A nice mix of youth and experience.
That sums up the Collingwood team named to tackle Hawthorn in Saturday night’s huge round one clash at the MCG.
Defender Sam Murray and forward Jaidyn Stephenson will debut for the Magpies, with Murray in a back pocket and Stephenson in a forward pocket.
Josh Smith and Ben Crocker earn themselves another chance at the highest level after playing only a handful of games between them in the second half of last season.
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It’s a similar situation for James Aish, who has been named on the interchange bench after recovering from the calf problem that impacted the latter part of his pre-season.
Aish managed only eight appearances in the AFL in 2017, although he did feature in the Pies’ last three matches.
The four emergencies (clubs can now name one more than last year) are Chris Mayne, Tim Broomhead, Callum Brown and Brody Mihocek.
The notable absentees are Jamie Elliott (ankle), Jordan De Goey (hamstring), Daniel Wells (Achilles) and Levi Greenwood (knee), who will return in the coming weeks, and Tyson Goldsack (knee), who has been ruled out for the season.
Rookies right to go
On top of increasing the number of emergencies clubs can name from three to four, the AFL is now allowing clubs name Category A rookies in their team without promoting them to their senior list.
Josh Thomas has benefitted from the change. He remains a rookie but has been selected on the wing.
Another rookie, Brody Mihocek, is among the Pies’ emergencies.
Josh Thomas will play in round one for only the second time in his league career.
Smith set to fly
Josh Smith played in 11 of Collingwood’s opening 12 games in 2017, racking up some big disposals tallies, including 32 against Fremantle, in the process. But he played only two AFL games after round 12.
Now the 24-year-old gets another chance after being named on a wing after enjoying a strong summer on the track.
Smith played in both of the Magpies’ JLT Community Series matches, tallying 11 disposals against the Giants and 17 against the Dogs.
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Josh Smith played just twice after round 12 last season.
Crocker rockin’
Ben Crocker will be desperate to cement his place in the team after an ankle injury ruined the last part of his 2017 campaign.
The 21-year-old missed the Pies’ pre-season loss to the Giants, then showed glimpses of his best in the win over the Bulldogs in Moe.
The coaches are hoping Crocker can bring some his trademark physicality to the forward line on Saturday night.
Ben Crocker has been selected in the opening round of the season for the first time in his career.
Happy days
There was a genuinely upbeat feeling when the team hit the track for its final training run on Thursday morning.
“It’s always exciting,” assistant coach Brenton Sanderson told Collingwood Media.
“Everyone looks forward to round one at the end of a pretty long pre-season.
“Most clubs would be in the same boat. They’re itching to test themselves against another team after doing a lot of match simulation over the hot summer months.
“It’s obviously time see where we stack up against the rest of the competition.”
Hawthorn v Collingwood
AFL Round One
Saturday 24 March
MCG, 7.25pm
Collingwood
B: Sam Murray, Lynden Dunn, Brayden Maynard
HB: Tom Langdon, Darcy Moore, Jeremy Howe
C: Steele Sidebottom, Scott Pendlebury, Josh Smith
HF: Josh Thomas, Ben Reid, Will Hoskin-Elliott
F: Jaidyn Stephenson, Mason Cox, Ben Crocker
Foll: Brodie Grundy, Adam Treloar, Taylor Adams
Int: Jack Crisp, Travis Varcoe, Tom Phillips, James Aish
Emg: Chris Mayne, Tim Broomhead, Callum Brown, Brody Mihocek
NEW: Sam Murray (20, Sydney), Jaidyn Stephenson (19, Eastern U18)
Hawthorn
B: James Frawley, Ben Stratton, Tim O’Brien
HB: Blake Hardwick, James Sicily, Ryan Burton
C: Ricky Henderson, Jaeger O’Meara, Isaac Smith
HF: Jack Gunston, Ryan Schoenmakers, Shaun Burgoyne
F: Paul Puopolo, Jarryd Roughead, Luke Breust
Foll: Ben McEvoy, Tom Mitchell, Jarman Impey
Int: Taylor Duryea, Liam Shiels, Daniel Howe, Cyril Rioli
Emg: Brendan Whitecross, Harry Morrison, Marc Pittonet, Conor Glass
NEW: Jarman Impey (22, Port Adelaide)
