Collingwood will mix metro with regional as it prepares for the 2017 home and away season.
Today’s announcement of the JLT Community Series (formerly the NAB Challenge) fixture sees the Magpies beginning their campaign against Essendon at Etihad Stadium, before travelling to Mandurah and Moe to face Fremantle and Richmond respectively.
While much of the focus in the Etihad Stadium clash may surround the returns of Essendon’s previously suspended players, it should also be the first chance Collingwood supporters will get to watch some of the 12 new faces wearing Black and White in 2017.
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One of these, forward Chris Mayne, may have his sights set two weeks in advance. If available to be selected, the 28-year-old will clash with the Fremantle side he played 172 games for before crossing to Collingwood.
The Saturday afternoon fixture will be the first time Collingwood has played in Mandurah, a town in which a young Brian Taylor begun his football career in the 1970s.
From country Western Australia, the Magpies will then travel 130km east of Melbourne for a clash against Richmond at the Ted Summerton Reserve.
The home of the Moe Lions underwent a $3.15 million redevelopment in 2009, before another upgrade at the end of 2015.
The ground has never hosted an AFL pre-season fixture, however St Kilda made it a temporary home for a community camp last year.
All pre-season games will be broadcast live on Fox Footy.
2017 JLT Community Series fixture
MATCH 1
Thursday, 16 February
Collingwood Vs Essendon
Etihad Stadium
19:40 EDT
MATCH 2
Saturday, 4 March
Fremantle Vs Collingwood
Rushton Park, Mandurah
13:40 WST
MATCH 3
Saturday, 11 March
Richmond Vs Collingwood
Ted Summerton Reserve, Moe
13:10 EDT
