Collingwood Coach Craig McRae has announced the Magpies’ lineup for Sunday’s clash against Hawthorn at Adelaide Oval.
Veteran Steele Sidebottom makes his return to the side after being rested for last week’s match against Brisbane.
Finlay Macrae has been left out of the squad and will join Joe Richards and Harvey Harrison as emergencies.
This Sunday’s game will mark Sidebottom’s 313th appearance in Collingwood colors, drawing him level with 1990 Premiership Captain Tony Shaw for the second-most games played for the club. They both trail club legend Scott Pendlebury, who is set to play his 388th game for Collingwood.
Coach Craig McCrae discussed the management of Steele Sidebottom last week and his upcoming milestone during today’s press conference.
“Steele will be playing, and his rest last week was part of our management plan. We had other players like Will Hoskin-Elliott and Tom Mitchell resting during the early stages of the season,” McCrae explained. “This was something we had planned, and it will be good to have Steele back in the lineup. He’s now second all-time among Collingwood players, which is a significant achievement for such a legend of our footy club.”
In a noteworthy inclusion, mature-age recruit Joe Richards has been named in the squad for the first time in his career. Despite being listed as an emergency, the 24-year-old’s selection comes after he kicked a career-high six goals in last week’s VFL match against Brisbane, following up on his three goals in the Pies’ Round one victory over Sandringham.
Speaking highly of Richards’ performance, McCrae stated, “He’s been fantastic. He’s had an excellent preseason and is one of those players we need to step up. He kicked six goals in the VFL and looked amazing.”
Sunday’s clash at Adelaide Oval will mark Patrick Lipinski’s 100th AFL appearance. After playing 56 games for the Western Bulldogs, the midfielder/forward joined Collingwood at the start of the 2022 season and has since played 43 games for the club. Lipinski played a pivotal role in Collingwood’s 2023 Premiership, entering the game as a substitute early in the second term. So far in 2024, the 25-year-old has been in arguably the best form of his career, averaging 19.5 disposals, three tackles, and 2.8 clearances.
Veteran Magpie Scott Pendlebury is closing in on a significant milestone, needing just 29 disposals to reach 10,000 for his career. It’s a feat he’s likely to achieve either in this week’s clash or in Round Six against Port Adelaide.
Pendlebury surpassed Robert Harvey’s record for most career disposals in V/AFL history last year in Round 17, amassing 19,657 disposals since his debut in 2006. He has maintained an impressive average of 25.8 disposals per game over his illustrious career.
Collingwood’s upcoming match in the second edition of the AFL’s Gather Round marks their third interstate game of the 2024 season. It also signifies the second consecutive year of the Magpies playing on a Sunday afternoon at Adelaide Oval.
In last year’s Gather Round, Collingwood emerged victorious against St Kilda in a thrilling encounter. Nick Daicos led the way with 42 disposals, while Bobby Hill contributed three goals to the team’s success.
Throughout the weekend, supporters of the Magpie Army will have numerous opportunities to participate in the festivities:
