The Magpies have been hit hard by injuries with Dayne Beams (calf), Josh Fraser (knee), Scott Pendlebury (cracked fibula) and Anthony Rocca (ankle) all out of the senior side.
Cameron Wood, Brad Dick, Tyson Goldsack, Sharrod Wellingham and Brent Macaffer are the five inclusions.
John McCarthy has been omitted from the side that lost the Qualifying Final to St Kilda by 28 points last Sunday.
Wood, who returns to the side after contributing in the VFL last weekend, will want to emulate his Round 19 performance when he squares off against Adelaide’s tall timber. The ruckman shined against the Crows at AAMI Stadium, finishing the match with 24 possessions, 19 hitouts and two goals.
Off the back of a five-goal haul in the VFL win, Dick has returned to play his 15th senior match of the year. Forced to the sidelines for the entire 2008 season after injurying his knee in a pre-season match, the lively forward has kicked 20 goals this season including five majors on the Queen’s Birthday.
Elevated off the rookie list last year (in place of Dick), Wellingham will play his 15th AFL match for 2009. The 21-year-old, who has averaged 18 disposals and three tackles at the highest level, will face Adelaide for the first time in his career.
In and out of the senior side this season, Goldsack returns for his 11th match this year and 44th for his career. The defender generated strong run and used the ball with supreme accuracy (19 disposals) in the VFL last week.
Macaffer, who arrived on the senior stage by kicking a goal with his first disposal in the AFL on ANZAC Day, will play just his fourth match this season. After finding a niche down back in the VFL over the last month, the wildcard selection will provide the Magpies with several options on Saturday night.
Martin Clarke, Chris Dawes and McCarthy have all been named as emergencies.
Adelaide has made one change bringing in tagger Robert Shirley (150 AFL games) for Richard Douglas.
Semi Final 1
Collingwood v Adelaide
Saturday 12 September
MCG, 7:30 pm
Collingwood
B: Harry O’Brien, Simon Prestigiacomo, Leigh Brown
HB: Heath Shaw, Nick Maxwell, Tarkyn Lockyer
C: Alan Didak, Shane O’Bree, Brad Dick
HF: Alan Toovey, Travis Cloke, Ben Johnson
F: Paul Medhurst, John Anthony, Dale Thomas
Foll: Cameron Wood, Dane Swan, Leon Davis
I/C: Brent Macaffer, Tyson Goldsack, Steele Sidebottom, Sharrod Wellingham
Emg: John McCarthy, Martin Clarke, Chris Dawes
In: Brad Dick, Tyson Goldsack, Brent Macaffer, Sharrod Wellingham, Cameron Wood
Out: Dayne Beams (calf), Josh Fraser (knee), Scott Pendlebury (cracked fibula), Anthony Rocca (ankle), John McCarthy (omitted)
Adelaide
B: Graham Johncock, Ben Rutten, Andy Otten
HB: Brent Reilly, Scott Stevens, Michael Doughty
C: Andrew McLeod, Scott Thompson, David Mackay
HF: Chris Knights, Trent Hentschel, Bernie Vince
F: Jason Porplyzia, Kurt Tippett, Brett Burton
R: Ivan Maric, Tyson Edwards, Simon Goodwin
I/C: Robert Shirley, Brad Symes, James Sellar, Patrick Dangerfield
Emg: Phil Davis, Rory Sloane, Richard Douglas
In: Robert Shirley
Out: Richard Douglas
