Carlton great David Rhys-Jones has urged the Blues to spoil Collingwood’s 125th anniversary

COLLINGWOOD and Carlton will renew hostilities on Saturday as the Magpies celebrate their 125th anniversary and Blues great David Rhys-Jones wants to see their party ruined.

David Rhys-Jones hopes Carlton can spoil Collingwood’s party on Saturday. Picture: Wayne Ludbey

DAVID Rhys-Jones has urged Carlton to gatecrash Collingwood’s 125th anniversary on Saturday at the MCG.

Collingwood will celebrate its milestone with an on-field parade of club legends presenting the Pies’ 15 premiership cups to the crowd.

But Rhys-Jones, felled by Collingwood’s Denis Banks in a hit that would come to symbolise their great rivalry, is urging Carlton to ambush Collingwood’s parade.

Carlton trounced Collingwood the day it celebrated its 100th anniversary in 1992.

Rhys-Jones says there would be nothing sweeter than again knocking off the Pies before their gala ball at the Crown Palladium.

“Eddie (McGuire) hates Carlton. He hates them with a passion and there would be nothing better than to see Eddie’s face look like he’s been sucking on a lemon at time-on in the last quarter,’’ he said.

David Rhys-Jones hopes Carlton can spoil Collingwood’s party on Saturday. Picture: Wayne Ludbey

“It would be a bit like that face he had when Juddy (Chris Judd) beat Swanny (Dane Swan) for the Brownlow that night (in 2011).

“We might parade our 16 cups and they can’t match that. Collingwood has always been the one to beat for me, you want to beat them no matter where you are on the ladder.”

Stephen Kernahan, who kicked seven goals in the 1992 party-pooping victory, said the Carlton-Collingwood rivalry was still intense.

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“I don’t know about parading cups but the Carlton-Collingwood rivalry is still there. No doubt about it. I want us to keep improving,” the former Blues president said.

“It’s going to be great for our kids to play in a big game like that.

“I am going into the enemy’s den — Eddie (McGuire) has invited me into the president’s dinner — but once 2.10pm comes around we will be separated.”

Collingwood coach Nathan Buckley, at Collingwood’s symbolic home of Victoria Park on Wednesday ahead of the game, urged his side to concentrate on the game itself.

Banks joked last year his 1986 hit on Carlton rival Rhys-Jones was payback, saying of “sniper” Rhys-Jones: “I don’t think there was a league player that didn’t want to give Rhys-Jones a bash”.

Rhys-Jones said that hit, and Carlton’s 1970, 1979 and 1981 premiership victories over Collingwood, added to the Blues-Pies rivalry.

“The Banksy incident comes to mind. There is nothing more ferocious than that. I still get a headache thinking about it,’’ he said.

“It wouldn’t have mattered where the clubs were on the ladder, there was still 70,000 and both teams lifted for those games.”

Buckley said there was “always” a chance of distraction but says his side will be ready to fire again.

Carlton defeated Collingwood last year in a game Eddie McGuire revealed made him question his presidency. Picture: Wayne Ludbey

“It is a significant milestone and we acknowledge it leading into the game but we also acknowledge our main contribution will be performing for a couple of hours on Saturday afternoon,” he said.

Buckley was noncommittal on Wednesday on the chances of an immediate recall for Jordan De Goey, eligible to play after an internal suspension.

He said the club would bring back Ben Reid after he was rested, but ruled out playing him as a key forward despite a late Anzac Day switch into attack.

That means a selection squeeze given Lynden Dunn’s impressive Pies debut, but Buckley says Reid is clearly a better defender than forward.

Levi Greenwood will get another big task but Buckley said his performance on Joel Selwood did not mean the tagger was back across the competition.

“We will use our players to our best ends and usually that is not telling the opposition what you are going to do before you do it,” he deadpanned.

Collingwood will wear this special guernsey as part of its 125 year anniversary celebrations. Picture: Getty

De Goey would still seem a strong favourite to return for Travis Varcoe, out for 2-3 weeks with a hamstring after strong form at half back.

But Buckley said Ben Crocker, Rupert Wills and Jackson Ramsay were all in contention despite De Goey’s diligence since a three-week internal suspension for lying about a broken hand.

“Jordy performed well last week and is clear to be selected but we had some pretty strong performances in the VFL. He has attacked what has been asked of him with everything in his power,’’ he said.

“He has ticked every box, done the work externally through the Salvation Army and his footy and training standards have been pretty high.

“He is suitably chastened and we don’t want to whip him any further. He will be available (and selected) if we think it suits the side now.”

Originally published as Carlton great David Rhys-Jones has urged the Blues to spoil Collingwood’s 125th anniversary