Collingwood v Brisbane
Saturday August 16, 7.40pm MCG Fox Sports 7.30pm Weather: Min 5 Max 16 Chance of rain 50%: < 1mm Wind: S 18kph Betting: Collingwood $1.14 Brisbane $5.75 |
HB: Alan Toovey, Lachlan Keeffe, Alex Fasolo
C: Steele Sidebottom, Dane Swan, Heritier Lumumba
HF: Jarryd Blair, Ben Reid, Tim Broomhead
F: Jamie Elliott, Travis Cloke, Brodie Grundy
Foll: Jarrod Witts, Dayne Beams, Scott Pendlebury
Int: Brent Macaffer, Ben Kennedy, Luke Ball, Ben Sinclair
Emg: Clinton Young, Jesse White, Tony Armstrong
IN: Luke Ball, Brodie Grundy, Ben Sinclair, Dane Swan
OUT: Sam Dwyer (hamstring), Tony Armstrong, Jesse White, Clinton Young (omitted)
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Midfield dynamo Dane Swan will headline a raft of star inclusions after he was named in Collingwood’s squad for its match against the Brisbane Lions at the MCG on Saturday night. Swan will be joined by veteran on-baller Luke Ball, emerging ruck Brodie Grundy and small defender Ben Sinclair as Collingwood reloads in a bid to snare a place in the finals series. Tony Armstrong, Jesse White and Clinton Young are among the players making way for the trio, omitted following last week’s 60-point loss to West Coast at Patersons Stadium, while Sam Dwyer has been ruled out after failing to overcome a hamstring complaint. Sidelined for over a month, Swan will make a welcome return to the fray after overcoming a foot injury which had plagued the latter half of his season, offering a much needed boost to the Black and White midfield brigade. An elite performer for half a decade, earning five consecutive All-Australian guernseys, Swan remains an integral member of the Collingwood side in his 12th season at AFL level despite his overall production dipping from his usual lofty standards this season. Nonetheless, Swan is still averaging over 25 possessions a game, including three clearances and nearly four inside 50s, to rank fourth among Magpies, while he is registering over three tackles per match for the eighth season in succession. The Magpie midfield brigade will be further reinforced by the presence of Ball, who has been named after demonstrating his fitness, and form with a pair of standout performances in the VFL. Averaging 26 disposals, four clearances and seven tackles per match during his two outings with the side, Ball showcased the qualities which have proven his trademark over a 200-game AFL career. Indeed, Ball’s incisive work at stoppages, renowned intrepidness and composure will undoubtedly assist Collingwood in combating the threat posed by Brisbane’s burgeoning pride of midfielders. Second year ruck Grundy has been named following a prolonged stint in the second tier competition, earning a deserved recall with a sequence of tenacious performances. Producing over 30 hit outs, five tackles and five clearances per match, Grundy has worked assiduously to recapture the form which earned him a rising star nomination during his fifth match at senior level. Named alongside Jarrod Witts, the pair will reunite in duelling Brisbane’s ruck stocks, while providing relief as a third tall option in attack, supporting Travis Cloke and Ben Reid. Unsighted within AFL ranks since March, Sinclair meanwhile will make his long awaited comeback from injury this weekend, resuming his place in the Magpies defensive 50. Suffering a hamstring strain during Collingwood’s upset 20-point win over Sydney at ANZ Stadium during round two, Sinclair managed to return to VFL action within six weeks. However, his return was short lived, aborted after only two matches as he suffered a similar injury in his other leg, relegating him to the sidelines once again when the Magpies so keenly sought a player with his particular skill set. |
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