2019 Round 2: The Team & Preview

2019 AFL Round 2 COLLINGWOOD v RICHMOND Time & Place: Thursday March 28, 7:20pm EDT MCG TV: 7mate / Fox Footy 7:00pm EDT Weather: Min 13 Max 26 Chance of rain 10%: <1mm Wind: N 16kph Betting: Collingwood $1.95 Richmond $1.85

B: Brayden Maynard 37, Jordan Roughead 23, Jeremy Howe 38

HB: Jack Crisp 25, Darcy Moore 30, Tom Langdon 8

C: Chris Mayne 16, Scott Pendlebury 10, Steele Sidebottom 22

HF: Josh Thomas 24, Mason Cox 46, Jaidyn Stephenson 1

F: Jamie Elliott 5, Brody Mihocek 41, Jordan De Goey 2

Foll: Brodie Grundy 4, Dayne Beams 11, Adam Treloar 7

I/C: Tom Phillips 21, Levi Greenwood 19, James Aish 14, Travis Varcoe 18

Emerg: Flynn Appleby 31, Callum Brown 17, Ben Crocker 39, Rupert Wills 33

IN: Greenwood
OUT: Brown

Collingwood News In: Levi Greenwood Collingwood has made one change to the team it fielded in the season opener, with Levi Greenwood named for the blockbuster clash against Richmond at the MCG on Thursday night. Greenwood has replaced Callum Brown in the Pies' side. The addition of the 30-year-old will add significant experience to the Pies' midfield group as they look to tackle the likes of Martin, Cotchin and Edwards. Collingwood coach Nathan Buckley is leaving behind prior encounters and focussing on the challenge in front of his 22 players. "That's last year," Buckley said on Tuesday when asked about the potential influence of the 2018 preliminary final result. "We were asked about the Grand Final all off-season, and you get to round one and you think you get the chance to jump back into 2019, and we'll get the questions about the prelim now, (and) we'll get the questions about the Grand Final next week (before hosting West Coast), but they're largely irrelevant. "Those games have been run and won, and we're well and truly into season 2019 now. "We said at this time last year that we'll let our footy do the talking and we need to do that.” Key defender Darcy Moore acknowledges the challenge of the 2017 Premiers will be difficult off a six-day break, however he has confidence in his teammates that’ll run out on the ‘G. "It’ll be tough to back up on Thursday night, but once the ball’s bounced the boys will be ready to go." The first bounce is set for 7.20pm, with over 75,000 fans expected to head to the ‘G for Thursday night football. Flynn Appleby, Callum Brown, Ben Crocker and Rupert Wills have been named as emergencies. Taylor Adams (finger), Will Hoskin-Elliott (knee), Ben Reid (thigh), and Daniel Wells (foot) were among those unavailable for selection.

AFL Preview Round 2 Collingwood v Richmond Last time they met: MCG, preliminary final, 2018: Richmond 8.10 (58) lost to Collingwood 15.7 (97) The Collingwood train left a shell-shocked Richmond in its wake, with Mason Cox dominating up forward in a second-term burst that resulted in a 53-point lead. Richmond rallied on the back of Jack Riewoldt's five goals, but it was too little, too late. What it means for Collingwood: The Magpies are under the pump after a sluggish seven-point loss to Geelong in round one. A big win over last year's minor premiers would be a strong statemen How Collingwood wins: Exploit Richmond's second ruckman. Collingwood has the best midfield in the competition and will greatly benefit from Brodie Grundy going head-to-head with second-gamer Noah Balta. The stat: Richmond star defender Alex Rance has missed two games since round nine, 2014. He is now expected to be sidelined for the year after tearing his right ACL last week. The match-up: Jordan De Goey v Dylan Grimes Grimes (ranked 210th overall in the Schick AFL Player Ratings) will be hurting after De Goey (90th) kicked four last time they met. With De Goey capable of turning a match on its head, Grimes is set for a big task once again. It's a big week for: Nick Vlastuin It will be the first time we will have a look at life at Richmond without defensive general Rance. David Astbury's role taking the No.1 forward (Mason Cox) isn't expected to change, but Vlastuin may be forced to take greater responsibility. Big call: After a quieter game by his lofty standards (23 disposals), expect Dayne Beams to dominate out of the middle in his second match back in the black and white and even kick two goals. Prediction: Magpies by seven points