COLLINGWOOD is poised the unleash its big guns on Richmond on Saturday with Brownlow medallist Dane Swan and troubleshooter Ben Reid set to play at Wangaratta’s Norm Minns Oval.
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Skipper Scott Pendlebury said yesterday the Magpie superstars were keen to make their first pre-season appearance after sitting out last Wednesday’s narrow loss to Geelong.
Only 1000 tickets remain for the game with Pendlebury confident of building momentum.
“I certainly felt we ran the game out well (against Geelong),” Pendlebury said.
“Defensively, we were good in patches, offensively, we were pretty sharp.
“We have Richmond in Wangaratta (on Saturday) and we look to build again.
“The coaches will sit down tomorrow and have match committee, but I think Ben Reid and guys like Swanny (Dane Swan) are pretty keen to play.”
Pendlebury said he enjoyed the new pre-season format, with the abbreviated first-round pool matches of recent years dropped and teams now having two full games without a grand final.
“It felt like a real game (against Geelong) — four full-length quarters,” he said.
Pendlebury said he had settled into the captaincy well but stressed it was not entirely his responsibility to lead the Magpies after a summer of significant change.
“It’s not just me that is going to change the place, or has to change the place,” he said.
“It’s the whole leadership group. From the summer we have had, everyone has moved in the right direction.
“It’s exciting times.”
Collingwood completed its two-day community camp at Kinglake yesterday and will arrive at Wangaratta on Friday.
