Collingwood will play its first home game of 2024 when it hosts Essendon at Victoria Park this Saturday in Round Five.

The game is part of a double header at the venue with the Club’s VFLW side also taking on the Bombers at Vic Park beforehand.

The Pies are coming off the back of a tough 15-point loss against Coburg in Round Four and will be looking to bounce back strongly against their traditional rivals.

The Bombers are yet to win in 2024 from four games, however, have played some of the top sides in the competition so far.

Last time we met

The Pies got over the line for a thrilling eight-point win in the corresponding fixture last year – also at Victoria Park.

Collingwood trailed by 11 points at the final break, however a five-goal fourth quarter lifted them to a crucial win.

Two of those came from Reef McInnes, part of three goals for the match from the forward.

Josh Carmichael played one his best games in Collingwood colours at either level, collecting 33 disposals and kicking three huge goals to be the difference in the match.

Veteran Tom Wilson was dynamic with ball in hand with 32 disposals, while Campbell Lane was also important with 28 touches.

Team news

Four players come into the side for the Round Five match with Essendon following last Sunday’s game against Coburg.

The Club’s top draft pick from 2023, Harry DeMattia, will play his first game in Pies colours having recovered from a finger injury that has kept him on the sidelines for two months.

Joining him as inclusions on Saturday are AFL-listed players Reef McInnes, Jakob Ryan, and Lachie Sullivan.

Sullivan and Ryan have played at VFL level already this season through the early stages, however McInnes is yet to, after registering four AFL games so far this season.

The quartet will boost the side as they aim to get back on the winners’ list once again.

Tom Wilson, Harrison Kennedy, Cooper Macdonald, and Patrick Farrant all come out of the team.

The season so far

The Pies are at an even two wins and two losses after the opening month of the season, with all four of their games close encounters.

The Pies won in Rounds One and Three over Sandringham and Carlton respectively, however they suffered narrow loses following both at the hands of Brisbane and Coburg.

Joe Richards and Ned Long have been the standouts in the forward line and midfield respectively, while many of the Club’s new VFL recruits have stood up across the first month of the season.

With all of their first four games of the season at away venues, the Pies will now play their first home game and first game at Victoria Park of 2024 on Saturday.

Double header & ANZAC ceremonies

Saturday’s game will be a double header at the Pies’ traditional home ground, with the VFLW side kicking off proceedings at 11am.

The team are in the midst of a two-game winning streak following a tough start to the year and will field a side that includes nine AFLW players.

They will observe a pre-match ANZAC ceremony that will begin at 10:47am, before the VFL match does the same.

The ceremony will include the national anthems of both Australia and New Zealand, the ode, the last post and a minute’s silence.

How can I watch? 

Entry is free at Victoria Park, with the first game kicking off at 11am.

Both the VFL and VFLW games can be streamed live on AFL.com.au and via the Official AFL Live app.