2019 Round 1: The Team & Preview

AFL 2019 Round One Collingwood V Geelong Time & Place: Friday March 22, 7:50pm EDT MCG TV: 7mate / Fox Footy 7:30pm EDT Weather: Min 18 Max 29 Chance of rain 50%: 1-5mm Wind: SE 6kph Betting: Collingwood $1.57 Geelong $2.30

B: B. Maynard 37, J.Roughead 23, J. Crisp 25

HB: J. Howe 38, D.Moore 30, T. Langdon 8

C: C. Mayne 16, S. Pendlebury 10, S.Sidebottom 22

HF: J.Thomas 24, M.Cox 46, J.Stephenson 1

F: J.Elliott 5, B.Mihocek 41, J. De Goey 2

Foll: B.Grundy 4, D.Beams 11, A. Treloar 7

I/C: T. Phillips 21, C.Brown 17, J.Aish 14, T.Varcoe 18

Emerg: B. Crocker 39, T.Goldsack 6, B.Sier 36, L. Greenwood 19

New: D.Beams (Brisbane Lions), J.Roughead (Western Bulldogs)

Collingwood News Josh Thomas and Dayne Beams will line up together for the first time since 2014 Collingwood welcomes back Dayne Beams, while Jordan Roughead will make his debut in the black and white, in the Pies’ round one clash with Geelong at the MCG on Friday night. The Pies have named a line-up that features 17 members of last year's losing Grand Final side. Along with Beams and Roughead, Jamie Elliott has been named for his first AFL game since round 23, 2017, with Callum Brown and Darcy Moore also making their way back into the line-up. Nathan Buckley was excited by the inclusion of Elliott and Moore when he held his weekly press conference earlier in the week. "(Jamie is) a little bit older, a little bit wiser, a little bit more mature and understanding and appreciative of the opportunities that come along, so I think he's well placed mentally and emotionally to handle this next phase of his footy career, and physically he's in great shape," Buckley said. Hamstring issues restricted Moore to just seven games last year, but he has recently impressed by being a vital asset as the go-to player for kick-ins. The athletic defender recorded the most kick-ins of any player in the AFL across two JLT Community Series games. "He clearly would have been frustrated with the way last year went for him, and the disappointment of not being able to put his hand up, being couple of weeks shy (of availability) at the pointy end," Buckley said. "His attitude's been first-class. He's really committed to improving himself as a footballer, getting himself as fit as he possibly can be and ready to take that next step into the early rounds, which we know are some of the most intense that you'll face." Ben Crocker, Tyson Goldsack, Brayden Sier and Levi Greenwood have been named as emergencies. Taylor Adams (finger), Lynden Dunn (knee), Will Hoskin-Elliott (knee), Ben Reid (thigh), and Daniel Wells (foot) were unavailable for selection.

AFL Preview Round 1 Collingwood v Geelong Last time they met MCG, round eight, 2018: Collingwood 5.15 (45) lost to Geelong 9.12 (66) In a scrappy, low-scoring affair, the Cats kicked four of the opening five goals, restricting the Pies to just one goal by half-time, and set up a matchwinning break with three successive majors in the third term. The Pies were two short for much of the second half. What it means for Collingwood A win for the 2018 runner-up is crucial given it faces Richmond and reigning premier West Coast in the following fortnight. How Collingwood wins The Magpies' 'Swoop Squad' of small and medium-sized forwards, comprising the likes of Jordan De Goey, Jamie Elliott, Jaidyn Stephenson, Travis Varcoe and Josh Thomas, has the potential to pose enormous headaches for the Cats, who will be without important stoppers Zach Tuohy and Jed Bews. The stat Geelong has won 11 of its past 14 round one games, while Collingwood has won just two from seven under Nathan Buckley, and has been beaten in its past three season openers. The match-up Joel Selwood v Levi Greenwood. The Magpie desperado (ranked No. 380 in the Official AFL Player Ratings) appears set to renew his heated relationship with the Cats skipper (No. 53), against whom he has a good record. Selwood will be hellbent on getting one back on him. T.S. Elliott returns to the fray It’s a big week for Jamie Elliott. The Magpie livewire has missed two of the past three seasons through injury and will make his first AFL appearance in 19 months. Fit and firing after a strong pre-season, he won't simply ease himself back – he might well prove the matchwinner. Big call Pies defender Jack Crisp will upstage the two powerful midfields to be the most prolific ball winner afield. Prediction Magpies by 19 points