> Watch the Magpie Minute to get the latest news from inside the Lexus CentreCollingwood has made two changes ahead of Friday night’s match against Essendon with Scott Pendlebury and Leon Davis making their return to the side.
With the Bombers coming off two impressive wins, the Magpies will readily welcome back two of their biggest stars.
Pendlebury missed last week’s match with a knee injury sustained against Sydney early on in the first quarter. The midfielder has been producing career-high numbers averaging 28 disposals and six marks a game in his fourth season at the club.
Pendlebury will join Davis, who was a late withdrawal last week through illness. The 28-year-old has kicked at least one goal in his 11 matches this year and will want to emulate his 32-possession two goal performance on ANZAC Day earlier this year.
After a 20-possession effort in the VFL loss to North Ballarat on the weekend, Ben Johnson has been named as an emergency. The midfielder showed he was back to his career best in the first two matches of the season before breaking his leg in round three against Geelong.
Marty Clarke will need at least another week in the VFL to regain his form which saw him play 22 senior games last year. He will head down the Nepean Highway with the rest of the VFL side to tackle Frankston on Sunday afternoon, a side which won its first match of the year last weekend.
Shannon Cox and Chris Dawes have been omitted from the side and are named as emergencies along with Johnson.
Essendon has made one change with Adam McPhee (157 games) coming in for the injured Jobe Watson (ankle, 85 games). McPhee has played 11 games this year and is averaging 17 disposals and three tackles per match.
Attendance is expected to reach over 90,000 on Friday night so it is advised to buy a ticket before the game. Tickets are available through Ticketek; by phone on 132 849, from outlets or online at ticketek.com.au.
2009 AFL Round 14
Collingwood v Essendon
Friday 3 July
MCG, 7:40 pm
Collingwood
B: Harry O’Brien, Simon Prestigiacomo, Tyson Goldsack
HB: Nick Maxwell (c), Leigh Brown, Dale Thomas
C: Brad Dick, Tarkyn Lockyer, Scott Pendlebury
HF: Dayne Beams, Travis Cloke, Paul Medhurst
F: Alan Didak, John Anthony, Heath Shaw
Foll: Josh Fraser, Dane Swan, Shane O’Bree
Int: Nathan Brown, Sharrod Wellingham, Leon Davis, Alan Toovey
Em: Shannon Cox, Ben Johnson, Chris Dawes
In: Leon Davis, Scott Pendlebury
Out: Shannon Cox, Chris Dawes (both omitted)
Essendon
B: Henry Slattery, Tayte Pears, Heath Hocking
HB: Courtenay Dempsey, Cale Hooker, Dustin Fletcher
C: Kyle Reimers, Ricky Dyson, Andrew Lovett
HF: Angus Monfries, Scott Lucas, Jason Winderlich
F: Adam McPhee, Matthew Lloyd, Alwyn Davey
Foll: Patrick Ryder, Andrew Welsh, Brent Stanton
I/C: Sam Lonergan, Nathan Lovett-Murray, Brent Prismall, Hayden Skipworth
Emg: Bachar Houli, Michael Hurley, David Myers
Out: Jobe Watson (ankle)
