Collingwood has named a squad of 25 players ahead of Sunday afternoon’s blockbuster clash against Carlton at the MCG.
Veteran Magpie Tarkyn Lockyer along with John McCarthy and Simon Buckley have all been included in the squad, set to be finalised to 22 players on Friday afternoon (5pm AEST).
Named as an emergency in round four, Lockyer was withheld from last week’s VFL match and should be feeling fresh for this weekend. The 30-year-old averaged 15.2 disposals for the first four rounds before he was omitted from the senior side last week.
One of the stronger performers in the VFL loss to Bendigo last week, McCarthy looks to return to the side after playing in the round three contest earlier in the year. The 20-year-old staked his name for a recall after collecting 23 possessions, 10 marks and kicking one goal playing at Victoria Park.
Acquired by the club in the 2009 draft (overall pick 85), Buckley is a chance to add to his 21 games of experience and his first in black and stripes (played for Melbourne from 2007-09). The running defender has averaged 22 disposals in his three VFL games and if selected will become the third player to make his Collingwood debut after crossing from another club (the others being Luke Ball and Darren Jolly).
Adding to the selection intrigue, a host of AFL-experienced players will battle it out in the VFL on Saturday night.
Shane O’Bree, Leigh Brown, Tyson Goldsack, John Anthony and Cameron Wood will aim to get the side back to level pecking after a sluggish start to the season dropping two of its first three matches.
The VFL Magpies will travel to Chirnside Park to face the Werribee Tigers on Saturday night. Collingwoodfc.com.au will be covering the match with a live chat (click here to receive a reminder).
Round six
Carlton v Collingwood
Sunday 2 May
MCG, 2.10 pm
Collingwood
B: Heath Shaw, Ben Reid, Ben Johnson
HB: Harry O’Brien, Nick Maxwell, Sharrod Wellingham
C: Luke Ball, Dane Swan, Steele Sidebottom
HF: Josh Fraser, Travis Cloke, Alan Didak
F: Dayne Beams, Paul Medhurst, Leon Davis
Foll: Darren Jolly, Scott Pendlebury, Dale Thomas
Int. from: Nathan Brown, Chris Dawes, Brent Macaffer, John McCarthy, Alan Toovey, Simon Buckley, Tarkyn Lockyer
In: John McCarthy, Tarkyn Lockyer, Simon Buckley
New: Simon Buckley (Melbourne)
Carlton
B: Ryan Houlihan, Michael Jamison, Aaron Joseph
HB: Paul Bower, Simon White, Jordan Russell
C: Bryce Gibbs, Chris Judd, Kade Simpson
HF: Brock McLean, Setanta O'hAilpin, Marc Murphy
F: Eddie Betts, Lachie Henderson, Chris Yarran
Foll: Matthew Kreuzer, Heath Scotland, Andrew Carrazzo
Int. from: Dennis Armfield, Jeff Garlett, Shaun Grigg, Sam Jacobs, Kane Lucas, Mitch Robinson, Jarrad Waite
In: Waite, Bower, Grigg, Jacobs, Robinson
Out: Andrew Walker (collarbone), Robert Warnock
