Collingwoodfc.com.au has compiled a list of players who could be considered for selection when the match committee submits its team on Thursday evening.
From the coach: “Our VFL (team) had a win earlier this afternoon. Andrew Krakouer, Clinton Young and Lachlan Keeffe were a few boys that performed pretty well. We expect to get Beams and Goldsack back into match play next week so there’s four or five there that are up and about and ready to come in. It’s good to have competition for spots. We had obviously some players tonight that had their colours lowered and if that happens too consistently then clearly selection needs to come into play. Benny (Reid) was thereabouts. He’ll play next week,” – Nathan Buckley after Collingwood’s loss to Port Adelaide on Saturday.
What’s next for the seniors?
Friday night football against Mick Malthouse’s Carlton at the MCG. The eyes of the nation will be on the two clubs that currently hold eighth and ninth on the AFL ladder after 14 rounds.
Where is the VFL team at?
The VFL Magpies will take on the ladder leading Box Hill at Box Hill City Oval on Saturday at 2pm.
6. Tyson Goldsack
Has taken more time to recover from a pesky hip injury than first anticipated but was touted as a possible returnee by Buckley in his post-match press conference. Considering the amount of football he has missed, Goldsack is probably more likely to return via the VFL.
Last played: Round Six v St Kilda
In 2013: 5 games, 5 goals. Averaging 11.20 possessions, 2.60 marks and 2.40 tackles
7. Andrew Krakouer
In slashing form at VFL level in recent weeks. Won 25 possessions (17 contested) against Coburg and returned from the bye to win a team-high 24 touches in Saturday’s win over Port Melbourne. He was a key in Collingwood’s ability to hold out the more experienced Borough in the second half and inspired his teammates with several desperate acts.
Last played: Round 10 v Brisbane
In 2013: 5 games, 6 goals. Averaging 13.40 possessions, 3.20 marks and 3.00 tackles
14. Clinton Young
Poor Young has endured his share of frustration since crossing from Hawthorn as a Free Agent last October. He looked the part on the wing in the NAB Cup but played only one game in the opening 11 rounds of the home and away season (and even that was only a 10 minute stint in the VFL before injury struck). Fortunately, it appears as if he is over those hurdles and he hasn’t taken much time to find his touch in the VFL. In his two games at that level he has won 13 and 21 possessions and his long left foot has set him apart from his opponents. Got four quality quarters under his belt against Port Melbourne on Saturday and it will surely be tempting for the match committee to call upon his services for Friday night’s clash with the old enemy.
Last played: Grand Final v Sydney 2012 (for Hawthorn)
In 2013: 0 games, 0 goals
15. Jarrod Witts
Hasn’t been seen on the MCG since the loss to Sydney in round nine but his VFL form has been solid in recent weeks as he begins to form a reliable ruck partnership with Brodie Grundy that Pies fans hope will sustain the team for the next decade. Witts had 24 hitouts against Coburg and followed that up with another 19 against Port Melbourne. He also had an impact on the scoreboard in both games and has looked dangerous leading out of the goal square.
Last played: Round Nine v Sydney
In 2013: 3 games, 1 goal. Averaging 6.00 possessions, 2.67 marks, 1.33 tackles and 5.33 hitouts
17. Dayne Beams
The man Collingwood supporters have been patiently waiting to see all season. The 2012 Copeland Trophy winner injured his quad at the final training session before the first game of the year and has struggled to shake it ever since. Nathan Buckley has provided hope of a recall in his recent post-match press conferences. First, he told reporters after the win over the Western Bulldogs: “Dayne Beams has had a bit of a breakthrough over the last couple of weeks and he was where ‘Goldy’ was probably a month ago. We’d be looking to have him back, if not the first game out of the bye, then the second.” He followed up almost a fortnight later with this after the loss to the Power: “We expect to get Beams and Goldsack back into match play next week.” On that basis, Beams is in the frame for a game this week. Whether it’s in the VFL or the AFL is up to the match committee.
Last Played: Preliminary Final v Sydney 2012
In 2013: 0 games, 0 goals
18. Darren Jolly
Sat out Saturday’s game due to a toe injury but is expected to be in the frame this week. “They’ll both be assessed again after the weekend rehab sessions,” Director of Football Geoff Walsh told collingwoodfc.com.au when it was announced that Jolly and Ben Reid would miss the trip to South Australia. “At this point it doesn’t look like they’re long term injuries.”
Last Played: Round 12 v Western Bulldogs
In 2013: 9 games, 4 goals. Averaging 11.78 possessions, 4.44 marks, 3.56 tackles and 23.22 hitouts
20. Ben Reid
Like Jolly, Reid missed Saturday’s loss to the Power but is expected to come into the reckoning for a game this week. “Benny (Reid) was thereabouts,” Buckley said after the match. “He’ll play next week.” Reid was substituted out of the round 12 clash with the Western Bulldogs during the third quarter.
Last Played: Round 12 v Western Bulldogs
In 2013: 12 games, 3 goals. Averaging 16.17 possessions, 6.17 marks and 1.67 tackles
23. Lachlan Keeffe
They say that good things come to those who wait, and Lachlan Keeffe has had to wait longer than most for a chance to restart his AFL career. He missed 12 months after undergoing a knee reconstruction and then had to sit out another fortnight as the result of a kidney injury sustained in his comeback game against Essendon’s VFL side. He has now strung two high quality games together and could be thrust back into the action against the Blues on Friday night. Although he has played most of his senior football as a centre half back, Buckley hinted that he could even be used in a Quinten Lynch/Leigh Brown role as a key position player that can give the senior ruckman a chopout late in the quarters. “’Keeffey’ played today and he’s going to be an important part of our second half of the year (in terms of) competition for spots,” Buckley told the press after the win against the Bulldogs. “It’s pretty hard to create that sort of competition for a player like Quinten Lynch who in the last couple of weeks has been really good for us but to have that second ruckman opportunity and also pressure on our key backs is important. Keeffey is a player who showed in the first half of last year what he was capable of. He’s only played nine games of footy and in the last 12 months he’s been getting over an ACL. Big fellas take a bit of time. We can’t expect a great deal from Keeffey.”
Last Played: Round Nine v Adelaide 2012
In 2013: 0 games, 0 goals
29. Tim Broomhead
Collingwood has already blooded seven new players this season, so what’s stopping it from introducing an eighth? If the match committee is looking for more new blood, Broomhead could be the man. He has been a solid contributor in all five of his VFL games since recovering from a pre-season bout of glandular fever and his form was acknowledged by the coaches when he was named as an emergency for the game against the Bulldogs. The South Australian onballers had 18 possessions on the weekend and kicked a classy goal in the second quarter.
Last Played: Yet to debut
In 2013: 0 games, 0 goals
33. Jackson Paine
Twelve months ago, Paine was coming off a two goal game against Fremantle and kicked another two against Carlton before being demoted to the VFL. He has only appeared once in the 360 days since and not once this season. But that doesn’t tell the full story. Paine, who underwent surgery on his shoulder last summer, has been a key reason behind Collingwood’s bright start to the VFL season. He has kicked 27 goals in 11 games (already 10 goals ahead of last year’s haul), peaking with five against Geelong in round six. The 194cm full forward has made solid improvement as the year has worn on and is well placed to make an impact if called upon by the match committee this week.
Last Played: Round 23 v Essendon 2012
In 2013: 0 games, 0 goals
43. Adam Oxley
A revelation in the first half of the VFL season and was deservedly given opportunities in the seniors against Melbourne and the Western Bulldogs. He acquitted himself well after starting as the sub on both occasions but was squeezed out against Port Adelaide. Started Saturday’s game against Port Melbourne a little quietly by his usual standards but ended it as Collingwood’s second most prolific player (22 possessions, seven marks and a team-high five rebound 50s).
Last Played: Round 12 v Western Bulldogs
In 2013: 2 games, 0 goals. Averaging 5.00 possessions, 1.50 marks and 0.50 tackles
