Collingwood
B: Cox / Prestigiacomo / Goldsack
HB: O’Brien / N. Brown / Clarke
C: O’Bree / Didak / Thomas
HF: Beams / Cloke / Medhurst
F: Anthony / L. Brown / Rocca
Foll: Fraser / Lockyer / Pendlebury
INT: Davis / Barham / Swan / Toovey
EMG: Corrie / Dick / Stanley
IN: Anthony Rocca, Tyson Goldsack, Jaxson Barham, Alan Toovey.
OUT: Brad Dick (Omitted), Heath Shaw (Susp.), Nick Maxwell (Susp.), Ben Johnson (Leg).
Brisbane
B: McGrath / Merrett / Patfull
HB: Power / MacDonald / Drummond
C: Dalziell / Black / Rich
HF: Rischitelli / Brown / Sherman
F: Notting / Bradshaw / Clark
Foll: Charman / Johnstone / Adcock
INT: Brennan / Stiller / Roe / Selwood
EMG: Polkinghorne / Collier / Proud
IN: Jamie Charman, Jared Brennan.
OUT: Matthew Leuenberger (Knee), Albert Proud (Omitted).
I admit, I was a little concerned about how the selectors would go this week after having an opportunity to watch the VFL side on Saturday and after hearing that Alan Toovey and Anthony Corrie had made the journey. Personally, I didn’t feel that either player warranted selection given their respective performances in our seconds.
With that out of the way, Toovey has been named in the starting 22 whilst Corrie has been named as an emergency. Whilst I would have preferred to see players such as Cook or Stanley rewarded for good form in the reserves, I can only imagine that the club rates Toovey as a better defensive option at this point.
On a more positive note, Anthony Rocca has been named in the starting line-up although you would expect the weather to determine whether he actually takes the field or not. If the weather up north is the same as it was last Saturday night, then expect to see a late change with either Dick or Corrie entering the team in place of Rocca up forward.
Jaxson Barham is set to make his debut after a good showing in the VFL. Barham was very good on Saturday, although did undo quite a bit of his good work via poor disposal. Regardless, I really like the way Barham goes about his football and you can be sure that he’ll go in hard and give 100%. If it does turn out to be another wet night at the Gabba, I expect that Barham will be of great value.
Fraser will carry the ruck duties once again after two weeks of admirable performances. Tyson Goldsack has been brought in to cover the loss of Maxwell and Shaw in some part. After a slow start to the season, we can only hope that he can find some of his 2007 form, because he’ll be required to play a big role on Friday night.
If the team that takes the field resembles the one listed on paper, then our forward line is looking quite tall. The likes of Anthony and our medium/small forwards will be required to work harder this week to apply pressure within our forward line, as we’ll need to provide a Yin to Rocca’s Yang.
All in all, the selected side looks pretty much the way most would have expected, with Barham being the only surprise.
