**AFL Grand Final Week: Injury Concerns Plague Sydney and Brisbane**
As the AFL Grand Final approaches, both Sydney and Brisbane are dealing with injury concerns that could impact their chances of taking home the championship. Sydney’s key forward, Logan McDonald, missed the team’s first training session of the week after rolling his ankle in the preliminary-final win over Port Adelaide. Coach John Longmire remains optimistic about McDonald’s availability for the decider, but his absence from the open session on Sunday has raised concerns.
Meanwhile, Sydney’s captain, Callum Mills, is still recovering from a hamstring injury sustained in the qualifying-final win over GWS. His availability for the Grand Final is uncertain, and if he’s unable to play, Robbie Fox is likely to take his place.
Brisbane, on the other hand, is dealing with the loss of ruckman Oscar McInerney, who dislocated his left shoulder in the second preliminary final against Geelong. Coach Chris Fagan may recall Darcy Fort or Henry Smith to replace McInerney and face off against Sydney’s in-form big man, Brodie Grundy.
Despite the injury concerns, Sydney’s star midfielder, Chad Warner, is expecting a fierce battle from Brisbane at the MCG on Saturday. “They’re going to come out firing, just like Geelong did a couple years ago,” Warner said. “They’re really going to come and try to rip your head off, so you’ve got to be ready for that.”
Brisbane’s star winger, Errol Gulden, believes his team’s dominant performance this season has put them in good stead for the Grand Final. “It does feel a little bit different (than 2022),” Gulden said. “We may have surprised ourselves a little bit last time, but this year, the way we’ve played, the body of work we’ve put in on the track and on the field, it was our expectation to be there this weekend.”
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