Selected in the place of injured pair Jamie Elliott and Ben Sinclair, Didak and Kennedy’s selection, emphasises the impressive level of depth available at the club’s disposal, with the duo primed to make an immediate impact.
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With his last outing for the VFL Magpies hailed by Development Manager Craig McRae as his best yet in Black and White, Kennedy’s selection is due reward for a series of progressively improving displays, which has seen the South Australian impress with his ball use and attack at the contest.
Fielded in a midfield role against Sandringham last weekend, Kennedy collected 28 possessions, including nine clearances and four inside 50s, while laying two tackles, helping drive the side to an emphatic 10-goal win at Trevor Barker Oval.
Having struggled to force his way back into the Magpies side since overcoming a calf injury, Didak produced a timely star turn at the home of the Zebras, with his 33 disposals, including four inside 50s and four rebound 50s to highlight his effective ball use.
While Didak hasn’t featured at senior level since Collingwood’s emphatic round 11 triumph over Melbourne, the former Copeland Trophy winner has remained among the club’s leading contributors at VFL level, where his class and poise has been telling.
With Didak and Kennedy the sole inclusions, and Ben Hudson, Jordan Russell and Paul Seedsman named to the emergencies list, Darren Jolly will once again be forced to press his claims for a return to the fold via the VFL, with the form of 2013 debutant Brodie Grundy proving irresistible.
While recently confirming Grundy has consolidated his place as Collingwood’s number one ruck option following a series of increasingly impressive displays, senior coach Nathan Buckley believes the towering duo can operate in concert.
“To be honest, Brodie is our No.1 ruckman right now - the way he's performed over the last month has been exceptional,” Buckley said.
“That doesn't discount the fact that both of them (Grundy and Jolly) can play together.”
Meanwhile, wingman Clinton Young is likely to see his first tentative steps back to competitive action in the VFL after recovering from a hamstring injury which has sidelined him since round 16.
Collingwood v West Coast
Round 22
Friday 23 August
MCG, 7.50pm
Collingwood
B: Nathan Brown, Nick Maxwell. Heath Shaw
HB: Marley Williams, Lachlan Keeffe, Tyson Goldsack
C: Harry O'Brien, Dayne Beams, Luke Ball
HF: Steele Sidebottom, Quinten Lynch, Jarryd Blair
F: Alan Didak, Travis Cloke, Ben Reid
Foll: Brodie Grundy, Scott Pendlebury, Dane Swan
Int: Brent Macaffer, Josh Thomas, Ben Kennedy, Sam Dwyer
Emg: Jordan Russell, Ben Hudson, Paul Seedsman
IN: Alan Didak, Ben Kennedy
OUT: Jamie Elliott (shoulder), Ben Sinclair (hamstring)
Milestone: Brent Macaffer (50 games)
