Sydney will welcome back dual-premiership forward Daniel Bradshaw, while the Western Bulldogs gamble on a first-game teenager for Saturday night's cut-throat AFL final.

And Geelong have axed running defender Andrew Mackie for the first time in more than four years, along with ruckman Mark Blake, for their do-or-die final against an unchanged Fremantle on Friday night.

Bradshaw returns from knee and hamstring injuries for what will be his first senior game since round nine.

Small forward Ben McGlynn will also return, from three games out with a fractured cheek, squeezing out fellow forwards Jesse White and Paul Bevan.

The selection gains kept the momentum heading the Swans' way, as they carry a five-game winning streak into their clash with the injury-hit and slumping Dogs.

The Bulldogs were confident 19-year-old small forward Andrew Hooper would handle becoming the first finals debutant since North Melbourne's Paul Spargo in 1985.

They also welcomed another youngster, 21-year-old, 11-game defender Easton Wood, back from injury.

Shaun Higgins and Tim Callan were dropped, with Higgins having been ruled out for the rest of the season, after he failed to bounce back from a bout of thyroiditis.

Swans coach Paul Roos had no worries about Bradshaw and McGlynn's fitness.

Bradshaw, 31, who played in two flags with Brisbane before joining the Swans this year, has played two reserves games in his comeback.

Roos said McGlynn, who has had three plates inserted, was in no danger of further injury, with his confidence the only issue.

"It's certainly not the time to take any risks and we won't do that," he said.

Bulldogs football manager James Fantasia said the match committee had long discussions on whether to throw Hooper into the deep end, but believed he could handle it.

"We realise it's a big ask, but we're confident he can play his part," Fantasia said of a player, who at 172cm is the AFL's equal-shortest.

"He's been on the cusp for a quite a number of weeks, if anything we kind of erred not giving him a taste before now.

"But circumstances and form have led to his selection now.

"He's got pace, good finish, he's had a good year with Williamstown.

"It's an exciting time when you bring a player in for finals."

Geelong's surprise axing of dual premiership player Mackie, his first time dropped since mid-2006, came in response to their narrow qualifying final loss to St Kilda.

Blake, who had little impact against the Saints, was handed his second career dose of September selection pain, having been controversially dropped for the 2007 grand final.

Geelong will field a three-tall attack, with James Podsiadly back from suspension to join Cameron Mooney and Tom Hawkins, while tall defender Tom Lonergan returned from hip soreness.

But Brad Ottens will be the sole recognised ruckman against Fremantle giant Aaron Sandilands, who was named as expected despite hurting his knee in the Dockers' elimination final win over Hawthorn.

Sandilands has not run since, but Fremantle assistant coach Todd Curley said he would still play a big part.

"He'll definitely play periods in the ruck and he'll probably spend time forward as well," Curley said.

"It's a final so we're not going to take players in for the sake of it."

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