Collingwood has made just one change to its side for Friday night’s blockbuster preliminary final battle with Geelong at the MCG.
After back soreness forced Josh Fraser to be a late withdrawal from the triumphant semi-final side over in Perth last Friday, the ruckman trained well all week and is fit to take on the Cats, while Chris Bryan has been unluckily omitted.
Apart from the suspended Ben Johnson, who still has two matches to serve of a six-match suspension, and injured youngsters John Anthony and Chris Egan, Collingwood has a full list to choose from.
Paul Licuria and Danny Stanley join Bryan as emergencies for the match to decide which team will take on either Port Adelaide or the Kangaroos in the Grand Final.
Geelong, meanwhile, has kept the 22 that beat the Kangaroos in the qualifying final by 106 points intact.
2007 AFL Finals Series – First Preliminary Final
Geelong v Collingwood
Friday 21 September
MCG, 7:50PM
GEELONG
B: Tom Harley, Matthew Scarlett, Josh Hunt
HB: Andrew Mackie, Darren Milburn, David Wojcinski
C: Joel Corey, Jimmy Bartel, Corey Enright
HF: Steve Johnson, Cameron Mooney, Joel Selwood
F: Paul Chapman, Nathan Ablett, Mathew Stokes
Foll: Brad Ottens, Cameron Ling, Gary Ablett
Int: Mark Blake, Shannon Byrnes, James Kelly, Max Rooke
Emg: Travis Varcoe, Brent Prismall, Charlie Gardiner
In: No change
Out:
COLLINGWOOD
B: James Clement, Shane Wakelin, Tarkyn Lockyer
HB: Heath Shaw, Harry O’Brien, Tyson Goldsack
C: Martin Clarke, Scott Burns, Nathan Buckley
HF: Nick Maxwell, Anthony Rocca, Scott Pendlebury
F: Dale Thomas, Travis Cloke, Sean Rusling
Foll: Guy Richards, Shane O’Bree, Leon Davis
Int: Dane Swan, Josh Fraser, Alan Didak, Paul Medhurst
Emg: Paul Licuria, Danny Stanley, Chris Bryan
In: Josh Fraser
Out: Chris Bryan (omitted)
Milestone: Most Finals Coached - Michael Malthouse. This week, Michael is due to coach his 38th final, taking him to outright fifth position in the history of the game. The leading coaches in finals are Jock McHale (59 with Collingwood), Kevin Sheedy (43 with Essendon), Tom Hafey (42 with Richmond, Collingwood and Sydney), Allan Jeans (41 with St Kilda and Hawthorn), Mick Malthouse (37 with Footscray, West Coast and Collingwood), Dick Reynolds (37 with Essendon), David Parkin (36 with Hawthorn, Carlton and Fitzroy), Ron Barassi (33 with Carlton and North Melbourne), Frank Hughes (30 with Richmond and Melbourne) and Leigh Matthews (27 with Collingwood and Brisbane Lions).
After back soreness forced Josh Fraser to be a late withdrawal from the triumphant semi-final side over in Perth last Friday, the ruckman trained well all week and is fit to take on the Cats, while Chris Bryan has been unluckily omitted.
Apart from the suspended Ben Johnson, who still has two matches to serve of a six-match suspension, and injured youngsters John Anthony and Chris Egan, Collingwood has a full list to choose from.
Paul Licuria and Danny Stanley join Bryan as emergencies for the match to decide which team will take on either Port Adelaide or the Kangaroos in the Grand Final.
Geelong, meanwhile, has kept the 22 that beat the Kangaroos in the qualifying final by 106 points intact.
2007 AFL Finals Series – First Preliminary Final
Geelong v Collingwood
Friday 21 September
MCG, 7:50PM
GEELONG
B: Tom Harley, Matthew Scarlett, Josh Hunt
HB: Andrew Mackie, Darren Milburn, David Wojcinski
C: Joel Corey, Jimmy Bartel, Corey Enright
HF: Steve Johnson, Cameron Mooney, Joel Selwood
F: Paul Chapman, Nathan Ablett, Mathew Stokes
Foll: Brad Ottens, Cameron Ling, Gary Ablett
Int: Mark Blake, Shannon Byrnes, James Kelly, Max Rooke
Emg: Travis Varcoe, Brent Prismall, Charlie Gardiner
In: No change
Out:
COLLINGWOOD
B: James Clement, Shane Wakelin, Tarkyn Lockyer
HB: Heath Shaw, Harry O’Brien, Tyson Goldsack
C: Martin Clarke, Scott Burns, Nathan Buckley
HF: Nick Maxwell, Anthony Rocca, Scott Pendlebury
F: Dale Thomas, Travis Cloke, Sean Rusling
Foll: Guy Richards, Shane O’Bree, Leon Davis
Int: Dane Swan, Josh Fraser, Alan Didak, Paul Medhurst
Emg: Paul Licuria, Danny Stanley, Chris Bryan
In: Josh Fraser
Out: Chris Bryan (omitted)
Milestone: Most Finals Coached - Michael Malthouse. This week, Michael is due to coach his 38th final, taking him to outright fifth position in the history of the game. The leading coaches in finals are Jock McHale (59 with Collingwood), Kevin Sheedy (43 with Essendon), Tom Hafey (42 with Richmond, Collingwood and Sydney), Allan Jeans (41 with St Kilda and Hawthorn), Mick Malthouse (37 with Footscray, West Coast and Collingwood), Dick Reynolds (37 with Essendon), David Parkin (36 with Hawthorn, Carlton and Fitzroy), Ron Barassi (33 with Carlton and North Melbourne), Frank Hughes (30 with Richmond and Melbourne) and Leigh Matthews (27 with Collingwood and Brisbane Lions).
