Collingwood have decided not to risk first-choice ruckman Darren Jolly in the Anzac Day AFL clash with Essendon at the MCG.
Instead, the Magpies will keep faith with veteran understudy Ben Hudson and send Jolly for much-needed match practice in the reserves.
Magpies coach Nathan Buckley says Jolly, who also had a kidney concern in the pre-season, needs the hit-out at VFL level on Friday before he is considered for a recall.
“If you look at his last seven weeks, he’s probably played 70 per cent of two games,” Buckley said of Jolly.
“He’s missed a lot of footy, and missed a lot of training.
“We’ll just give him the opportunity to get up to speed, and trust the incumbents at the moment.
“Darren needs solid training – he needs the football.”
Hudson has filled in admirably for Jolly in the Magpies’ past two matches – the latest being the weekend’s 34-point win over Richmond.
Defender Nathan Brown, who injured his groin against Richmond, has recovered well enough to play on Thursday while Tyson Goldsack has overcome an injury concern to regain his spot at the expense of youngster Josh Thomas.
Buckley said midfielder Dale Thomas was certain to play more game time for Collingwood against Essendon – given a freshen-up when used as substitute against Richmond last weekend.
Important on-ballers Luke Ball and Dayne Beams also miss out as they continue their injury recovery – though Ball will return from his knee reconstruction in the VFL on Friday night.
Buckley believes the improved Magpies depth has become apparent in their 3-1 start to the season despite a lengthy injury list.
“It’s confidence that we don’t need one player to perform. We don’t need Luke Ball. We don’t need Dayne Beams. We don’t need Dale Thomas for four quarters,” Buckley said.
“There’s no players we feel we absolutely categorically need to get the right result.
“We trust our squad. We trust the depth of our list. We trust any 22 we select to get the job done.”
Essendon have wielded the axe, with midfielder Jake Melksham and defender Tayte Pears dropped and Michael Hurley missing the home-and-away season’s biggest clash with an ankle injury.
Forward Stewart Crameri slots in for Hurley after recovering from a minor knee problem, while Kyle Hardingham and Travis Colyer earn recalls.
More than 90,000 are expected to attend the match.