Collingwood has made eight changes for Sunday’s blockbuster clash with Carlton at the MCG, with Paul Medhurst and Leon Davis among the ‘ins’ and four big names out injured.

Davis and Medhurst have recovered from injury and return to the final team of 22 after missing one match each,  along with the club’s leading goal kicker John Anthony, who has served a one-match suspension, and emerging youngster Dayne Beams, who missed a week with a groin injury.

Ryan Cook, Shannon Cox, Cameron Wood and Ben Reid have all been rewarded for their good form at VFL level in recent weeks and get another chance.

Going out of the side are Travis Cloke (hamstring), Josh Fraser (knee), Anthony Rocca (groin) and Dale Thomas (knee), while Danny Stanley, Alan Toovey, Jaxson Barham and Brent Macaffer have all been omitted.

With Medhurst and Anthony returning to bolster the forward line, and Davis coming back after being in career best form as a midfielder/forward, the Magpie attack gains potency.

Beams and Cook will add run and ball-winning ability to the midfield, Wood replaces Fraser in the ruck, the skilful Cox will set up play from the back half and the versatile Reid gets a chance as a key position option.

Medhurst, Davis and Anthony each played the first six games of the season, while Beams debuted in round two and has played five matches.

For Cook and Wood, it will be their first games at AFL level in 2009, while Cox played the first five matches and Reid has made the one senior appearance this year, back in round one.

Barham, Macaffer and Toovey are the emergencies.

The Magpies are coming off an 88-point loss to ladder-leader St Kilda, and have three wins and four losses, the same as the Blues, making the clash crucial to both sides’ chances of staying in touch with the top sides.

The teams will play for the Peter Mac Cup, which has been played for annually since 1993 and is designed to raise funds and awareness for the Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, the only specialist cancer hospital in Australia.

The Blues won both contests between the sides last year.

2009 AFL Round 8
Collingwood v Carlton
Sunday 17 May
MCG, 2:10pm

Collingwood
B: Harry O’Brien, Simon Prestigiacomo, Martin Clarke
HB: Nick Maxwell (c), Nathan Brown, Ben Reid
C: Anthony Corrie, Steele Sidebottom, Shannon Cox
HF: Scott Pendlebury, Leigh Brown, Leon Davis
F: Tarkyn Lockyer, Paul Medhurst, Heath Shaw
Foll: Cameron Wood, Dane Swan, Shane O’Bree
Int: Jack Anthony, Dayne Beams, Ryan Cook, Sharrod Wellingham
Emg: Jaxson Barham, Brent Macaffer, Alan Toovey

In: Jack Anthony, Dayne Beams, Ryan Cook, Shannon Cox, Leon Davis, Paul Medhurst, Ben Reid, Cameron Wood

Out: Travis Cloke (hamstring), Josh Fraser (knee), Anthony Rocca (groin), Dale Thomas (knee), Danny Stanley (omitted), Alan Toovey (omitted), Jaxson Barham (omitted), Brent Macaffer (omitted)

Carlton
B: Bret Thornton, Michael Jamison, Jarrad Waite
HB: Dennis Armfield, Paul Bower, Nick Stevens
C: Kade Simpson, Chris Judd, Heath Scotland
HF: Jordan Russell, Simon Wiggins, Bryce Gibbs
F: Eddie Betts, Brendan Fevola, Aaron Joseph
Foll: Matthew Kreuzer, Richard Hadley, Marc Murphy
Int: Mark Austin, Shaun Hampson, Mitch Robinson, Chris Yarran

In: Mitch Robinson
Out: Cameron Cloke (omitted)