CARLTON will be desperate to get its season back on track when it takes on rival Collingwood in a Thursday night blockbuster at the MCG.
The Blues are 0-3 and under fire, desperately needing a win to ease the pressure.
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But they face another big test against the Magpies, who are 2-1 and coming off their bye last week.
The Pies have won five of the past six meetings between the clubs and 10 of the previous 12.
Brody Mihocek returns alongside Billy Frampton in a big boost for Craig McRae's side, with Mason Cox omitted and Reef McInnes succumbing to a season-ending knee injury against Footscray a fortnight ago.
For the Blues, Matt Cottrell is a big out due to injury, while Jordan Boyd and Francis Evans have been axed.
Collingwood v Carlton at the MCG, 7.30pm AEDT
NO LATE CHANGES
SUBSTITUTES
Collingwood: Ned Long
Carlton: Ashton Moir
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01:48
Player Portrait: Why the cult figure called Moose is heading back to Victoria
Josh Gabelich tells The Round Ahead how a cult figure called Moose is following in his father’s footsteps ahead of his first game for new club.
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23:39
The Round Ahead: Ball-up barometers, the Pies who must lift, comp's 'remarkable' no.1 defender
Kate McCarthy joins Nat Edwards and Josh Gabelich to preview all seven games and the key storylines ahead of round three
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05:03
Why AFL’s newest rivalry is real, premiership heroes return, Saints out to break hoodoos
The Round Ahead panel discuss the recent rivalry between Brisbane and St Kilda, the Lions’ premiership heroes expected to return this week and the hoodoos that the Saints need to break.
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04:50
Thursday night’s ‘big watch’, Crows’ stars to miss mission to break one of footy’s longest hoodoos
Kate McCarthy, Josh Gabelich and Nat Edwards preview the key storylines ahead of Thursday night’s Geelong v Adelaide blockbuster including the news that Crows’ stars Jordan Dawson and Taylor Walker will miss the clash, the ‘big watch’ on Jordon Butts, and the 23-year hoodoo that Adelaide needs to break.
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01:54
‘There is no better opportunity’: The Pies forwards that need to stand up, veterans ‘good to go’
Kate McCarthy, Josh Gabelich and Nat Edwards preview the key matchups and storylines ahead of Friday night’s clash including two Collingwood veterans locked in to return and the disappointing output from the Pies’ key forwards so far this season.
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02:45
Kate’s love for ‘flashy’ Tiger, young Docker’s ‘remarkable rise’
Kate McCarthy, Nat Edwards and Josh Gabelich preview the key matchups and storylines ahead of Round 3’s Fremantle v Richmond clash.
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01:28
‘They’re starting to head towards that disaster territory’: Bombers on track to break unwanted record
Kate McCarthy, Nat Edwards and Josh Gabelich discuss Essendon’s 12-game winning streak over North Melbourne and the unwanted record that they are close to breaking.
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01:08
‘Can the tagger with swagger stop mids like Jagga?’: Which Blues mid will cop the Tholstrup tag?
Nat Edwards, Josh Gabelich and Kate McCarthy praise Melbourne’s Koltyn Tholstrup after successfully negating Nasiah Wanganeen-Milera and Caleb Serong in the last two weeks, and question which Carlton midfielder he has his eyes on this week.
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04:10
‘He surprised me so much last year’: Kate ranks the league’s most lethal midfield ‘fire-starters’
Kate McCarthy and Josh Gabelich rank the league’s most important centre-bounce barometers.
