Magpies Lose Star Trio As Key Kangaroos Come Back
The Age
Friday June 20, 2008
COLLINGWOOD will be without a trio of stars on Sunday as it faces the in-form Western Bulldogs, with injured ruckman Josh Fraser and forward Leon Davis joining the suspended Travis Cloke on the sidelines.
Injuries continue to haunt North Melbourne, with ruckman Hamish McIntosh (knee) and Sam Power (groin) out, but the Roos finally get some important players back, with Nathan Thompson, Corey Jones and Shannon Grant returning for the match against Hawthorn.The Magpies have named Anthony Rocca, who continues to battle an ankle injury, for his first game since round nine but Magpies assistant coach Guy McKenna said the forward was still a "week-to-week" proposal.The Magpies have a bye next week and should he miss the Bulldogs clash, Rocca could have a further two weeks to rest. McKenna said the team's new make-up might be a strength. "We're going to go in with a few changes due to injuries, so we become a little bit unpredictable. I don't think the way we play will (change) but the personnel changes things. We'd see that as an advantage," he said. "You don't go in with a stock-standard side and the Doggies have been pretty solid. I think they had 16 blokes that have played every game so far this season. At this stage of the year, it's almost unheard of, so they're settled, you get a good read of them."Collingwood also added Ryan Cook, Tyson Goldsack, Danny Stanley, Alan Toovey and Cameron Wood to its squad. The Bulldogs have added Jarrod Harbrow, Josh Hill and Peter Street.As well as the injuries, the Roos dropped Scott Thompson, Leigh Brown, Ben Davies and Josh Smith. They named Lachlan Hansen, Shannon Watt and Alan Obst. The Hawks lost Chance Bateman to a hamstring injury but regain Brent Guerra, who is returning from his own hamstring complaint. West Coast has been strengthened by the return of four premiership players for its match against Geelong tomorrow night.Ashley Hansen has been selected for his first senior game since round four, while Michael Braun, Chad Fletcher and Daniel Kerr all resume after missing last week. Ben McKinley has been named in the side after two weeks out of favour. Chris Masten is out with a hip injury, while Ryan Davis, Mark Seaby, Jamie McNamara and Brent Staker have been dropped.Geelong was unchanged. Richmond made two changes for its game against Port Adelaide at AAMI Stadium tomorrow. Daniel Jackson is out with a leg injury and Jay Schulz was dropped. Cleve Hughes and Dean Polo come into the side.Port Adelaide's Brett Ebert returns from an ankle injury and Matthew Thomas is back into the team. Justin Westhoff and Jacob Surjan were dropped.
© 2008 The Age
