COLLINGWOOD midfielder Steele Sidebottom will not playagainst Carlton in Bendigo on Sunday after being a late withdrawal for thearch-rivals' clash at Queen Elizabeth Oval.
Sidebottom was one of the Magpies' best in the club's44-point triumph over Hawthorn in the club's first NAB Challenge hit-out, butthe Magpies have decided to manage his game time in the lead up to round one.
Jamie Elliott, Taylor Adams and Nathan Freeman – who playedin the VFL against Geelong on Saturday – are the other omissions from the side.
Recruit Travis Varcoe has been listed as the starting substitute,with the Magpies playing with a team of 27.
The Blues have left out Dennis Armfield, Matthew Dick, DylanBuckley, Matthew Watson and Nick Graham and have elected not to play anysubstitutes in the game.
The match-up will kick off at 4.40pm (AEDT) in front of asold-out crowd in fine conditions in Bendigo.
Meanwhile, Aaron Sandilands has joined defender Luke McPharlin as players rested from Sunday's NAB Challenge clash with the Sydney Swans at Drummoyne Oval.
Both were named in the initial squad but coach Ross Lyon said on Friday McPharlin would not play as he had already reached his pre-season running targets.
Sandilands didn't make the trip to Sydney and was officially withdrawn 90 minutes before the bounce, but he is not believed to be injured.
The Dockers also pulled out Brady Grey and Jack Hannath, meaning they'll enter the game with one just substitute.
The Swans will play with two, with Toby Nankervis and Xavier Richards to start in the green vests.
Veteran midfielder Jarrad McVeigh, who has been battling a recent calf injury, won't play, while Tom Derickx and Jack Hiscox have also been cut from the expanded squad.
COLLINGWOOD v CARLTON, Queen Elizabeth Oval Bendigo, 4.40pm AEDT, March 15
Collingwood
Out: Steele Sidebottom, Jamie Elliott, Taylor Adams, Nathan Freeman
Substitutes: Travis Varcoe
Carlton
Out: Dennis Armfield, Matthew Dick, Dylan Buckley, Matthew Watson, Nick Graham
Substitutes: Nil
SYDNEY SWANS v FREMANTLE, Drummoyne Oval Sydney, 4.10pm AEDT, March 15
SYDNEY SWANS
Out: Jarrad McVeigh, Jack Hiscox, Tom Derickx
Substitutes: Toby Nankervis, Xavier Richards
FREMANTLE
Out: Aaron Sandilands, Luke McPharlin, Jack Hannath, Brady Grey
Substitute: Lachie Weller (Dockers playing with one substitute only)
