Davis out for Pies

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Veteran forward Leon Davis is a surprise late withdrawal from the Collingwood line-up for Friday night's cut-throat preliminary final against Geelong at the MCG.

In an interesting switch, Davis has been replaced in the Magpies 22 by tall defender Tyson Goldsack.

The Geelong side is unchanged.

Davis, who was an All Australian forward in 2009, has come in for strong criticism for his sub-standard performances in finals throughout his career.

The 29-year-old trained freely with the senior squad at Gosch's Paddock on Thursday and there was no suggestion that anything was amiss.

Emergency Paul Medhurst was the most obvious like-for-like substitute for Davis which suggests the Magpies' have made a strategic decision.

Goldsack returns to the Collingwood line-up after missing the qualifying final win over the Western Bulldogs.

The 23-year-old had been a fixture in the side in the second half of the season and appeared settled in a rebounding role at half-back.

The Geelong selectors once again opted not to make any late changes which means that for the second week running, dual premiership defender Andrew Mackie will be watching from the stands.

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