Favourite son Ben Johnson will play his first senior game since undergoing a shoulder reconstruction in the days after the round six win over the Western Bulldogs.
The 31-year-old joins Dane Swan, Alan Toovey, Tyson Goldsack and Cameron Wood as inclusions to the senior side for Saturday night’s match.
They replace a brace of injured Magpies, headlined by skipper Nick Maxwell (groin), Darren Jolly (general soreness), Jamie Elliott (groin) and Caolan Mooney (ankle).
Marty Clarke (omitted) rounds out the five players to miss selection, but remains in the frame for a last minute reprieve as an emergency along with Kirk Ugle and the uncapped Josh Thomas.
Johnson’s return marks the end of a 15-week rehabilitation that has seen him make an improbable comeback from an injury that would end most players’ seasons.
The 2010 premiership hero has averaged 24 disposals in his two VFL games since making his initial return from surgery and has now been deemed pull on the famous black and white stripes again.
“Initially when I first did it I thought, ‘Yeah, that’ll probably be it’, but after I had the surgery I just looked at the weeks and I thought I can make it back in 14 weeks, so that’ll be round 20,” Johnson told collingwoodfc.com.au before his VFL return a fortnight ago.??
“So that pretty much made my decision then to have a crack at it.”
The prospect of another flag is what has motivated Johnson to throw everything but the kitchen sink at a late-season return.
“That’s the only thing (another premiership) that’s been driving me the whole time, to be honest.
“If I didn’t think we could win a premiership, then there would probably have been no chance that I’d have even tried.??“But I know this group can go all the way and I’ll do anything to be a part of it”.
Three of the remaining inclusions have all been regulars this season. Swan returns after serving a two-week club suspension, while Goldsack spent the same period working to overcome an ankle injury suffered against St Kilda.
Toovey was a late withdrawal against North Melbourne with a corked thigh but has been deemed fit to return to his home state to tackle the Eagles.
The fifth inclusion, Cameron Wood, has been selected for only his second game since round 10 (having played against Greater Western Sydney in round 18).
The big man has been in solid form in his recent VFL outings, being named in the best against Bendigo three weeks ago after taking on Essendon ruckman David Hille and winning 26 hitouts and 17 possessions against the Casey Scorpions last week.
In the absence of number one ruckman Jolly, Wood will be forced to tackle the might of Dean Cox and Nic Naitanui in what looms as one of the game’s most engrossing battles.
The West Coast pair has given opposition teams all sorts of headaches in the past two years, but Wood, who played one of his most productive games against the Eagles back in 2009, will enter the match with the opportunity to cement himself in the senior side on the eve of September.
West Coast v Collingwood
Saturday 25 August
Patersons Stadium, 5:40pm
Collingwood
B: Chris Tarrant, Harry O’Brien, Nathan Brown
HB: Ben Johnson, Ben Reid, Alan Toovey
C: Sharrod Wellingham, Dane Swan, Jarryd Blair
HF: Scott Pendlebury, Chris Dawes, Heath Shaw
F: Dale Thomas, Travis Cloke, Steele Sidebottom
Foll: Cameron Wood, Ben Sinclair, Dayne Beams
Int: Alan Didak, Alex Fasolo, Tyson Goldsack, Paul Seedsman
Emg: Marty Clarke, Josh Thomas, Kirk Ugle
IN: Tyson Goldsack, Ben Johnson, Dane Swan, Alan Toovey, Cameron Wood
OUT: Jamie Elliott (groin), Darren Jolly (general soreness), Nick Maxwell (groin), Caolan Mooney (ankle), Marty Clarke (omitted)
West Coast
B: Beau Waters, Darren Glass, Sam Butler
HB: Shannon Hurn, Eric Mackenzie, Will Schofield
C: Matt Rosa, Matt Priddis, Andrew Gaff
HF: Josh Hill, Jack Darling, Patrick McGinnity
F: Chris Masten, Josh Kennedy, Nic Naitanui
Foll: Dean Cox, Scott Selwood, Luke Shuey
Int: Andrew Embley, Daniel Kerr, Quinten Lynch, Adam Selwood
Emg: Andrew Strijk, Ashton Hams, Jacob Brennan
IN: Sam Butler, Josh Kennedy, Matthew Rosa
OUT: Jacob Brennan, Bradd Dalziell, Ashton Hams
