With Scott Pendlebury set to miss Sunday’s clash against West Coast with a broken finger, an opportunity arises for another Collingwood player to enter the Magpies’ midfield mix.

“The midfield versus the Eagles…where they’ll come up against Sam Mitchell and Matt Priddis, will be an important battle,” Herald Sun journalist Jay Clark told Collingwood Media’s ‘The Agenda’.

“The courageous Scott Pendlebury…will be taken out of Collingwood’s midfield mix.

“Not often do we look at the Collingwood midfield and not have him in it.”

But with one classy midfielder going out of the side, the team from ‘The Agenda’ believe there’s another Magpie capable of filling the void.

“Heading into this game against West Coast at Etihad Stadium…Daniel Wells is one of Collingwood’s most important players,” Clark said.

“We saw his class and his polish (against the Suns)…we saw his cleanness around the ball.

“If you’re West Coast coach Adam Simpson, and you have Mark Hutchings as the tagger, the man I’d be going to is Wells.”

But with Wells having already cemented his spot in Collingwood’s side, does another midfielder come into the line-up for Sunday’s clash?

Collingwood Media presents some midfield options pushing for selection this week.


LEVI GREENWOOD

After missing Saturday’s victory against the Suns with suspension, the 28-year-old looms as a potential inclusion into Nathan Buckley’s side.

“Greenwood can come back in, but I reckon he’s more dangerous as a forward,” Clark noted.

In his 13 matches this season, Greenwood has rotated throughout the midfield and forward half, averaging 16 disposals, three tackles and five marks. The former North Melbourne midfielder has kicked six goals for the season.

RUPERT WILLS

After being named as an emergency for Collingwood’s team last week, Collingwood great Michael Christian believes “it may be time to play Rupert Wills” in the senior side.

“He’s a big body and I think he’s the perfect match up for Priddis.

“He’s been playing some outstanding football in the VFL. I know they want to get him into the team, it’s just a matter of when they can do it,” Christian explained.

JAMES AISH

After being crippled with injury this season, the South Australian has been limited to five senior appearances for the Magpies.

Against Geelong two weeks ago, the midfielder was named best afield for the VFL side after amassing 28 disposals, eight tackles and one goal in Collingwood’s victory.

But in Saturday’s clash against Williamstown at Victoria Park, a head knock saw Aish take no part in the second half.

TIM BROOMHEAD

In his fourth season at the Holden Centre, Broomhead has already featured in more games in 2017 than any other year.

The utility has shown glimpses this season in his 12 appearances, with his best performance coming in round two against Sydney where he collected 26 disposals, six marks and four tackles.

Having not travelled with the side to Gold Coast over the weekend, does the 23-year-old come in to face West Coast?

TOM PHILLIPS

A breakout season for 21-year-old was prematurely stalled two weeks ago when Phillips missed the game against Essendon with illness.

The midfielder returned via the VFL over the weekend, playing out three of the four quarters.

With an average of 21 disposals, three inside 50s and two clearances across his 13 games this season, does the Eagles at Etihad Stadium pose the perfect return for the elite running utility?