After weeks of stability at selection, Collingwood has made three changes for Friday night’s blockbuster against Geelong.
Two players will represent the senior side for the first time this year, while another, Tim Broomhead, has been recalled after overcoming an illness.
Jarrod Witts and Tony Armstrong have been rewarded for their consistency at VFL level and will run out onto the MCG for the first time in 2015.
TEAM SHEET: Watch key interviews with Witts, Armstrong and Travis Varcoe.
Armstrong, who was moved onto the club’s rookie list last December, featured in the final five senior games of 2014 but missed last week’s round of matches after injuring his knee against Essendon in the VFL.
“I’m rapt to be back in and back out there on a Friday night,” Armstrong told CollingwoodTV’s Team Sheet.
“I’d say I will be playing as a running back. I’ve obviously got to shut down some of their dangerous small forwards and hopefully I get the ball in my hands and use my skills.
The 25-year-old has not played in front of a crowd of more than 55,000, meaning Friday night’s match is likely to be the biggest of his 36 at the highest level.
MATCH CENTRE: All the important ticketing information for Friday night.
“I’m pretty bloody excited, you know, it doesn’t get much bigger than Collingwood-Geelong on a Friday,” he smiled.
“I’m just rapt to be out there.”
For Witts, Friday night’s match marks a return to the big time after several consistent efforts with the VFL Magpies.
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Shoulder surgery resulted in a delayed start to the pre-season, meaning he has had to bide his time in the state league as Brodie Grundy held down the number one ruck mantle.
But Witts’ approach to his time in the VFL ensured the match committee turned in his favour, recalling him after he averaged 30.3 hitouts across the first three games of the year.
“I’ll be nervous but also excited,” Witts told Team Sheet.
“I’m ready to put my best foot forward for the team and hopefully get my hands on a few and create a nice contest in the ruck for the ‘mids’.”
VFL TEAM: View the squad for Saturday night's match.
Witts’ inclusion will see him combine with Grundy in the ruck for just the fourteenth time in their careers.
Those who will miss are running defenders Paul Seedsman (glute) and Jackson Ramsay (shin) and tall utility Corey Gault (omitted).
Gault joins draftee Jordan De Goey and Jonathon Marsh as the three emergencies.
Collingwood v Geelong
Round 6 2015
Friday 8 May
MCG, 7.50pm
Collingwood
B: Alan Toovey, Nathan Brown, Marley Williams
HB: Tom Langdon, Jack Frost, Tyson Goldsack
C: Adam Oxley, Dane Swan, Jack Crisp
HF: Jamie Elliott, Jesse White, Travis Varcoe
F: Patrick Karnezis, Travis Cloke, Jarryd Blair
Foll: Brodie Grundy, Taylor Adams, Scott Pendlebury
Int: Sam Dwyer, Tony Armstrong, Jarrod Witts, Tim Broomhead
Emg: Jonathon Marsh, Jordan De Goey, Corey Gault
IN: Tony Armstrong, Tim Broomhead, Jarrod Witts
OUT: Jackson Ramsay (shin), Paul Seedsman (glute), Corey Gault (omitted)
Fast Fact
Collingwood and Geelong have not met in front of a crowd of less than 58,521 since 2005. You have to go back to round three, 2003, to find the last time they met in front of less than 50,00 in a match at the MCG.
Geelong
B: Corey Enright, Harry Taylor, Jared Rivers
HB: Jackson Thurlow, Tom Lonergan, Jed Bews
C: Steven Motlop, Joel Selwood, Mitch Duncan
HF: Darcy Lang, Mitch Clark, Steve Johnson
F: Cory Gregson, Tom Hawkins, Jordan Murdoch
Foll: Mark Blicavs, Josh Caddy, Cameron Guthrie
Int: Nakia Cockatoo, Josh Cowan, Shane Kersten, Rhys Stanley
Emg: George Horlin-Smith, Dawson Simpson, Josh Walker
IN: Mitch Clark, Nakia Cockatoo, Josh Cowan, Rhys Stanley
OUT: James Kelly (groin), George Horlin-Smith (omitted), Dawson Simpson (omitted), Josh Walker (omitted)
Milestone: Tom Lonergan (150 games)
