Collingwood’s players are nevertheless hurting from final year’s AFL grand-last reduction to Geelong, though Magpies’ forward Jarryd Blair is trying not to dwell on it.

The Magpies (11-three) have presently beaten the Cats (9-five) as soon as this season, in round eight, when Scott Pendlebury contributed 30 disposals and four ambitions in Collingwood’s twelve-point victory.

Pendlebury returns to centre stage on Saturday night at the MCG following suffering a fractured tibia on June 3 against Gold Coast.

“There is a rivalry there and it truly is some thing the players do appear at a little bit when you go into a game,” Blair said on Friday.

“You take a small bit out of factors like that.

“To drop a grand final, it really is disappointing but it truly is not a thing that you feel about as well significantly. You take what you need out of it and you move on.”

Club champion Pendlebury’s return is just the enhance the Magpies need following final week’s upset 23-stage reduction to Carlton.

“With a player of his calibre to come back into the side, it certainly does give everybody a tiny bit far more self-confidence,” 2010 premiership player Blair mentioned.

“He’s a confirmed performer and he often plays well against Geelong.”

Collingwood’s tally of 8.14 (62) final week was their equal-lowest score of the season.

Dale Thomas (bruised foot) has been passed fit while Pendlebury, Nathan Brown and Chris Tarrant come into the side.

Tarrant, a former All-Australian forward who had a fine season in defence in 2011, has played only two senior games this year.

The Magpies might contact on the 193cm utility in a bid to lift their scoring, particularly with crucial forward Chris Dawes’ output of 7 goals in 13 games.

“He has verified himself to be able to kick a number of objectives down there,” Blair mentioned of Tarrant, who has overcome shoulder soreness.

“It would be pretty fascinating if he did go down there. A great deal of Magpies’ supporters would love to see him back forward and possibly consider a number of huge grabs.”

The Cats named debutants Josh Walker and Jackson Sheringham although premiership trio Steve Johnson, Harry Taylor and Mitch Duncan return to the side.

Brownlow Medallist Jimmy Bartel is suspended and David Wojcinksi has a hamstring injury.

Geelong’s tally of debutants in 2012 rises to 10 with the inclusions of 24-year-old Sheringham and 19-year-old ruck/forward Walker, the grandson of 1963 premiership player Peter Walker.

Geelong struggled to beat bottom side Gold Coast by 14 points last week.

Blair said the Magpies weren’t falling for media speculation that 2007/09/11 premiers Geelong have been rebuilding and no longer premiership contenders.

“We often count on that when we play Geelong it truly is going to be a difficult, quite tight game,” the Wonthaggi item mentioned.

Blair, a lively 174cm forward who averages four.6 tackles and .9 goals per game, will play his 50th match.

Collingwood will also celebrate the milestones of Harry O’Brien (150) and Alan Toovey (one hundred).