Brennan Cox has been overlooked for a grand final recall, with Fremantle naming an unchanged line-up for Saturday’s premiership-decider against Brisbane.

The Dockers have opted against selecting Cox for what would have been his first competitive game in 35 days against the back-to-back reigning premiers at the MCG and have instead retained their faith in Oscar McDonald.

Cox suffered a calf injury in Fremantle’s final round of the home and away season against Carlton. He was slated to line up for Peel Thunder in Sunday’s WAFL grand final before later being withdrawn, and trained strongly at the club’s session in Perth on Wednesday.

McDonald has largely deputised ably in his absence and the three-club journeyman has been chosen to line up in his first grand final, as part of what will be an unchanged side for the second week running.

Cox has been named among Fremantle’s emergencies, alongside experienced midfielder Jaeger O’Meara and small forward Chris Scerri. Speedy defender Brandon Walker was also among their 27-player travelling party.

Meanwhile, Brisbane will have Lachie Neale in their side after the two-time Brownlow medallist’s hearing in front of the AFL appeals board was successful.

Neale — who has become one of the competition’s best players since leaving the Dockers for the Lions in 2018 — was handed a one-match suspension by the match review officer for striking Hawthorn’s Jack Ginnivan in their last-gasp preliminary final victory.

The Lions challenged the ban but were shot down by the AFL tribunal after a marathon four-hour hearing on Tuesday, before being successful with their last avenue of appeal within the competition.

Brisbane’s emergencies are Noah Answerth, Bruce Reville and WA’s Cody Curtin.

FREMANTLE v BRISBANE

Saturday, 12.30pm, MCG

DOCKERS

B: J Clark A Pearce J McVee

HB: K Worner O McDonald H Chapman

C: M Johnson A Brayshaw N Erasmus

HF: M Frederick M Reid S Switkowski

F: J Amiss J Treacy P Voss

FOLL: L Jackson C Serong S Bolton

I/C: I Dudley M Cox H Young C Wagner L Ryan

EMG: B Cox C Scerri J O’Meara

LIONS

B: T Gallop H Andrews R Lester

HB: D Wilmot D Gardiner D Zorko

C: J Berry W Ashcroft Z Bailey

HF: C Cameron L Morris O Allen

F: E Hipwood C Rayner K Lohmann

FOLL: D Fort J Dunkley L Neale

I/C: S Draper J Fletcher H McCluggage L Ashcroft C McKenna

EMG: C Curtin B Reville N Answerth