Adelaide have axed veteran defender Ben Rutten and experienced forward Jason Porplyzia for Sunday’s all-important match against Collingwood.
The 10th-placed Crows have included Luke Thompson, David Mackay, Mitch Grigg, Jarryd Lyons and Matt Crouch in their 25-man squad for the MCG fixture.
Collingwood, occupying eight place only on percentage, were forced to omit 650 games of experience in former captain Nick Maxwell (retired), Dane Swan (foot) and Luke Ball (back).
Ben Reid is set to play his first AFL game of the season after recovering from a serious calf injury.
Lachie Keeffe, Tim Broomhead, Kyle Martin, Jamie Elliott and Sam Dwyer were also added to the Magpies’ extended squad.
Results and previews:
FRIDAY
West Coast v Richmond at Patersons Stadium
RICHMOND 3.2 5.6 7.8 8.11 (59)
WEST COAST 2.1 4.1 5.4 6.6 (42)
Goals: Richmond: D Martin 2 T Vickery 2 A Miles J Riewoldt N Vlastuin T Cotchin. West Coast: J Darling 2 J Kennedy M LeCras P McGinnity S Tunbridge.
Best: Richmond: B Ellis D Martin B Deledio A Miles N Foley. West Coast: M Priddis N Naitanui L Shuey X Ellis W Schofield.
Injuries: Richmond: M Thomas (nose), D Grimes (nose).
West Coast: L Shuey (ankle), D Cox (concussion).
Reports: T Vickery (Richmond) reported for striking D Cox (WC) in the second quarter.
Umpires: Jeff Dalgleish, Brett Rosebury, Dean Margetts.
Official Crowd: 32,270 at Patersons Stadium.
SATURDAY
RICHMOND 3.2 5.6 7.8 8.11 (59)
WEST COAST 2.1 4.1 5.4 6.6 (42)
Goals: Richmond: D Martin 2 T Vickery 2 A Miles J Riewoldt N Vlastuin T Cotchin. West Coast: J Darling 2 J Kennedy M LeCras P McGinnity S Tunbridge.
Best: Richmond: B Ellis D Martin B Deledio A Miles N Foley. West Coast: M Priddis N Naitanui L Shuey X Ellis W Schofield.
Injuries: Richmond: D Grimes (nose) M Thomas (nose). West Coast: D Cox (concussion) L Shuey (ankle).
Reports: Richmond: T Vickery (Richmond) reported for striking D Cox (West Coast) in the second quarter. West Coast: Nil.
Umpires: Jeff Dalgleish, Brett Rosebury, Dean Margetts.
Official Crowd: 32,270 at Patersons Stadium.
BRISBANE LIONS 7.7 10.11 14.14 16.14 (110)
GOLD COAST 1.2 3.3 6.6 8.8 (56)
Goals: Brisbane Lions: J Green 3 A McGrath 2 D Zorko 2 M Close 2 P Hanley 2 D McStay J Crisp L Taylor M Maguire T Rockliff. Gold Coast: A Sexton 3 A Hall D Stanley J Martin M Shaw S Day.
Best: Brisbane Lions: P Hanley T Rockliff D Zorko S Martin J Green J Patfull. Gold Coast: S May D Stanley D Prestia S Day A Sexton.
Injuries: Brisbane Lions: S Mayes (head knock). Gold Coast: C Dixon (groin) Z Smith (ankle) M Rischitelli (quad) replaced in starting side by L Herbert.
Reports: Nil.
Umpires: Shane McInerney, Heath Ryan, Jordan Bannister.
Official Crowd: 27,167 at Gabba.
HAWTHORN 2.7 4.8 11.11 15.14 (104)
SYDNEY 2.3 5.9 9.14 13.16 (94)
Goals: Hawthorn: J Roughead 4 I Smith 3 L Breust 3 P Puopolo 2 J Gunston L Hodge S Burgoyne. Sydney: A Goodes 4 B McGlynn 3 L Franklin 3 K Tippett 2 J Kennedy.
Best: Hawthorn: L Hodge J Roughead S Mitchell J Lewis P Puopolo. Sydney: A Goodes D Rampe B McGlynn J McVeigh L Franklin.
Injuries: Nil.
Reports: Nil.
Umpires: Chris Donlon, Troy Pannell, Mathew Nicholls.
SUNDAY
Collingwood v Adelaide at MCG 4.10pm
Head to Head: Magpies 25 Crows 12
Last clash: Round 9 2014 – Crows 10.16 (76) bt Magpies 7.13 (55) at Adelaide Oval
Tab Sportsbet: Magpies $1.75 Crows $2.10
Sportingbet: Magpies $1.82 Crows $2.00
It’s a new era for Collingwood, who will go into battle without 2010 premiership skipper Nick Maxwell (retired) and Brownlow Medallist Dane Swan (injury) for the first time since round 12 in 2006. Tenth-placed Adelaide trail Collingwood by one win, which means both sides will have a clearer picture of where their finals’ hopes stand by Sunday night. The Magpies have home-ground advantage but are lacking confidence, having lost four of their past five games.
Key: Collingwood have regained small forward Jamie Elliott and swingman Ben Reid, who has been named in a forward pocket alongside Travis Cloke. However, James Podsiadly, Taylor Walker and Josh Jenkins will give the visitors plenty of tall targets to aim for in what’s expected to be a tense, scrappy affair.
Tip: Crows by 14 points
