With the loser of this clash likely to struggle to make the eight this year, Collingwood have been gearing up for a big show in this encounter against the in-form Crows, especially after slumping to a 9-7 record, having lost four of their last five games.
In Collingwood’s last match, the Magpies copped a 64-point smashing at the hands of Essendon and Nathan Buckley vowed to make changes, although four of the five he has made for Sunday’s clash have been forced.
Former skipper Nathan Maxwell was forced into retirement by a serious ankle injury while Dane Swan (foot) and Luke Ball (back) were also forced out.
On top of that, rebounding defender Toovey has also been forced out after suffering a back injury at training on Friday. Josh Thomas has been omitted from the side.
This game will be first time since Round 12 2006 that both Maxwell and Swan have missed a game.
The end result is that Collingwood will field one of their youngest sides in the last ten years, in what’s shaping as a massive challenge for the club against a Crows outfit that appears to be firing on all cylinders, despite suffering a gutsy 12-point loss to reigning premiers Hawthorn in their last game.
Ben Reid does return to the side though for his first game this season after struggling with calf and quadriceps issues along with forward Jamie Elliott, while Lachie Keeffe will return to the backline. Tim Broomhead and Kyle Martin complete the ins, with 2013 draftee Broomhead selected on the wing for just his third AFL game.
Martin, though, has been in stellar form for Collingwood’s VFL team and was selected after being elevated off the rookie list on Thursday.
Collingwood
B Marley Williams, Jack Frost, Taylor Adams
HB Paul Seedsman, Lachlan Keeffe, Heritier Lumumba
C Steele Sidebottom, Brent Macaffer, Tim Broomhead
HF Kyle Martin, Jesse White, Ben Kennedy
F Jamie Elliott, Travis Cloke, Ben Reid
FOL Jarrod Witts, Dayne Beams, Scott Pendlebury
I/C Tyson Goldsack, Jarryd Blair, Clinton Young, Tom Langdon
EMG Sam Dwyer, Josh Thomas, Tony Armstrong
In: Reid, Martin, Keeffe, Broomhead, Elliott
Out: Ball (back), Swan (foot), Maxwell (ankle/retired), Toovey (back), Thomas.
ADELAIDE
B Luke Thompson, Daniel Talia, Luke Brown
HB Matthew Jaensch, Andy Otten, Ricky Henderson
C Brodie Smith, Scott Thompson, Rory Sloane
HF Eddie Betts, James Podsiadly, Tom Lynch
F Josh Jenkins, Taylor Walker, Brodie Martin
FOL Sam Jacobs, Patrick Dangerfield, Brad Crouch
I/C Matthew Wright, David Mackay, Richard Douglas, Rory Laird
EMG Mitch Grigg, Jarryd Lyons, Matt Crouch
In: Mackay, L Thompson
Out: Rutten, Porplyzia