Collingwood welcomes skipper Nathan Buckley back for his first AFL game since the 2006 elimination final, while Tyson Goldsack and Martin Clarke have also been recalled for the round 21 clash with Sydney on Saturday night, with the two youngsters to play alongside the champion Magpie for the first time.
35-year-old Buckley returns after a dominant display in his comeback match for Williamstown last Saturday, having endured a terrible run of hamstring injuries in 2007.
His inclusion will no doubt inspire his teammates and ensure a huge crowd on Saturday night at the MCG.
With Collingwood sitting sixth on 48 points and still within range of a top-four spot, and Sydney two points and one ladder position adrift of the Magpies, the contest promises to be as much like a final as a home-and-away match could possibly be.
Buckley replaces suspended deputy vice-captain Ben Johnson, while first-year players Goldsack and Clarke come in for omitted duo Rhyce Shaw and Ryan Cook.
Goldsack last played for Collingwood in round 19 and has managed 12 matches in an impressive debut campaign after being drafted with the 63rd pick in the 2006 AFL Draft, and after being rested last weekend, comes straight back in.
Irishman Clarke, who has played seven matches and was the AFL’s Rising Star nominee for round 13, last wore the black and white stripes in round 18 before being rested a week later, and then put in an excellent performance for Williamstown last week.
The three emergencies for the game are Rhyce Shaw, Sharrod Wellingham and Paul Licuria.
Sydney, meanwhile, regains defender Leo Barry from injury at the expense of young midfielder Tim Schmidt.
2007 AFL Premiership Season – Round 21
Collingwood v Sydney
Saturday 25 August, MCG, 7:15 pm
CLICK HERE for a full television and radio broadcast guide
COLLINGWOOD
B: James Clement, Shane Wakelin, Tarkyn Lockyer
HB: Heath Shaw, Harry O’Brien, Tyson Goldsack
C: Martin Clarke, Scott Burns, Nathan Buckley
HF: Nick Maxwell, Anthony Rocca, Scott Pendlebury
F: Dale Thomas, Travis Cloke, Sean Rusling
Foll: Guy Richards, Shane O’Bree, Leon Davis
Int: Dane Swan, Chris Bryan, Alan Didak, Paul Medhurst
Emg: Rhyce Shaw, Sharrod Wellingham, Paul Licuria
In: Nathan Buckley, Tyson Goldsack, Martin Clarke
Out: Ben Johnson (suspended), Rhyce Shaw, Ryan Cook
SYDNEY
B: Ted Richards, Leo Barry, Nick Malceski
HB: Paul Bevan, Craig Bolton, Ben Mathews
C: Luke Ablett, Brett Kirk, Jarrad McVeigh
HF: Ryan O’Keefe, Michael O’Loughlin, Amon Buchanan
F: Adam Schneider, Barry Hall, Nick Davis
Foll: Darren Jolly, Jude Bolton, Adam Goodes
Int: Ed Barlow, Luke Brennan, Peter Everitt, Nic Fosdike
Emg: Jared Crouch, Sean Dempster, Tim Schmidt
In: Leo Barry
Out: Tim Schmidt (omitted)
RECORD ATTENDANCES & SPECIAL GIVE-AWAY:
Collingwood is set to break the all time annual home and away attendance record.
With two rounds still to come in 2007 the club needs just under 55,000 to break the previous mark.
The 54,705th person to enter the MCG will be rewarded with a special prize pack.
CLICK HERE to find out more about this incredible offer.
35-year-old Buckley returns after a dominant display in his comeback match for Williamstown last Saturday, having endured a terrible run of hamstring injuries in 2007.
His inclusion will no doubt inspire his teammates and ensure a huge crowd on Saturday night at the MCG.
With Collingwood sitting sixth on 48 points and still within range of a top-four spot, and Sydney two points and one ladder position adrift of the Magpies, the contest promises to be as much like a final as a home-and-away match could possibly be.
Buckley replaces suspended deputy vice-captain Ben Johnson, while first-year players Goldsack and Clarke come in for omitted duo Rhyce Shaw and Ryan Cook.
Goldsack last played for Collingwood in round 19 and has managed 12 matches in an impressive debut campaign after being drafted with the 63rd pick in the 2006 AFL Draft, and after being rested last weekend, comes straight back in.
Irishman Clarke, who has played seven matches and was the AFL’s Rising Star nominee for round 13, last wore the black and white stripes in round 18 before being rested a week later, and then put in an excellent performance for Williamstown last week.
The three emergencies for the game are Rhyce Shaw, Sharrod Wellingham and Paul Licuria.
Sydney, meanwhile, regains defender Leo Barry from injury at the expense of young midfielder Tim Schmidt.
2007 AFL Premiership Season – Round 21
Collingwood v Sydney
Saturday 25 August, MCG, 7:15 pm
CLICK HERE for a full television and radio broadcast guide
COLLINGWOOD
B: James Clement, Shane Wakelin, Tarkyn Lockyer
HB: Heath Shaw, Harry O’Brien, Tyson Goldsack
C: Martin Clarke, Scott Burns, Nathan Buckley
HF: Nick Maxwell, Anthony Rocca, Scott Pendlebury
F: Dale Thomas, Travis Cloke, Sean Rusling
Foll: Guy Richards, Shane O’Bree, Leon Davis
Int: Dane Swan, Chris Bryan, Alan Didak, Paul Medhurst
Emg: Rhyce Shaw, Sharrod Wellingham, Paul Licuria
In: Nathan Buckley, Tyson Goldsack, Martin Clarke
Out: Ben Johnson (suspended), Rhyce Shaw, Ryan Cook
SYDNEY
B: Ted Richards, Leo Barry, Nick Malceski
HB: Paul Bevan, Craig Bolton, Ben Mathews
C: Luke Ablett, Brett Kirk, Jarrad McVeigh
HF: Ryan O’Keefe, Michael O’Loughlin, Amon Buchanan
F: Adam Schneider, Barry Hall, Nick Davis
Foll: Darren Jolly, Jude Bolton, Adam Goodes
Int: Ed Barlow, Luke Brennan, Peter Everitt, Nic Fosdike
Emg: Jared Crouch, Sean Dempster, Tim Schmidt
In: Leo Barry
Out: Tim Schmidt (omitted)
RECORD ATTENDANCES & SPECIAL GIVE-AWAY:
Collingwood is set to break the all time annual home and away attendance record.
With two rounds still to come in 2007 the club needs just under 55,000 to break the previous mark.
The 54,705th person to enter the MCG will be rewarded with a special prize pack.
CLICK HERE to find out more about this incredible offer.
