Ball (calf) and O’Brien (sick) were among the notable absentees from the side which suffered defeat to North Melbourne in last weekend’s dead rubber clash, and will provide a timely boost to a Collingwood outfit poised to embark on the path less travelled in launching its flag tilt.
Read collingwoodfc.com.au's Ultimate Elimination Final Preview.
Despite suffering a delayed start to the season as he sought to complete his recovery from knee surgery, Ball, 29, has emphatically cast aside any doubts with an impressive campaign which has seen the former All-Australian average nearly 24 disposals, seven tackles and five clearances a game.
Such figures serve to underline the gritty midfielder’s undoubted worth to the Magpies, playing a pivotal role as part of one of the leading midfield ensembles in the game, alongside AFLCA Champion Player of the Year Scott Pendlebury, Dane Swan and Dayne Beams.
And as the opening exchanges of the 2013 finals series approach, there can surely be no doubt that Collingwood’s heralded midfield quartet, which has already inspired the Black and White to three Grand Finals and a Preliminary Final appearance in the last three years, will have its say in determining the Magpies ultimate fate.
While the added steel provided by Ball’s inclusion reinforces the Magpies strength at stoppages, O’Brien’s hard running and constantly simmering creativity equips the side with one of its most lethal counter attacking weapons, bolstering its already considerable armoury.
Though doubts hovered over the fitness of Nathan Brown and Quinten Lynch in the aftermath of Sunday’s loss, any fears have been assuaged by the duo’s selection for the third ever finals encounter between Collingwood and Port Adelaide.
The inclusion of Ball and O’Brien will see Jordan Russell and Ben Kennedy consigned to the emergencies list, joining Jamie Elliott, who returns to the selection table for the first time since suffering a hamstring injury a fortnight ago.
Small defender Ben Sinclair remains a week away from selection consideration after failing to sufficiently overcome a shoulder injury.
While the Collingwood side named to face Port Adelaide boasts 15 players who featured in the 2010 Premiership, such a fact disguises the dichotomy of experience which exists within the Magpies of 2013.
Indeed, with over a quarter of the Collingwood side poised to make its finals bow on Saturday, the likes of Sam Dwyer, Brodie Grundy, Lachlan Keeffe, Paul Seedsman, Josh Thomas and Marley Williams will represent the changing face of the Black and White.
Collingwood v Port Adelaide
Second Elimination Final
Saturday 7 September
MCG, 7.45pm
Collingwood
B: Paul Seedsman, Nathan Brown, Heath Shaw
HB: Marley Williams, Lachlan Keeffe, Tyson Goldsack
C: Harry O'Brien, Dayne Beams, Alan Didak
HF: Steele Sidebottom, Quinten Lynch, Jarryd Blair
F: Luke Ball, Travis Cloke, Ben Reid
Foll: Brodie Grundy, Scott Pendlebury, Dane Swan
Int: Brent Macaffer, Nick Maxwell, Josh Thomas, Sam Dwyer
Emg: Jordan Russell, Jamie Elliott, Ben Kennedy
IN: Luke Ball, Harry O'Brien
OUT: Ben Kennedy, Jordan Russell (omitted)
Port Adelaide
B: Cameron O'Shea, Alipate Carlile, Tom Logan
HB: Matthew Broadbent, Jackson Trengove, Tom Jonas
C: Brad Ebert, Travis Boak, Kane Cornes
HF: Robbie Gray, Justin Westhoff, Domenic Cassisi
F: Chad Wingard, Jay Schulz, Angus Monfries
Foll: Matthew Lobbe, Hamish Hartlett, Oliver Wines
Int: Andrew Moore, Jasper Pittard, Sam Colquhoun, Aaron Young
Emg: Cameron Hitchcock, Jake Neade, Jack Hombsch
In: Alipate Carlile, Robbie Gray, Hamish Hartlett
Out: Jack Hombsch, Brent Renouf, Lewis Stevenson (omitted)
