Intrigue surrounds the make up of Collingwood’s line up against Hawthorn on Sunday afternoon.

Five players have been added to the Magpies’ 25-man squad, headlined by Jamie Elliott, who has been absent from Collingwood’s losses to Melbourne and Port Adelaide with an ankle complaint.

He is joined by Mason Cox, Jackson Ramsay, Matthew Scharenberg and Josh Thomas in the extended squad.

If selected, the match will mark Thomas’ first senior appearance since round 23, 2014.

Two players – James Aish and Ben Crocker – have been omitted from last week’s team.



A long time coming
Named on the interchange bench, this week marks the first time Josh Thomas has been named in a senior squad since 2014.

Thomas and teammate Lachlan Keeffe served a two-year league-imposed ban in 2015 and 2016 after testing positive to a banned substance in March, 2015.

Since returning in full capacity earlier this year, Thomas has quietly worked his way back to his best form in the VFL, where he is averaging 23.3 disposals from seven games.

Thomas last played senior football against Hawthorn in round 15, 2017.

Jamie’s impact
The Magpie Army will breathe a huge sigh of relief when it sees Jamie Elliott’s name on the Collingwood team sheet.

For those who underestimate Elliott’s value to Nathan Buckley’s team, try these facts on for size:
- Elliott has kicked at least three goals in each of his past five games, and at least three in six of his eight games this season
- It was Elliott's goal that sparked Collingwood's return from a 40-point deficit to overcome the Hawks in round nine
- Elliott has a strong record against the Hawks, kicking nine goals in his past five games

VFL squad
Collingwood’s VFL team will take on Footscray in a curtain raiser at Victoria Park on Sunday morning.

The match will provide the platform for Travis Varcoe to make his return from a hamstring strain.

Varcoe has missed the past eight weeks owing the injury he sustained against Geelong in round six.

Hawthorn v Collingwood
Round 15 2017
Sunday 2 June
MCG, 3.20pm

Collingwood
B: Jeremy Howe, Lynden Dunn, Tom Langdon
HB: Jack Crisp, Tyson Goldsack, Brayden Maynard
C: Steele Sidebottom, Scott Pendlebury, Tom Phillips
HF: Jordan De Goey, Darcy Moore, Will Hoskin-Elliott
F: Jamie Elliott, Mason Cox, Alex Fasolo
Foll: Brodie Grundy, Taylor Adams, Adams Treloar
Int (from): Matthew Scharenberg, Callum Brown, Levi Greenwood, Ben Reid, Josh Thomas, Tim Broomhead, Jackson Ramsay

IN: Mason Cox, Jamie Elliott, Jackson Ramsay, Matthew Scharenberg, Josh Thomas
OUT: James Aish, Ben Crocker (omitted)