Collingwood has made four changes ahead of Friday night’s contest against St Kilda with Heath Shaw set to miss with a back complaint while Simon Prestigiacomo makes a timely return.

Shaw will miss with a back complaint (see injury list) while Ben Johnson will also sit out after dislocating his knee cap in a tackle in the win over Melbourne.

The four inclusions for the Magpies see a mix of youth and experience injected into the side with Brent Macaffer, John McCarthy, Shane O’Bree and Prestigiacomo named.

In a surprise decision from the match committee, John Anthony has been omitted after contributing in 37 of the last 38 possible matches.  Last year’s leading goal kicker will look to regain form in the VFL on Saturday afternoon along with Ben Reid also omitted.

Prestigiacomo’s return from a quad injury which saw him miss the Melbourne win is fortunate for Collingwood who will no doubt put the veteran up against the inform Saint skipper Nick Riewoldt.  The forward has averaged five goals in his last three matches against the Magies.

Best on ground in last week’s VFL practice match with four goals and a dominant display in the midfield, McCarthy lines up for ninth career match and his fourth against St Kilda.  Playing in the final six matches including two finals in the 2008 season, the 20-year-old struggled with hamstring issues last year managing only two senior matches. 

Joining McCarthy for his first run in 2010 is Macaffer, a player who is capable of playing at either end of the ground as evident from his VFL career.  Making his debut on ANZAC Day last year, the 22-year-old played in five senior matches including two finals.  He impressed coaching officials with his 18 possession and one goal performance against Adelaide in the preliminary final.

For the first time this season Simon Buckley has been named as an emergency alongside Chris Dawes and Ben Reid.

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Round three
St Kilda v Collingwood
Friday 9 April
Etihad Stadium, 7.40 pm

Collingwood
B: Alan Toovey, Simon Prestigiacomo, Tarkyn lockyer
HB: Harry O’Brien, Nick Maxwell, Sharrod Wellingham
C: Luke Ball, Dane Swan, John McCarthy
HF: Josh Fraser, Travis Cloke, Alan Didak
F: Paul Medhurst, Brent Macaffer, Leon Davis
Foll: Darren Jolly, Scott Pendlebury, Dale Thomas
Int: Leigh Brown, Shane O’Bree, Steele Sidebottom, Dayne Beams

Emg: Simon Buckley, Chris Dawes, Ben Reid

In: Brent Macaffer, John McCarthy, Shane O’Bree, Simon Prestigiacomo
Out: Ben Johnson (knee), Heath Shaw (back),  Ben Reid (omitted), John Anthony (omitted)