Hawthorn’s Tom Murphy knew all week the axe was hovering.

It fell on Thursday afternoon.

Coach Alastair Clarkson and head of coaching Chris Fagan confirmed to Murphy that for the second time in his career he would just miss out on an AFL grand final.

The return from illness of captain Luke Hodge at Murphy’s expense was the Hawks’ only change for Saturday’s premiership decider.

Sydney kept faith with the team that comfortably beat Collingwood in Friday night’s preliminary final.

Murphy was a late inclusion for Hawthorn’s preliminary final on Saturday, only finding out on game day that he would replace Hodge.

While he performed solidly, he said on Sunday that Hodge’s expected return was the “elephant in the room” when it came to his own hopes.

Hawks football manager Mark Evans said Murphy was an outstanding person who took the news well, but one of just six or seven players who might be considered unfortunate.

“He came in at late notice last week because of Hodgey’s illness,” Evans said.

“When the captain’s available you know he’s coming back in.

“So Murph would have known there was a chance with Hodgey coming back in he would go out.

“I don’t think I could say it any better than Tom did at the start of the week.”

Murphy has played just six AFL games this season, but they included both of the Hawks’ previous two finals.

In 2008, he played 18 senior games, but was dropped for the preliminary final and could not regain his spot for the grand final win over Geelong.

It was confirmed earlier this week that Sydney’s Ben McGlynn and Hawthorn’s Brent Guerra would not recover in time from hamstring injuries, while the Swans had always been confident an ankle injury sustained last weekend would not keep out Ted Richards.

With forecast wild weather for Saturday in Melbourne, there is still the chance that either side might make a late change.

Murphy is one of the Hawks’ emergencies, along with Max Bailey and Kyle Cheney, and like last weekend will prepare as though he is playing.

But Evans said Hawthorn had named a side to suit any conditions.

Tommy Walsh, Tony Armstrong and Tyson Dennis-Lane are the Swans’ emergencies, but coach John Longmire expressed great confidence in the 22 that beat the Magpies.

“They did a good job for us and hopefully they can do it again,” he said.

Hawthorn’s side includes 10 players who were part of their 2008 flag, while Shaun Burgoyne, who played in grand finals with Port Adelaide in 2004 and 2007, is also chasing a second premiership.

The Swans’ team includes just four veterans of their 2005 premiership – Adam Goodes, Jude Bolton, Ryan O’Keefe and Lewis Roberts-Thomson.