As Collingwood’s 2024 AFL season gets underway this weekend in Sydney, all your questions are answered ahead of what is set to be another huge year for the Magpie Army.
What does the fixture look like?
Opening the season in Sydney
As part of the AFL’s Opening Round, the Magpies will take on the GWS GIANTS on Saturday evening at GIANTS Stadium. The first bounce will be at 7:30pm, with the game to be broadcasted on Channel Seven, Kayo and Fox Sports.
Playing in front of the Army across the country
Collingwood will play 17 games in Melbourne across 2024, with 14 at the MCG and three at Marvel Stadium. Highlighted by the Round One ‘Premiership flag unfurling’, ANZAC Day in Round Seven and the King’s Birthday clash in Round 13.
The Pies will visit their ‘19th player’ across the country with two games in Sydney (Opening Round and Round 22, the Grand Final rematch in Brisbane in Round Three, Gather Round versus Hawthorn in Adelaide in Round Four, a clash against Fremantle in Perth in Round Eleven and a trip to take on the Gold Coast in Round 16.
The Magpie Army are encouraged to paint the country black and white and bring their loudest support to every game, which will no doubt be a crucial factor for Craig McRae’s side in 2024.
What is being celebrated this year?
Across the Magpies 23 games throughout 2024, the Club and League will use its platform for good to highlight a range of important causes.
Round Seven will see Collingwood take on Essendon for the 29th consecutive ANZAC Day match at the MCG, paying respects to those who have served in armed conflict for both Australia and New Zealand.
Round 13 marks the tenth annual ‘Big Freeze at the ‘G’ game between the Magpies and Melbourne, which raises crucial funds and awareness for motor neurone disease through the Fight MND charity established by former AFL player and coach Neale Daniher.
Celebrating the culture of Australia’s first nations people will be the focus of Round 10 against Adelaide and Round 11 against Fremantle as the whole league comes together for the annual Sir Doug Nicholls Indigenous Round. With the round celebrated across two weeks, the Magpie Army in both Melbourne and Perth respectively will have the chance to get involved.
When are the byes?
With only eight clubs playing in the inaugural ‘Opening Round’, the fixture will be evened out and the Magpies will enjoy a break with a fixtured ‘bye’ in Round Five. Come Round 15 in June, Collingwood will enjoy another rest.
Who will be representing the black and white stripes?
New faces
With any new year comes a suite of new faces. Collingwood has added seven new players to its squad for 2024, including Lachie Schultz who joined from Fremantle in the 2023 trade period, Harry DeMattia and Tew Jiath who were selected at pciks 25 and 37 in the 2023 National Draft, Lachie Sullivan, Josh Eyre and Jack Bytel who were joined the Club during the Supplementary Selection Period and Wil Parker who signed on as a Category B rookie.
As well as new players, the Magpies confirmed a new coaching structure for 2024. Headlined by a new line structure that sees Jordan Roughead take charge of the Defensive group and Scott Selwood the forwards. Former Western Bulldogs Head Coach Brendan McCartney also joins the coaching group in part time development capacity after spending time with the program throughout 2023.
Leading from behind
Darcy Moore will lead the Magpies for the second straight year after achieving the ultimate success in 2023. Joining Moore in the program-voted leadership group will be Jeremy Howe (seventh year in the group), Brayden Maynard (for the second year) and for the first time, Isaac Quaynor. All four players happen to be defenders.
How can I stay connected?
Staying up to date with everything happening inside the Collingwood team is easier than ever! Visit collingwoodfc.com.au, @collingwood_fc on Instagram and threads @collingwoodfc on X (formerly Twitter), Collingwood Football Club on Facebook and YouTube for a range of behind the scenes content, the latest news and more.
How can I tune in?
All Collingwood games will be broadcast live and ad-break free across Foxtel and kayosports.com.au, with a select number of games broadcast on Channel Seven dependant on location. You can view the broadcast guide for your state here.
Our moment. Your memories. Time to own it. Have you got your 2024 membership?
