Brown, King in ahead of AFL finals
Brisbane and Geelong have wheeled out the heavy artillery ahead of their finals-shaping AFL matches this weekend, with Lions forward Jonathan Brown and Cats skipper Steven King named in their respective sides.
Brisbane will risk Brown, who has been battling groin problems, and 2002 Brownlow Medallist Simon Black in the grand final rematch with Port Adelaide at the Gabba on Saturday night.
Black was a late withdrawal from the 84-point flogging by Sydney last weekend with a calf problem, while the Lions also welcome back tall running defender Josh Drummond from injury.
Brisbane ruckman Jamie Charman returns from a one-match suspension for the match which the seventh-placed Lions need to win to keep in the hunt for a finals spot.
Out of the team are midfielder Nigel Lappin, who broke his leg against the Swans last week, youngsters Travis Baird and Daniel Merrett and veteran Darryl White.
Brown's return is vital for the Lions, who this year have an 8-5 win-loss record with him and a 2-5 record without him.
In 13 matches this year Brown has averaged 18 possessions, a team-high eight marks, and three goals per game.
Sixth-placed Geelong, which heads the Lions on percentage, has also reached for the big guns for its showdown with league leader West Coast at Skilled Stadium on Saturday.
The biggest surprise is ruckman King, who had been expected to miss the rest of the home-and-away season after finger surgery three weeks ago.
But the Cats, decimated by injuries in recent weeks, have named King, defender Tom Harley and forward Paul Chapman.
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