Milburn out of blockbuster
25/07/2008 8:41 PM
Star Cat Darren Milburn is a late withdrawal from Geelong's blockbuster clash with Hawthorn at the MCG on Friday night.
Milburn's place in the Cats' 22 has been taken by David Johnson, who will be playing his first game of the season.
Milburn, an All Australian defender last year, was one of the Cats' best in their victory over the Western Bulldogs last Saturday.
Despite numerous rumours to the contrary, the Hawks have not made any change to their selected 22.
Luke Hodge will play despite his partner Laura Kirkman due to give birth to the couple's first child.
Star midfielder Sam Mitchell has passed a fitness test. There had been much speculation around Melbourne on Friday suggesting that Mitchell would not play.
All public seating and standing room tickets have been sold for the game.
A crowd of 87,000 people is expected for what has been the most eagerly anticipated home and away clash since Carlton took on Essendon in Round 20, 2000.
That is more than double the record attendance for a home and away clash between the Cats and the Hawks.
The current record is 41,694 set in Round 1, 1990 - the first match between the two sides after the epic 1989 grand final.