Collingwood has locked in Mitch Podhajski for a debut and Melbourne has named Luker Kentfield for his first game as the teams were confirmed for the King’s Birthday clash at the MCG. The match starts at 3.15pm AEST and brings a fresh round of selection changes to one of the season’s biggest fixtures.
For Collingwood, Harry Perryman and Jack Buller are back, while Steele Sidebottom has been managed and Ned Long and Wil Parker have been dropped. Melbourne has brought in Jake Lever and Tom McDonald, but Bailey Laurie and Matt Jefferson have been omitted and Andy Moniz-Wakefield is injured. The lineups were settled on Thursday, giving both clubs a clear look at the shape of the contest before the first bounce.
Podhajski’s selection gives Collingwood a new face in a game that has drawn extra attention because of the club’s recent record against Melbourne. The Magpies have won their past five clashes with the Demons and 12 of the last 14, yet they arrive outside the wildcard places after managing just one win in their past five matches. That is the sort of contradiction that can turn a familiar rivalry into a much less predictable afternoon. A preview of the match has already become a natural stop for readers following the selection call-up and the broader round 13 picture, with the club’s debutant announcement landing alongside the team sheets.
The stakes are wider than ladder position or team changes. The game has taken on extra weight after the death of former Melbourne coach and MND campaigner Neale Daniher, with the King’s Birthday fixture once again carrying a meaning beyond the four points. Melbourne, still in the top six, is trying to steady itself after four consecutive defeats in Alice Springs and a listless loss to Greater Western Sydney. Collingwood has the recent edge in the rivalry, but the Demons have the urgency of a side trying to stop a slide before the contest slips further away. The answer will start coming at the MCG at 3.15pm AEST, when Podhajski and Kentfield take their places on one of the game’s most watched stages.
