Superstar forward Anthony Rocca has been named in the team after fully recovering from an ankle injury he sustained in round 13 last season. Alan Toovey and Tyson Goldsack return to the team after both players showed good form in the VFL win on the weekend, and young Magpie Jaxson Barham is set to make his debut for the club.
Skipper Nick Maxwell will miss the next two weeks through suspension as will defender Heath Shaw, who misses with a one-week ban. Midfielder Ben Johnson will be forced to sit out the next month with a broken leg sustained against Geelong, and Brad Dick has been omitted.
Rocca, who was close to senior selection last week, played 80% of game time in last week’s VFL match and kicked three goals.
After playing the first two matches of the season, Toovey has come back into the side for his 20th career game.
Toovey joins Goldsack who will play his second match of the season after collecting 19 disposals in the VFL last week.
The famous Barham name will continue its Collingwood legacy on Friday night when Jaxson, son of Ricky (151 games, 140 goals), runs out for his first senior game. Jaxson, who was selected by Collingwood as a father/son pick (No. 61 overall) in the 2006 AFL Draft, played 14 games in the VFL side last year.
Veteran midfielder Shane O’Bree will lead the team out and flip the coin in recognition of his 200th club game.
Brisbane have lost young ruckman Matthew Leuenberger to a knee injury but have recalled Jamie Charman (128 AFL games) to take his place. Jared Brennan (81 AFL games) has overcome a quadricep injury and will play his first game this season.
2009 AFL Round 4
Brisbane v Collingwood
Friday 17 April
Gabba, 7:40 pm
Collingwood
B: Shannon Cox, Simon Prestigiacomo, Tyson Goldsack
HB: Harry O’Brien, Nathan Brown, Martin Clarke
C: Shane O’Bree, Alan Didak, Dale Thomas
HF: Dayne Beams, Travis Cloke, Paul Medhurst
F: John Anthony, Leigh Brown, Anthony Rocca
Foll: Josh Fraser, Tarkyn Lockyer, Scott Pendlebury
Int: Leon Davis, Jaxson Barham, Dane Swan, Alan Toovey
Emg: Anthony Corrie, Brad Dick, Danny Stanley
In: Jaxson Barham, Tyson Goldsack, Anthony Rocca, Alan Toovey
Out: Brad Dick (omitted), Ben Johnson (injured), Nick Maxwell (suspended), Heath Shaw (suspended)
Milestones: Shane O’Bree (200 club games)
New: Jaxson Barham (Geelong U18)
Brisbane
B: Ashley McGrath, Daniel Merrett, Joel Patfull
HB: Luke Power, Joel Macdonald, Josh Drummond
C: Bradd Dalziell, Simon Black, Daniel Rich
HF: Michael Rischitelli, Jonathan Brown, Justin Sherman
F: Tim Notting, Daniel Bradshaw, Mitch Clark
Foll: Jamie Charman, Travis Johnstone, Jed Adcock
Int: Jared Brennan, Cheynee Stiller, Jason Roe, Troy Selwood
Emg: James Polkinghorne, Tom Collier, Albert Proud
In: Jamie Charman, Jared Brennan
Out: Matthew Leuenberger (knee), Albert Proud
