Bounce
Collingwood midfielder Patrick Lipinski will return to the Pies’ lineup to take on St Kilda on Saturday night at Marvel Stadium.
The 26-year-old has been sidelined since he sustained a concussion in the Pies’ Round 12 win over Hawthorn.
2024 draftee Will Hayes has been omitted from the team following his second match in the Round 13 win over Melbourne.
Vice-Captain Brayden Maynard will miss the clash as he continues to build his training loads following a plantar fascia rupture in the Pies’ Round 11 win over North Melbourne.
Collingwood Coach Craig McRae announced the defender’s absence from the team while fronting media on Thursday morning.
“'Bruzzy' won’t play,” McRae said.
“Bruzzy is a couple of training sessions short of being ready to be at his best.
“He’ll train Friday and heavily on Saturday and ideally set himself up to be available next week.”
“We’re conscious of his loads… so this is a high-performance decision more than a coaching decision.”
McRae will notch 300 games as a player and coach in this weekend’s match, qualifying the coach for AFL Life Membership.
The 51-year-old has played and coached 282 premiership games for the Brisbane Bears/Lions and Collingwood, 14 pre-season games, two international matches and one State of Origin match for South Australia.
“I’m really grateful,” McRae said.
“For me as a young man growing up in Adelaide, I just loved footy.”
“And then to still think I’m working in footy 30 years later… I pinch myself daily.
“I’m so lucky to be a part of this football club and doing the job I’m doing.”
Forward Tim Membrey has been selected to play his former team for the first time.
A former vice-captain of St Kilda, the 31-year-old played 178 games and booted 293 goals for the Saints, leading their goal-kicking in 2016, 2017 and 2019.
Midfielder Tom Mitchell, ruck Oscar Steene and Hayes will be the emergencies for the clash.
The tactical substitution will be selected from the bench and will be named 60 minutes before the first bounce.
Collingwood fans can watch the game live on Fox Footy and kayosports.com.au, with the first bounce at 7:35pm (AEST).
Saturday 21 June
Collingwood v St Kilda
Marvel Stadium, Wurundjeri
7:35pm (AEST)
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