“There clearly needs to be changes after a performance like that,” the coach said in reference to Collingwood’s 47-point loss to Sydney last Friday.
Buckley cited several players both young and old as potential inclusions for the trip to the Gabba, ranging from untried rookies Kyle Martin and Adam Oxley, to fourth-year onballer Josh Thomas, to 200-gamers Ben Johnson and Alan Didak.
Martin, who kicked six goals, collected 27 possessions and laid 10 tackles against Essendon in Saturday’s VFL win, was praised for his “all-round performances” and “constantly buying in”.
“His pressure around the contest has been excellent and he knows where to find the ball and kick goals.”
Buckley called on the senior players to “be the glue” for the list, naming Johnson, Didak, Nick Maxwell, Darren Jolly and Ben Hudson as the men to help guide the young group through an up-and-down start to the season.
On the injury front, the coach said that Heath Shaw will be in the mix this week as he overcomes a back injury.
Clinton Young is at least 2-3 weeks away from resuming in the VFL as he gradually recovers from the hamstring injury that has ruined the first half of his season.
Buckley said that Young will need at least “two full weeks of footy training” before stepping back into the VFL, where he originally sustained the injury back in April.
The coach also announced that Lachlan Keeffe will sit out Saturday’s VFL match against the Northern Blues due to a bruised kidney.
Keeffe returned from a knee reconstruction in the win over the Bombers but has been forced back onto the sidelines.
“He copped a knock to the kidney late in the game on the weekend,” Buckley told reporters.
“From a knee perspective he is excellent but he unfortunately landed on an opposition player (Essendon’s Joe Daniher) and bruised his kidney.”
Keeffe won’t play this week and will be assessed by the club’s medical staff.
Facing the media this afternoon, @ncb_cfc has said that there "clearly needs to be changes" following Friday's loss twitter.com/CollingwoodFC/…
— Collingwood FC (@CollingwoodFC) May 28, 2013