The big boys are back!

That sums up the changes to Collingwood’s team ahead of Friday night’s huge clash with Carlton at the MCG.

Mason Cox returns after serving a one-match suspension, while Ben Reid has also been included in the side after recovering from the sore hip that was caused by a collision with Cox during the round one loss to Hawthorn.

Cox and Reid have both been named in the forward line and will be looking to add some presence up there.

Tim Broomhead goes out of the team after suffering a season-ending broken leg in the round two loss to Greater Western Sydney.

An injury has also sidelined key position player Darcy Moore. He will be sidelined for up to a month by a hamstring problem.

The emergencies are Jarryd Blair, Chris Mayne, Alex Fasolo and Brody Mihocek.

All four have been named in Collingwood's VFL team to play the Northern Blues at Preston City Oval from 2pm on Saturday.

Mayne has recovered from the quad injury that saw him withdraw from the AFL emergency list and the VFL team last weekend.

Adams brings up a century
One of the first goals Taylor Adams set himself after being drafted was to play 100 AFL games. On Friday night, he’ll achieve that milestone when he lines up against the Blues. Adams played his first 31 games for Greater Western Sydney before joining the Magpies in the lead-up to the 2014 season.



Taylor Adams celebrates a goal against Melbourne in round 23, 2017.

Still room for smalls up forward
A feature of the Pies’ performance against the Giants last weekend was the use of midfielders like Adam Treloar in the forward line. Indeed, there were times when Treloar was left one-out inside 50, and he looked very dangerous in the role, kicking two impressive goals and regularly leaving his opponent in his wake. Could we see more of the same on Friday night, even though Mason Cox and Ben Reid are back in the side? Assistant coach Robert Harvey thinks so. “We used some midfielders forward (last weekend), which we’ll continue to do,” Harvey told The Source on Thursday. “That was exciting for us.”

A great rivalry
Carlton and Collingwood have met on the most occasions since the formation of the VFL/AFL in 1897. The clubs have met 254 times, with the Pies trailing narrowly on the win-loss count 123-127. There have been four draws.

Desperate for a win
Collingwood-Carlton games are always big. But with both sides winless after two rounds, this one has plenty riding on it. “It’s a massive game and we’re really keen to get on the board,” Harvey said. “It going to be on, and hopefully our players settle and play the footy we know they can.”

Carlton v Collingwood
AFL Round Three
Friday 6 April
MCG, 7.50pm

Collingwood
B: Sam Murray, Lynden Dunn, Brayden Maynard
HB: Tom Langdon, Matthew Scharenberg, Jeremy Howe
C: Steele Sidebottom, Scott Pendlebury, Tom Phillips
HF: Josh Thomas, Ben Reid, Will Hoskin-Elliott
F: Jaidyn Stephenson, Mason Cox, Callum Brown
Foll: Brodie Grundy, Adam Treloar, Taylor Adams
Int: Jack Crisp, Travis Varcoe, Ben Crocker, James Aish
Emg: Jarryd Blair, Chris Mayne, Alex Fasolo, Brody Mihocek

IN: Mason Cox, Ben Reid
OUT: Tim Broomhead (broken leg), Darcy Moore (hamstring)

Milestones: Taylor Adams (100 games), Travis Varcoe (50 games for Collingwood)



Josh Thomas roars with delight after sending through a major against the Giants in round two.