Magpie ruckman Darren Jolly has been ruled out of Thursday's ANZAC Day clash and will resume via the VFL on Friday night as he returns from a rib cartilage injury suffered in round two against Carlton.
| Collingwood v Essendon Thursday, April 25 2.40pm MCG 7mate / Fox Footy Weather: Min 11 Max 21 Chance of rain 10%: <1mm Wind 28k WNW Betting: Collingwood $1.63 Essendon $2.30 |
"It's all about balancing up whether Huddo (Ben Hudson) has recovered well enough - we feel that he is thereabouts - or whether we go with the youth," coach Nathan Buckley said.
Buckley said Jolly needed time to work his way back to fitness and the Magpies trusted the incumbents to do the job.
The coach confirmed that defender Nathan Brown, who had a slight injury concern after Saturday's game against Richmond was available for selection, as are Ben Johnson and Tyson Goldsack who missed last week's game through injury.
After 36 possessions in the VFL last week, Buckley said Andrew Krakouer would be considered and he praised the performances of Alan Didak too.
"One of the great headaches that we have is that we have players that are now physically able and their form is up and about," Buckley said.
"The pressure is on the incumbents to perform."
Another exciting development for Collingwood is the return of Luke Ball who will be under Jolly's feet in the VFL on Friday night.
Ball is returning to the game after a knee reconstruction following an injury suffered in round three, 2012.
Buckley noted it had been 54 weeks since Ball had injured his knee and the Magpie midfielder had gone above and beyond what was required during his rehabilitation to ensure he was ready to go.
"(He is) understandably eager and a little bit nervous about getting out there," Buckley said. "He is the ultimate professional and it is just fantastic for the club for him to be up on his feet and playing a game of footy."
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