Experienced midfielder Jack Redden and emerging forward Jack Petruccelle have been named in the team for Saturday’s clutch game against Collingwood at the MCG.
Redden, one of the form players through the middle before injuring his leg against Sydney at GMHBA Stadium, and Petruccelle, who resumes from a hamstring issue have been included at the expense of Mark Hutchings (omitted) and forward Liam Ryan (hamstring).
Also left out of the team that held on for a thrilling victory over St Kilda last week is medical substitute Jarrod Brander. He was injected into the game in the first quarter when Ryan left the field with his hamstring strain.
Hutchings, who played his first senior game of the season last week, remains in the mix to be the medical sub as he was named as an emergency with ruckman-forward Nathan Vardy, defender Luke Foley and midfielder Brayden Ainsworth.
The return of Redden, player of the finals in 2018 and runner-up in the John Worsfold Medal, is important for the Eagles in the absence of skipper Luke Shuey.
Redden would have been high in Club Champion Award voting once again before his injury. He did a lot of the grunt work when Shuey, Tim Kelly and Elliot Yeo were all on the sidelines and his teammates will again enjoy his presence at the coalface.
The return of Petruccelle is also important, adding some speed in the absence of Ryan who will likely miss at least two games.
This game against the Pies is a must-win as the club looks to consolidate a place in the top eight.