Download the FREE Official CFC MatchDay Program for Saturday's game.

*John McCarthy was a late inclusion for Heath Shaw (suspended).


Collingwood welcomes back one of its 2010 premiership heroes for the blockbuster round 17 clash with Carlton at the MCG on Saturday afternoon.

Veteran defender Ben Johnson has been named to play his first game since round six, and is the only inclusion to the side that thumped North Melbourne by 117 points last Sunday.

He replaces Simon Buckley, who has been omitted.

Read the 'Ultimate Preview' for the blockbuster.

Johnson suffered a back injury during the Magpies’ 48-point victory over the Western Bulldogs earlier in the season, and returned to play the last three matches at VFL level. 

The 30-year-old, who has played 214 games for Collingwood, began the season in blistering form averaging 27 touches per game over the first three rounds, after an excellent 2010 season in which he played a key role in the flag campaign as a running defensive option.

Buckley, who has played nine matches this season, has been named an emergency along with John McCarthy and Tyson Goldsack.

The match between the traditional rivals is one of the most anticipated of the season so far, with the AFL announcing earlier this week that all public tickets have been sold.

Collingwood has moved to first on the ladder with 13 wins and one loss, while Carlton, which is coming off a 27-point loss to the Bulldogs, is fourth with 10 wins and a draw from 15 games.

The home-and-away attendance record between the sides of 88,181, set in round three this year when the Magpies unfurled the 2010 premiership flag, is under threat.

Channel Ten will broadcast the game live into Melbourne as a result of the sell out.

Watch: 'In Black and White Tonight' with Christian and Licuria as hosts.

The teams will also be joining forces to play for the Richard Pratt Cup to raise awareness of the issues relating to prostate cancer.

Dual All Australian Magpie Alan Didak will miss at least one more week as he recovers from a calf injury.

What will be the official attendance for Saturday's sold out match?

Carlton has made three changes to its side after going down to by 27 points to the Western Bulldogs last Sunday.  A young trio come in with Matthew Watson (2 games), Edward Curnow (10 games/ three goals) and first gamer Wayde Twomey selected for Ryan Houlihan (199 games, 127 goals), Jordan Russell (108 games/ 18 goals) and Jarrad Waite (143 games/ 169 goals).

View the broadcast guide for the match.

AFL ROUND 17
CARLTON v COLLINGWOOD
Saturday 16 July, 2011
MCG, 2:10pm

COLLINGWOOD
B:
Leon Davis, Ben Reid, Harry O’Brien
HB: Alan Toovey, Nick Maxwell, *Heath Shaw
C: Dane Swan, Dale Thomas, Sharrod Wellingham
HF: Jarryd Blair, Chris Tarrant, Andrew Krakouer
F: Steele Sidebottom, Travis Cloke, Leigh Brown
Foll: Darren Jolly, Scott Pendlebury (vc), Luke Ball
Int: Luke Rounds, Lachlan Keeffe, Ben Johnson, Alex Fasolo

Emg: Simon Buckley, Tyson Goldsack, John McCarthy

In: Ben Johnson
Out: Simon Buckley (omitted)

CARLTON
B:
Bret Thornton, Lachlan Henderson, Aaron Joseph
HB: Christopher Yarran, Jeremy Laidler, Nick Duigan
C: Bryce Gibbs, Chris Judd, Heath Scotland
HF: Jeffrey Garlett, Matthew Watson, Kade Simpson
F: Andrew Walker, Matthew Kruezer, Eddie Betts
Foll: Robert Warnock, Mitch Robinson, Marc Murphy
Int: Paul Bower, David Ellard, Edward Curnow, Wayde Twomey

Emg:
Dennis Armfield, Kane Lucas, Zach Tuohy

Milestone: Aaron Joseph (50 games)

In: Curnow, Watson, Twomey
Out: Houlihan, Russell (soreness), Waite (hip)