BALLARAT superstar Luke Brennan will return for the Swans’ grand final side for their clash against North Ballarat City on Saturday.
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Brennan headlines three key changes for Ballarat, with Chris Thornton and Daniel Kennedy also returning from injury.
Joshua Crawford, Damien Larkin and James Quayle are the unlucky trio to be left out of the grand final side.
Swans coach Ash Baker told The Courier after selection on Thursday night that the three inclusions had all passed a fitness test with flying colours and were certainties to run out on to Eastern Oval.
Brennan has missed the last two matches with a back injury, Thornton has not played a final this year due to a hamstring complaint and Kennedy was a late withdrawal last week.
“They’re all definitely right to go,” Baker said.
“They all seemed pretty right on Tuesday night and it was just a matter of getting through Thursday and they were great.”
Baker said nobody would be subject to any late fitness tests before Ballarat’s crack at winning its first flag since 2008.
For reigning premier North City, grand final selection has again forced the brains trust to choose between brothers for the biggest game of the year.
Brendan Howard comes into the side after recovering from a rolled ankle, although younger brother Sam has been selected as first emergency.
Adam Turley misses out, despite playing 15 senior matches this season.
The elder Howard missed just one game with a rolled ankle, while Sam has not played since round 14 with a hamstring injury.
“Brendan was good as gold, he would’ve played last week if we had played,” North City coach Rob Waters said.
“Sam just hasn’t played enough footy. He was flying in the reserves last week but we couldn’t risk him.”
The sibling selection drama follows last year’s grand final side in which Mitch Jenkins came in for younger brother, Clay.
Both Mitch and Clay Jenkins are named to play on Saturday.
The Ballarat Football League grand final gets under way at Eastern Oval at 2.30pm.
SELECTED SIDES
NORTH BALLARAT CITY
B: Daniel Jones, Jordan Harrison, Brendan Howard
HB: Mitchell Jenkins, Ryan Hobbs, Ryan Luke
C: Joshua Bromley-Lynch, Jarryd Graham, Simon Mc Cartin
HF: Michael Todd, Marc Greig, Shaun Lyle
F: Derick Micallef, Marcus Darmody, Keenan George
R: Tristan Cartledge, Ayden George, Jason McNamara
Int: Clay Jenkins, Jarrod Edwards, Jayden Orr, Mitchell Gilbert
Emg: Adam Turley, Mitchell Johns, Charles Murrie, Samuel Howard
In: Brendan Howard
Out: Adam Turley
BALLARAT
B: Daniel Kennedy, James Lukich, Adam Sewell
HB: Mitchell Martin, Nigel Otto, Sam Caldow
C: Chris Thornton, Thomas Stapleton, Matt Dawson
HF: Luke Brennan, Christopher Prockter, Shane Hutchinson
F: Ashley Baker, Rex Hickman, Tristan May
R: Samuel Conroy, Liam Youl, Lachlan Cassidy
Int: Myles Sewell, Nicholas O'Farrell, Nicholas Garner, William McGregor
Emg: Joshua Crawford, Rhys Otto, Mark Nunn, James Quayle, Damien Larkin
In: Daniel Kennedy, Chris Thornton, Luke Brennan
Out: Joshua Crawford, James Quayle, Damien Larkin