Several of Collingwood’s biggest names feature in both columns at this week’s selection table with the Magpies’ coaching staff making five changes to the team that lost to West Coast on Saturday.

Into the side comes the gutsy Andrew Krakouer and premiership pair Nick Maxwell and Darren Jolly as well as young forwards Jamie Elliott and Jackson Paine.

The quintet fill the gaps left by Jarryd Blair, who has been spelled due to a groin injury, and Chris Dawes, Ben Sinclair, Paul Seedsman and Cameron Wood who have all been omitted.

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There are several points of interest in this week’s changes, but none are more pronounced than the triumphant return of the 29-year-old Krakouer. The silky skilled forward underwent surgery on his anterior crucial ligament after he tore it during a long-forgotten pre-season practice match in the VFL against Geelong on 25 February.

When he runs out in the black and white in front of an MCG filled to the brim, it will be 27 weeks to the day of Krakouer’s injury. His comeback is a testament to his commitment and dedication during the many long hours spent rehabilitating his injured knee.

Take a trip back in time and relive some of the classic moments between Collingwood and Essendon since 2000.

Krakouer initially returned via the VFL a month ago and his form in his four games since cannot be denied. He has enjoyed increased midfield time in the past fortnight and made an immediate impact, gathering 27 possessions against both the Casey Scorpions and Werribee.

The Collingwood forward line, which has averaged only eight goals in the past fortnight, will be looking for Krakouer to add the creativity and skill that he is renowned for. Ominously for Essendon, he has received three of his four Brownlow votes in matches against the red and black, one of which came in round 19 last year when he bagged four in the Magpies’ 74-point win.

Of the remaining inclusions, Maxwell and Jolly step straight back into the side after missing last week’s match with hip and general soreness complaints respectively. They are joined by first-year duo Elliott and Paine who have been semi-regular features of the senior side all season.

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Elliott played 12 consecutive games after debuting in round nine but was sidelined by a groin injury last week. Key forward Paine returns after a seven week stint in the VFL. He was one of Collingwood’s best in the loss to Werribee, kicking three goals at full forward, and is the logical replacement for Chris Dawes as a key forward.

For Dawes, it is his first taste of omission since he spent rounds 11 and 12 of 2010 in the VFL. There will be no such opportunity forthcoming this week as the VFL team is finished for 2012. The big man was a key to the gritty win over Sydney three weeks ago but his output has been below his usual standards, failing to impact the scoreboard in the past fortnight.

Saturday night’s match against Essendon will take on added importance for Heath Shaw. The defender will play his 150th match since debuting for the club against St Kilda in round 17, 2005.

Essendon v Collingwood
Saturday 1 September
MCG, 7:40pm

Collingwood
B: Chris Tarrant, Harry O’Brien, Nathan Brown
HB: Ben Johnson, Ben Reid, Nick Maxwell
C: Sharrod Wellingham, Dane Swan, Alan Toovey
HF: Scott Pendlebury, Jackson Paine, Heath Shaw
F: Dale Thomas, Travis Cloke, Jamie Elliott
Foll: Darren Jolly, Steele Sidebottom, Dayne Beams
Int: Alex Fasolo, Alan Didak, Tyson Goldsack, Andrew Krakouer
Emg: Josh Thomas, Ben Sinclair, Paul Seedsman

IN: Jamie Elliott, Darren Jolly, Andrew Krakouer, Nick Maxwell, Jackson Paine

OUT: Jarryd Blair (groin), Chris Dawes, Paul Seedsman, Ben Sinclair, Cameron Wood (omitted)

Milestone: Heath Shaw (150 games, debut round 17, 2005 v St Kilda)

Essendon
B: Brent Stanton, Tayte Pears, Cale Hooker
HB: Jake Melksham, Kyle Hardingham, Michael Hibberd
C: Mark Baguley, Jobe Watson, Courtenay Dempsey
HF: Leroy Jetta, Stewart Crameri, Dyson Heppell
F: Michael Hurley, Tom Bellchambers, Nick O'Brien
Foll: David Hille, Ben Howlett, Angus Monfries
Int: David Myers, David Zaharakis, Jackson Merrett, Cory Dell'Olio
Emg: Sam Lonergan, Travis Colyer, Alex Browne

IN: David Hille, David Myers, Ben Howlett, Jackson Merrett, Cory Dell'Olio
OUT: Heath Hocking (knee), Nathan Lovett-Murray (hamstring), Alwyn Davey (hamstring), Scott Gumbleton (soreness), Alex Browne (omitted)

New: Jackson Merrett (Geelong U18)

Milestone: Angus Monfries (150 games, debut round one, 2005 v Melbourne)