start line-ups. Sydney is the only club to make changes, with captain Callum Mills and Harry Cunningham ruled out through injury.

See the full AFL Preliminary Finals team lists, ins and outs and selection news below.

Sydney Swans vs Fremantle

Friday, September 18, 7:40pm at the SCG

Sydney Swans: Sydney has been forced into the only two changes across the four preliminary finalists, with skipper Callum Mills and Harry Cunningham both ruled out through injury.

Justin McInerney and Lewis Melican come into the side as their replacements, with Dane Rampe named captain.

Joel Amartey has again missed selection and is instead among the emergencies alongside Will Green and R. Andrew.

Fremantle: The Dockers have backed in their last-start line-up and will go into Friday night's preliminary final unchanged.

Brennan Cox has been named as an emergency but did not make the trip to Sydney and will instead play in the WAFL Grand Final on Sunday.

Sydney Swans	POS	Fremantle
J. Hamling, T. McCartin, D. Rampe	B	J. Clark, A. Pearce, O. McDonald
S. Wicks, H. Kyle, J. McInerney	HB	K. Worner, L. Ryan, H. Chapman
M. Roberts, E. Gulden, J. Serong	C	M. Johnson, A. Brayshaw, N. Erasmus
J. Lloyd, L. McDonald, H. McLean	HF	M. Frederick, M. Reid, S. Switkowski
T. Papley, C. Curnow, B. Cootee	F	J. Amiss, J. Treacy, P. Voss
B. Grundy, J. Rowbottom, B. Campbell	FOLL	L. Jackson, C. Serong, S. Bolton
L. Melican, A. Sheldrick, C. Cleary, T. Hanily, J. Dattoli	I/C	J. McVee, C. Wagner, H. Young, I. Dudley, M. Cox

Sydney Swans In: J. McInerney, L. Melican
Sydney Swans Out: C. Mills (Injured), H. Cunningham (Injured)
Sydney Swans Emergencies: J. Amartey, W. Green, R. Andrew

Fremantle In: —
Fremantle Out: —
Fremantle Emergencies: B. Cox, C. Scerri, J. O’Meara

Hawthorn vs Brisbane Lions

Saturday, September 19, 5:15pm at the MCG

Hawthorn: The Hawks have opted against making any changes for their preliminary final against Brisbane, backing in the same line-up for Saturday's clash at the MCG.

Ned Reeves, Noah Mraz and Jack Dalton have been named as the emergencies.

Brisbane Lions: Brisbane has also gone unchanged for the preliminary final.

Noah Answerth misses again after failing to overcome his ankle injury, leaving the Lions to find another match-up for dangerous Hawthorn forward Nick Watson.

Hawthorn	POS	Brisbane Lions
J. Sicily, T. Barrass, B. Hardwick	B	T. Gallop, H. Andrews, R. Lester
B. Macdonald, J. Weddle, J. Battle	HB	D. Wilmot, D. Gardiner, D. Zorko
J. Impey, W. Day, M. D’Ambrosio	C	J. Berry, W. Ashcroft, Z. Bailey
D. Moore, M. Chol, C. Macdonald	HF	C. Cameron, L. Morris, O. Allen
N. Watson, M. Lewis, J. Gunston	F	E. Hipwood, C. Rayner, K. Lohmann
L. Meek, J. Newcombe, J. Ward	FOLL	D. Fort, J. Dunkley, L. Neale
K. Amon, H. Morrison, C. Mackenzie, M. Beattie, J. Ginnivan	I/C	S. Draper, J. Fletcher, H. McCluggage, L. Ashcroft, C. McKenna