Click here to watch Guy McKenna's Thursday press conference on CTVCollingwood has made five changes to its side to take on Melbourne at the MCG on Friday night.
Following last Friday’s disappointing 20-point loss to last-placed Richmond, 2006 Copeland Trophy winner Alan Didak has been named after missing one week with a hip injury, while young midfield star Scott Pendlebury returns after missing two matches with a fractured foot.
Also coming into the side are ruckman Guy Richards, in place of Josh Fraser, who has been forced out with an ankle injury, and Shane Wakelin replaces fellow veteran defender Simon Prestigiacomo, who has been omitted.
Young forward Sean Rusling is the fifth inclusion, coming in for his first game of the season after undergoing a shoulder reconstruction during the preseason. He has been extremely impressive in his two matches back at Williamstown.
Tyson Goldsack, Alan Toovey and Paul Licuria are the other exclusions, all having been omitted.
Danny Stanley and Sharrod Wellingham join Prestigiacomo as emergencies.
Congratulations to Travis Cloke, who will notch his 50th AFL game this week. The 20-year-old, who was selected by Collingwood under the father-son rule with the 38th overall pick in the 2004 AFL Draft, has played every game in season 2007 and is fast establishing himself as one of the most damaging key forwards in the competition.
Meanwhile, Melbourne has made two changes, bringing in midfielder Brock McLean and utility Matthew Bate, for injured pair James Frawley and Brent Moloney.
2007 AFL Premiership Season – Round 20
Collingwood v Melbourne
Friday 17 August
7:40pm, MCG
COLLINGWOOD
B: James Clement, Shane Wakelin, Tarkyn Lockyer
HB: Heath Shaw, Harry O’Brien, Ben Johnson
C: Rhyce Shaw, Scott Burns, Ryan Cook
HF: Nick Maxwell, Anthony Rocca, Scott Pendlebury
F: Dale Thomas, Travis Cloke, Sean Rusling
Foll: Guy Richards, Shane O’Bree, Leon Davis
Int: Dane Swan, Chris Bryan, Alan Didak, Paul Medhurst
Emg: Danny Stanley, Sharrod Wellingham, Simon Prestigiacomo
In: Guy Richards, Shane Wakelin, Scott Pendlebury, Alan Didak, Sean Rusling
Out: Josh Fraser (injured – ankle), Tyson Goldsack, Alan Toovey, Simon Prestigiacomo, Paul Licuria
Milestone: Travis Cloke (50 games)
MELBOURNE
B: Ben Holland, Nathan Carroll, Nathan Brown
HB: Daniel Bell, Ryan Ferguson, Paul Wheatley
C: Matthew Bate, James McDonald, Travis Johnstone
HF: Brad Green, Michael Newton, Colin Sylvia
F: Byron Pickett, David Neitz, Russell Robertson
Foll: Jeff White, Lynden Dunn, Nathan Jones
Int: Brock McLean, Mark Jamar, Aaron Davey, Jace Bode
Emg: Daniel Miller, Brad Miller, Simon Buckley
In: Brock McLean, Matthew Bate
Out: James Frawley (injured – ankle), Brent Moloney (injured – adductor)
