While injury dashed his hopes at Collingwood in 2022 and 2023, this time it’s form which has cost Adams, who had played 19 games in a row before his axing for the start of the finals.

Adams was a solid contributor in the first half of the season when the Swans surged but club great Luke Parker’s strong finish to the home and away campaign squeezed him out.

Though both are uncompromising midfielders who can play forward, Parker is a more dangerous prospect around goal with his stronger marking power.

Mills’s injury left the door ajar for Adams, but Fox’s inclusion creates significantly less disruption to the Swans’ system. Capable of playing as a pressure forward or a defender who can man tall and small forwards, Fox’s versatility means he can be a direct replacement for Mills at halfback.

He could also start in the substitute’s vest, which would allow qualifying final super-sub Braeden Campbell to take Mills’s role in defence.

Adams left the Magpies for the Swans at the end of last year, hurt by a belief he was being “phased out” by Collingwood coach Craig McRae, only for more pain at his new club.

“I was pretty disappointed by the feedback and the transparency that I got from Collingwood throughout the year,” he told the Unlaced podcast in an episode released in April.

Champion defender Stewart returns to the side that thrashed Port a fortnight ago.

A day after confirming Tom Hawkins and Cam Guthrie would miss the preliminary final, the Cats did not recall another premiership star in De Koning.

De Koning has played in two VFL finals after missing the last three rounds of the home and away season due to knee surgery but could not break his way into the senior side despite being able to play as ruckman or key defender.

In Jack Henry and Mark Blicavs, the Cats are well stocked for taller options to take on Joe Daniher and Eric Hipwood, and Rhys Stanley has been strong in the ruck since returning from injury late in the season.

The Lions are unchanged but gun midfielder Lachie Neale (heel), Hipwood (groin) and important defender Jack Payne (knee) all have injury concerns.

Dixon comes back in for Port after missing the stirring win over Hawthorn due to illness, replacing Todd Marshall, who is in concussion protocols.

Beaten pointless by Blicavs in the qualifying final, Dixon gets the chance to atone in what could be the final game of his stellar career.

He will again partner Esava Ratugolea but Mitch Georgiades and Willie Rioli shape as Port’s most dangerous options inside 50.

SYDNEY
B: [24] Dane Rampe, [30] Tom McCartin, [22] Nick Blakey
HB: [34] Matt Roberts, [7] Harry Cunningham, [43] Lewis Melican
C: [44] Jake Lloyd, [1] Chad Warner, [13] Oliver Florent
HF: [26] Luke Parker, [6] Logan McDonald, [21] Errol Gulden
F: [11] Tom Papley, [36] Joel Amartey, [9] Will Hayward
FOL: [4] Brodie Grundy, [5] Isaac Heeney, [8] James Rowbottom
I/C: [17] James Jordon, [16] Braeden Campbell, [42] Robbie Fox, [27] Justin McInerney, [2] Hayden McLean
EMG: [10] Aaron Francis, [33] Caiden Cleary, [19] Peter Ladhams
In: Robbie Fox
Out: Callum Mills (injured)

PORT ADELAIDE
B: [34] Lachie Jones, [25] Brandon Zerk-Thatcher, [14] Miles Bergman
HB: [8] Josh Sinn, [21] Aliir Aliir, [43] Logan Evans
C: [7] Jase Burgoyne, [16] Ollie Wines, [28] Willem Drew
HF: [33] Darcy Byrne-Jones, [27] Esava Ratugolea, [15] Willie Rioli
F: [19] Mitch Georgiades, [22] Charlie Dixon, [1] Connor Rozee
FOL: [24] Jordon Sweet, [18] Jason Horne-Francis, [9] Zak Butters
I/C: [10] Travis Boak, [42] Quinton Narkle, [44] Jackson Mead, [31] Francis Evans, [3] Ryan Burton
EMG: [36] Will Lorenz, [38] Dante Visentini, [30] Ollie Lord
IN: Charlie Dixon, Ryan Burton
Out: Todd Marshall (Injured), Will Lorenz (omitted)

GEELONG
Backs: J.Bews 24 J.Henry 38 J.Kolodjashnij 8
Half Backs: J.Bowes 12 M.Blicavs 46 Z.Guthrie 39
Centres: M.Holmes 9 P.Dangerfield - C 35 O.Dempsey 28
Half Forwards: T.Stengle 18 S.Neale 33 S.Mannagh 7
Forwards: G.Miers 32 J.Cameron 5 O.Henry 36
Rucks: R.Stanley 1 T.Atkins 30 T.Stewart 44
Interchange: L.Humphries 17 O.Mullin 34 B.Close 45 T.Bruhn 4 M.Duncan 22
Emergency: Z.Tuohy 2 S.De Koning 16 T.Clohesy 40
In: T.Stewart
Out: Z.Tuohy (omitted)

BRISBANE LIONS
Backs: D.Zorko 15 H.Andrews 31 C.McKenna 26
Half Backs: D.Wilmot 44 J.Payne 40 R.Lester 35
Centres: J.Fletcher 28 W.Ashcroft 8 H.McCluggage 6
Half Forwards: C.Rayner 16 J.Daniher 3 J.Berry 7
Forwards: C.Cameron 23 E.Hipwood 30 Z.Bailey 33
Rucks: O.McInerney 46 J.Dunkley 5 L.Neale - C 9
Interchange: K.Lohmann 1 C.Ah Chee 4 L.Morris 13 B.Starcevich 37 N.Answerth 43
Emergency: H.Sharp 22 D.Fort 32 D.Joyce 41
In: -
Out: -