GEELONG has sprung a selection surprise, omitting Tom Atkins for Saturday night’s crunch semi-final clash with Collingwood.

While the Pies will head into the game unchanged from their gutsy elimination final win over West Coast, the Cats have dropped Atkins after he returned to the side for its loss to Port Adelaide last week. 

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He has been replaced by Sam Simpson, whose last game was in round 12 and has only played six games for the year. 

Simpson has had an interrupted season with injury, after suffering a hamstring setback in the middle of the Cats’ campaign. 

But he returned to feature in last week’s combined scratch match with Richmond and Port Adelaide and kicked two goals across the contest under the watchful eyes of coach Chris Scott. 

Atkins has been nearly a mainstay of the Cats’ line-up this year, playing 12 games.

The Magpies have stuck with a winning formula, keeping big man Darcy Cameron in the side as they prepare to take on the Cats in the Gabba clash.

Saturday, October 10

Second semi-final - Geelong v Collingwood, Gabba, 6.40pm AEST (7.40pm AEDT)

GEELONG
IN: S.Simpson
OUT: T.Atkins (omitted)

COLLINGWOOD
No change