Collingwood has brought five players into its squad of 25 for Monday’s Queen’s Birthday clash with Melbourne at the MCG.
The squad will be pruned to 22, with Paul Licuria, Shane Wakelin, Chris Bryan, Shannon Cox and Danny Stanley the additions, while Simon Prestigiacomo will miss with a foot injury and ruckman Guy Richards has been omitted.
Prestigiacomo, who has been superb in defence for the Magpies this season, is likely to miss 1-2 weeks with a bruised foot, but the addition of the experienced Wakelin will help cover the loss.
Licuria, meanwhile, is set to play his first senior game since injuring his hamstring in round four against Port Adelaide. Both he and Wakelin performed extremely well for Williamstown last week.
If selected, 19-year-old Stanley will become the sixth player to make his AFL debut with the Magpies in season 2007, following Daniel Nicholls, Shannon Cox, Brad Dick, Alan Toovey and Tyson Goldsack.
Taken with Collingwood’s third selection at No.21 overall in the 2005 draft, Stanley, who is a rugged 187-centimetre midfielder in the Scott Burns-mould, spent his first season at the club in 2006 honing his craft at Williamstown.
He has begun 2007 playing for Williamstown, and his last three weeks in particular have been exceptional, making it impossible for the coaching staff to ignore his form.
Bryan, who played his first game for Collingwood on ANZAC Day after two seasons with Carlton, and booted three goals against Adelaide in round six, replaces Richards, while Cox is in line for his fifth senior appearance in his debut year.
Round 11
Melbourne v Collingwood
Monday 11 June 2007
MCG, 2:40 PM
MELBOURNE
B: Daniel Ward, Nathan Carroll, Cameron Bruce
HB: Paul Wheatley, Clint Bizzell, Daniel Bell
C: Travis Johnstone, James McDonald, Aaron Davey
HF: Brad Green, Russell Robertson, Simon Godfrey
F: Colin Sylvia, David Neitz, Matthew Bate
Foll: Jeff White, Brock McLean, Nathan Jones
I/C: Paul Johnson, Ricky Petterd, James Frawley, Nathan Brown, Ben Holland, Adem Yze, Simon Buckley
In: Adem Yze, Ben Holland, Simon Buckley
Out: -
New: Simon Buckley
COLLINGWOOD
B: Tarkyn Lockyer, Shane Wakelin, Brodie Holland
HB: Heath Shaw, Harry O’Brien, Rhyce Shaw
C: Scott Pendlebury, Paul Medhurst, Leon Davis
HF: Nick Maxwell, Travis Cloke, Alan Didak
F: Dane Swan, Anthony Rocca, Ben Johnson
Foll: Josh Fraser, Shane O’Bree, Scott Burns
I/C: Dale Thomas, Tyson Goldsack, Alan Toovey, Shannon Cox, Paul Licuria, Danny Stanley, Chris Bryan
In: Shane Wakelin, Paul Licuria, Danny Stanley, Shannon Cox, Chris Bryan
Out: Simon Prestigiacomo (injured – foot), Guy Richards (omitted)
New: Danny Stanley – Geelong Falcons. Pick 21 overall in 2005 AFL Draft.
