Pies lose two guns
09/06/2008 2:45 PM
Collingwood has suffered a double blow ahead of Monday's Queen's Birthday clash with Melbourne at the MCG with key forward Anthony Rocca and star midfielder Scott Pendlebury both ruled out with injury.
They have been replaced by youngsters Shannon Cox and Ryan Cook, who have played just 14 AFL games between them, in a major boost to the last-placed Demons' chances of pulling off a major upset.
While mystery surrounds the withdrawal of Pendlebury, who has not missed a game this season, Rocca has again succumbed to his on-going ankle problems.
The veteran centre-half-forward has now missed four of the Pies' past seven matches with the injury, which coach Mick Malthouse admits requires on-going management with Rocca remaining a week to week proposition.
The Demons, who have won the past four Queen's Birthday clashes but go into this game as rank outsiders as they sit last on the ladder with just one win from ten games, named an unchanged line-up.