James Clement will lead an experienced Collingwood side into the round one battle with the Kangaroos on Saturday, with one player set to don the famous black and white stripes for the first time.
Forward Paul Medhurst, who crossed from Fremantle as part of the trade that sent Chris Tarrant west at the end of 2006, will make his debut, and in the process notch his 100th game of AFL football after five seasons and 166 goals at the Dockers.
Another player celebrating a significant milestone on Saturday will be Shane O’Bree, who will play his 150th game for the Magpies.
The reliable midfielder came to Collingwood in 2000 after two seasons and 19 games with Brisbane, and has proved one of the club’s most durable and productive players in a fine career.
Encouragingly for the Magpies, three players who are yet to play for Collingwood have been named as emergencies, proof there are plenty of players improving and putting their hands up for senior selection. Former Blue Chris Bryan has been joined by youngsters Alan Toovey and Daniel Nicholls in the squad of 25.
Nicholls has been rewarded for a strong debut season while on the rookie list in 2006, and an excellent pre-season, by being elevated to the senior list, with Sean Rusling placed on the long-term injury list after undergoing a shoulder reconstruction.
The Collingwood line-up looks strong and ready to fire, even without names like Buckley, Didak and Holland on the sidelines.
Veterans Simon Prestigiacomo and Shane Wakelin, along with 23-year-old leadership group member Nick Maxwell, form the nucleus of the backline, while Harry O’Brien, Heath Shaw and Tarkyn Lockyer will provide run and carry.
In the midfield, young guns Scott Pendlebury and Dale Thomas will get the chance to find the footy in the alongside seasoned campaigners O’Bree, Scott Burns, Paul Licuria. Dan Swan, Leon Davis, Rhyce Shaw and Ben Johnson will also play an important role, with Josh Fraser and Guy Richards feeding the hungry ball-winners at the stoppages.
Up forward, Travis Cloke will finally get to show off his wares after an excellent pre-season, alongside stalwart Anthony Rocca, with Medhurst at their feet, and Davis and Thomas offering support when needed.
Kangaroos v Collingwood
Saturday 31 March 2007
MCG, 2:10 PM
Kangaroos
B: Archer, Firrito, Pratt
HB: Riggio, Petrie, Sinclair
C: Rawlings, Harris, Trotter
HF: Campbell, Brown, Hansen
F: Harvey, Hale, Grant
Foll: McIntosh, Simpson, Wells
Int: Moran, Swallow, Thomas, Jones
Emg: Watt, Sansbury, Edwards
Collingwood
B: Lockyer, Prestigiacomo, Maxwell
HB: H.Shaw, Clement, Lonie
C: Pendlebury, O’Bree, Johnson
HF: Licuria, Cloke, Fraser
F: Thomas, Rocca, Medhurst
Foll: Richards, Davis, Burns
Int: Wakelin, O’Brien, R.Shaw, Swan
Emg: Bryan, Nicholls, Toovey
One new Magpie for the first round
One player is set to don the famous black and white stripes for the first time when Collingwood, led by James Clement, takes on the Kangaroos in round one.
