Collingwood has two pre-season practice matches in which to tune up for the season proper as a part of the AFL’s revamped pre-season program.

The Magpies will start the year with a practice match against Geelong at Simonds Stadium on Wednesday 12 February before travelling to Wangaratta to take on Richmond on 22 February.

Both matches will be telecast live on Fox Footy.

The AFL has scrapped the NAB Cup competition and instead has clubs playing in two official practice matches across 18 days in mid-late February.

An all-stars match showcasing some of the league’s best players has been mooted for the weekend of 7-9 March which would be followed by the opening round of the home and away season.

Collingwood met the Cats at their home base in the final practice match of the 2013 pre-season but have not played in a home and away game at the ground since 1999.

The trip to Wangaratta will be the team’s first outing in regional Victoria (excluding Geelong) since it defeated Hawthorn at Shepparton’s Deakin Reserve in 2008.

The club’s VFL team played against Williamstown in a home and away match at the Wangaratta Showgrounds in 2011 before spending its Community Camp in the region the following year.

2014 Pre-Season NAB Challenge Fixture
Wednesday 12 February
Geelong v Collingwood, Simonds Stadium, 7.10pm

Saturday 22 February
Collingwood v Richmond, Wangaratta, 4.40pm