Collingwood Coach Craig McRae has named the Magpies’ side for Sunday’s Gather Round encounter against Hawthorn at Adelaide Oval.  

Pies veteran Steele Sidebottom returns to the side after being managed for last week’s game against Brisbane.

Finlay Macrae has been omitted and will join Joe Richards and Harvey Harrison as emergencies.

Sunday will mark Sidebottom’s 313^th game in the black and white, which will see him equal 1990 Premiership Captain Tony Shaw’s record for second most games played for the Club. The pair will sit 75 behind club legend Scott Pendlebury who will play his 388^th in black and white.

Coach Craig McCrae spoke about the management of Sidebottom last week and his upcoming record equalling feat, in today's press conference.

“Steele will play and that (managing him for Round Three) was all part of our management, we had Will (Hoskin-Elliott) and Tom (Mitchell) and those guys resting during the early stages of the season,” McRae said.

“This is something we planned, and Steele will be back in, it will be good to have him as part of the 22 or 23.

“I think he’s now second all-time on the Collingwood players in the history of the Club, so it’s a significant achievement from such a legend of our footy Club.”

Mature age recruit, Joe Richards has been included in the squad for the first time in his career. Named as an emergency, the 24-year-old’s inclusion comes after he booted a career-high six goals in last week’s VFL clash against Brisbane, which followed three goals in the Pies’ Round one win over Sandringham.

McRae spoke highly of Richards' start to the year.

“He’s been fantastic, he’s had an awesome pre-season and is one of those players that we need to step up and he kicked six goals in the VFL and looked amazing,” he said.

Sunday’s Adelaide Oval clash will be Patrick Lipinski’s 100^th at AFL level. Following 56 games for the Western Bulldogs, the midfielder/forward arrived at the Pies at the beginning of the 2022 season and has since played 43 games for the Club.

Lipinski’s crowing moment was playing a key role in Collingwood’s 2023 Premiership after coming on as substitute early in the second term. The 25-year-old has started 2024 in arguable career best form, averaging 19.5 disposals, three tackles and 2.8 clearances.

Veteran Magpie Scott Pendlebury requires 29 disposals to reach 10,000 for his career, an achievement he is likely to meet in this week’s clash or in Round Six against Port Adelaide.

In Round 17 last year, Pendlebury overtook Robert Harvey’s record most for most career disposals in V/AFL history with 19,657 and has averaged 25.8 a game since his debut in 2006.

The second edition of the AFL’s Gather Round sees Collingwood play their third interstate game of season 2024 and marks the second consecutive year of the Magpies playing on a Sunday afternoon at Adelaide Oval.

In last year’s Gather Round, Collingwood defeated St Kilda in a thrilling clash that saw Nick Daicos lead the way with 42 disposals and Bobby Hill boot three goals.

Across the weekend, the Magpie Army will have a suite of opportunities to join the festivities:

Sunday, April 7
Collingwood V Hawthorn
Adelaide Oval, Kaurna
5:10pm (AEST)/4:40pm (ACST)

IN: Sidebottom
OUT: Macrae (omitted)