COLLINGWOOD captain Scott Pendlebury has dismissed a suggestion the Magpies would be taking too much of a risk by recalling several players simultaneously for the qualifying final against minor premier Geelong at the MCG on Friday night.
The Pies could regain as many as four players – matchwinner Jordan De Goey (hamstring), vice-captain Steele Sidebottom (ruptured testicle), forward Jaidyn Stephenson (betting suspension) and defender James Aish (shoulder).
However, Pendlebury expressed faith in the Pies' selectors and cited the celebrated example of the Western Bulldogs, who in 2016 regained several players from injury for their first final before winning the premiership from seventh.
Scott Pendlebury with his sixth Virgin Australia AFL All Australian blazer. Picture: AFL Photos
"I don't think it's much of a risk. You only have to look back to the Bulldogs. I think they brought five or six back and they finished fifth or sixth on the ladder," Pendlebury said on Monday.
"Our coaching staff will pick a side that can go out there and perform really well on Friday, and whoever they pick we'll make sure that we go out there and perform our roles for the team."
The Pies skipper also rejected a view that Stephenson owes his team after missing the last 10 games after copping a gambling sanction.
"I don't think he owes us anything. He's just got to go out there and do his bit for the side, play his role, and if he gets picked he'll be a welcome inclusion," he said.
Jaidyn Stephenson could come straight back in for the Pies. Picture: Getty Images
De Goey declared himself "ready to go" after recovering from a hamstring strain "near the tendon".
"I feel really good – probably fitter than what I was in the middle of the year," he said.
"It's probably the best I've felt all year. I was carrying a few (injuries) throughout the start of the year and just to have six weeks off to really refresh the body, (I'm) ready to go."
The brilliant forward/midfielder is looking forward to the challenge of taking on the Cats' much-vaunted defence, saying it was critical for the Pies' forwards to win their one-on-one duels and make their opponents accountable so they don't take intercept marks.
"Every AFL player likes to play finals and obviously the bigger occasions I really enjoy. We've got a lot of dynamic forwards at the moment and we've got a couple coming back so it should be pretty exciting," De Goey said.
De Goey would be a massive inclusion for the Pies. Picture: Getty Images
Pendlebury has been pleased with his team's efforts to break out of a slump over the past month to snatch fourth spot and a double chance.
"I think we're going really well. The last four weeks have been good for us, getting four (wins) on the trot and playing a much better brand of footy than were six or seven weeks ago," he said.
One of the goals was to qualify top four – we've done that – and now we go into the real season with good momentum. - Scott Pendlebury
They will need it against a Geelong side that has defeated them in their past three meetings, most recently by seven points in round one.
"They're up and going, they're fierce around the footy, they're the best defensive side in the comp, they've got some electric midfielders so we know it's going to be on for young and old," he said.
Pendlebury, who will play his 300th game on Friday night, acknowledged the significance of becoming just the third Magpie to reach the milestone but declared any individual honours very much take a back seat to his focus on lifting the Magpies to another Grand Final.
However, the 2010 premiership star insisted he didn't have more incentive to win a second flag after coming so close last year.
"I think I've seen that Dom Sheed goal every week since we lost the Grand Final ... I don't know if I've got any extra motivation to get back to that stage because we lost by a kick; I've just got motivation because I want to see this group and this club do well," he said.
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Pendlebury, who will turn 32 in January, received his sixth Virgin Australia AFL All Australian selection this week but said he's not sure how long he has left in his career.
"I'm just enjoying the moment, and really enjoy these next four weeks … and hopefully get back to that last day in September," he said.
