Big guns back for Pies: Collingwood bolstered by De Goey, Pendlebury

Aided partly by a friendly fixture, the Pies won four and drew one of six games while their playing stocks were stretched. Most experts expect the Pies to finish in the top four but after the bye rounds they are at the front of a logjam that sees only two wins separating fourth from 13th.

“It’s such an even competition, the margins are so small,” McRae said. “You’d like to think if some team that gets a run on here, they can separate from the pack. This is the time to do it.”

Premiership defender, Ashcroft return for prime-time Gabba blockbuster

Roy Ward

Melbourne and Brisbane will both regain star players for their Friday night footy clash at the Gabba.

Premiership defender Jake Lever returns for the Demons along with Taj Woewodin and debutant Andy Moniz-Wakefield, with Christian Salem (injury) out along with omitted pair Kynan Brown and Blake Howes.

Lions midfielder Will Ashcroft will make his season debut after recovering from a knee reconstruction following a late season injury last campaign, and he is joined by Darragh Joyce with the pair replacing Jack Payne (injury) and Shadeau Brain.

Meanwhile, veterans Todd Goldstein and Jade Gresham are back for the Bombers – replacing young key forward Nate Caddy and Jye Menzie for their club’s clash with Geelong at the MCG, with debutant Lawson Humphries, Shannon Neale and Mitch Knevitt coming in for injured duo Tom Hawkins and Oliver Henry, plus Oisin Mullin, who was omitted.

Aaron Naughton, will return from injury for the Bulldogs, as they look to beat an improving North Melbourne. Oskar Baker and Sam Darcy are also back. They replace Buku Khamis, Caleb Daniel and Anthony Scott.

Kangaroos midfielder George Wardlaw was concussed in a training accident on Thursday. He will miss at least two matches, with Kallan Dawson named as his replacement to face the Dogs.

“He initially reported to our medical team some soreness around the shoulder and then said he felt a knock to his head in the same incident,” Kangaroos football general manager Todd Viney said.

“Upon receiving that advice, our doctor ran him through the concussion testing and from there he was ruled out.

“It’s obviously disappointing for George and the team but our first priority is always our players’ health.”

Carlton’s extended squad for Sunday’s clash with Richmond includes some key players with Adam Cerra, Caleb Marchbank, Jesse Motlop and Marc Pittonet all named and only Corey Durdin out at this stage.

The Tigers will hand mid-season draftee Jacob Blight his AFL debut, with the WA defender only joining the club on May 29. The 22-year-old, who has quickly won the Tigers supporters over, is joined in the extended squad by Jacob Hopper, Sam Banks and Kaleb Smith, with Tom Lynch the only confirmed out due to injury.