Stability is the theme of the week.
Collingwood has named its first unchanged team of 2017, with the same 22 players that drew with Adelaide set to take on North Melbourne on Saturday night.
Callum Brown, Chris Mayne and Josh Smith are the three emergencies.
The Magpies will have the benefit of playing a VFL curtain raiser against Werribee at Etihad Stadium earlier in the afternoon, meaning all fit players will be able to play adequate game time.
North Melbourne v Collingwood
Round 20 2017
Saturday 5 August
Etihad Stadium, 7.25pm
Collingwood
B: Jeremy Howe, Lynden Dunn, Tom Langdon
HB: Jack Crisp, Tyson Goldsack, Brayden Maynard
C: Steele Sidebottom, Taylor Adams, Will Hoskin-Elliott
HF: Josh Thomas, Ben Reid, Jordan De Goey
F: Jamie Elliott, Darcy Moore, Alex Fasolo
Foll: Brodie Grundy, Daniel Wells, Adam Treloar
Int: Jarryd Blair, Matthew Scharenberg, Levi Greenwood, Tom Phillips
Emg: Chris Mayne, Callum Brown, Josh Smith
NO CHANGE
Daniel Wells will play against his old club for the first time on Saturday night.
The curtain-raiser returns
The full Collingwood team will be on display this Saturday.
Supporters can watch the VFL team mount its case for a finals berth against North Melbourne’s affiliate, Werribee, from 3.45pm.
The senior side will take to the field at 7.25pm.
Ticket windows at Gates Three and Seven will open from 2.45pm, while Gates Three, Four, Six, Seven, Eight and Nine will open from 3.15pm.
Josh Thomas documentary
On Friday 29 August 2014, in a match against Hawthorn at the MCG, Josh Thomas played his 32nd senior game.
On Sunday 2 June 2017, in a match against Hawthorn at the MCG, Thomas played his 33rd senior game.
The 1038 days in between were, to say the least, eventful for both player and club.
In 2015, Thomas and teammate Lachlan Keeffe accepted two-year bans after testing positive to banned substance clenbuterol. The pair returned to the club to train in December last year, with their bans formally expiring on 10 February.
Now, for the first time, the story of Thomas' path to his 33rd game is set to be told.
Josh Thomas - 1038 Days, a documentary produced by Collingwood Media, will be available on collingwoodfc.com.au and on the club's social media channels from 7pm (EST) on Thursday 3 August 2017.
Josh Thomas in 2017
Age: 25
Games: 5
Goals: 4
Average disposals: 16.0
