Download the Official CFC MatchDay Program for round 21
Collingwood welcomes back two premiership stars for Friday night’s round 21 battle against St Kilda at Etihad Stadium.
Midfielder Sharrod Wellingham has been named after missing three matches with a groin injury, while All Australian defender Harry O’Brien comes back into the side after missing one week with knee soreness.
Ruckman Cameron Wood and versatile defender Simon Buckley have been omitted.
Of the inclusions, 23-year-old Wellingham played the first 15 games of the season for a career total of 67.
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His last outing was against Carlton in round 17, and he has averaged 20 possessions, four tackles and more than three clearances per game in 2011. He won a career-high 37 disposals in the Queen’s Birthday victory over Melbourne.
O’Brien’s exclusion from the side that beat Port Adelaide by 138 points last week at AAMI Stadium meant that the 24-year-old’s impressive consecutive games sequence ended at 104, a streak that began in round 14, 2007.
Wood and Buckley have both been named emergencies, along with untried midfielder Josh Thomas.
Thomas, 19, has endured a number of injury setbacks in his first two seasons at the club since being drafted from Broadbeach in Queensland with the 75th overall pick in the 2009 draft, but his form has been excellent at VFL level in recent weeks.
Chris Dawes (hand) and Alan Toovey (finger) remain sidelined after both trained strongly this week, meaning they are sure to press for a senior recall in coming weeks.
Heath Shaw is the other senior player who is out of the side. He is currently spending two weeks training at high altitude in Arizona as he serves an eight-week suspension, and will be eligible for selection in the first week of the finals.
St Kilda has made one change to its team that beat Fremantle last round, with tall defender Zac Dawson replacing Ryan Gamble. Gamble is an emergency along with Steven Baker and Tom Simpkin.
Collingwood sits first on the ladder with 17 wins, one loss and a percentage of 186.06. The Saints, who have won their last six matches and nine of their past 11, have moved up to sixth on the ladder with 10 wins, seven losses and a draw after a slow start to the season.
The 2010 grand final opponents last played in round 11 at the MCG, when the Magpies won comfortably by 57 points in a game that produced a final scoreline (16.12.108 - 7.9.51) that was one behind off being exactly the same result as last year’s grand final replay (16.12.108 - 7.10.52).
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AFL ROUND 21
ST KILDA v COLLINGWOOD
Friday 12 August 2011, 7.40 PM
Etihad Stadium
COLLINGWOOD
B: Leon Davis, Ben Reid, Harry O’Brien
HB: Ben Johnson, Nick Maxwell, Tyson Goldsack
C: Dane Swan, Dale Thomas, Alan Didak
HF: Jarryd Blair, Chris Tarrant, Andrew Krakouer
F: Steele Sidebottom, Travis Cloke, Leigh Brown
Foll: Darren Jolly, Scott Pendlebury, Luke Ball
Inter: Luke Rounds, Dayne Beams, Sharrod Wellingham, Alex Fasolo
Emg: Cameron Wood, Josh Thomas, Simon Buckley
In: Harry O’Brien, Sharrod Wellingham
Out: Cameron Wood, Simon Buckley (both omitted)
ST KILDA
B: Sam Gilbert, Zac Dawson, Raphael Clarke
HB: Brendon Goddard, Sam Fisher, Farren Ray
C: David Armitage, Nick Dal Santo, Jason Gram
HF: Brett Peake, Nick Riewoldt, Adam Schneider
F: Stephen Milne, Justin Koschitzke, Jack Steven
Foll: Ben McEvoy, Clinton Jones, Leigh Montagna
Inter: Jason Blake, Jarryn Geary, Sean Dempster, Dean Polo
Emg: Steven Baker, Tom Simpkin, Ryan Gamble
In: Zac Dawson
Out: Ryan Gamble (omitted)
