One of the Australian Football League’s most anticipated rivalry clashes is just days away, and Collingwood has confirmed last-minute changes to its 22-man squad for Saturday night’s high-stake showdown against traditional foe Carlton.
Magpies head coach Craig McRae announced Thursday that the side will lean into youthful attacking energy inside 50, recalling 20-year-old key forward Charlie West and young prospect Harvey Harrison to the senior lineup. The selection shake-up comes at the cost of veteran defender Jeremy Howe, who has been rested from this week’s match to manage minor wear and tear, with a short five-day turnaround between this round and next week’s fixture looming on the calendar.
Howe’s spot in the defensive backline will be filled by returning defender Isaac Quaynor, who was close to selection last week after a recent injury layoff. McRae explained that while the 16-season veteran passed a Thursday fitness test, coaching staff made the deliberate call to hold him out to avoid a higher risk of more serious damage. “We could arguably push Howe to the line, but then we may be at risk of further injury, so we’ll leave him out this week,” McRae told reporters. “When we’ve got a five-day break coming, it’ll be touch and go to put him out there … why are we pushing a guy to the edge when we have further risk of injury? He should be available for next week’s fixture with the extra recovery time.”
For West, the recall marks a well-earned second chance at senior football, after a dominant VFL (reserve league) campaign that has seen the young key forward boot 23 goals from his matches this season, with multiple scoring opportunities in every outing. McRae highlighted West’s elite one-on-one marking ability as a critical asset the side will need against Carlton, adding that the young forward will bring much-needed fresh energy to Collingwood’s attacking 50. “Charlie is going to play, it’s a good pick-up,” McRae said. “He’s a great one-on-one mark and we think that’s going to be something we need this week.”
Beyond the Magpies’ selection changes, McRae also weighed in on the stunning resurgence of Carlton this season, which has seen the Blues post seven wins from their past eight matches under caretaker coach Josh Fraser. The turnaround comes as no surprise to McRae, who worked closely alongside Fraser for three seasons during Fraser’s tenure as Collingwood’s VFL coach and head of player development. In fact, McRae says Carlton’s current playing style bears a clear resemblance to the Magpies’ own gameplan.
“Yeah, (they’re) playing a lot like Collingwood, really, there’s a lot of Collingwood flavour to it,” McRae said. “I say that respectfully, he spent a lot of time in our building. They’re defending the ground well and maintaining possession really well, so the game at times is going to be a bit of a struggle, a bit of a wrestle.” McRae added that the clash will differ from the Magpies’ past four outings, which have been high-flow, high-turnover matches. Still, he expressed confidence that his side is prepared for any style of contest: “We’ve got the tools and resources to get the job done in whatever environment we’re in.”