Senior Coach Craig McRae has made two changes to Collingwood’s side ahead of a blockbuster Friday night clash against Carlton at the MCG.

Lachie Sullivan will make his long-awaited AFL debut, after being signed by the Magpies in February’s Supplementary Selection Period. Defender Oleg Markov will also return to the side after strong performances at VFL level.

Midfielders Tom Mitchell and Jordan De Goey will miss the clash through foot and groin injuries respectively.

Charlie Dean, Jack Bytel and Finlay Macrae have been named as emergencies. The tactical substitute will be announced 60 minutes before the first bounce and will be selected from the extended bench.

After starting as substitute in last week’s ANZAC Day clash, Harvey Harrison, will start in Friday’s clash. 20-year-old kick a goal and had seven disposals from 25% game time after coming on as substitute in his first game of 2024 last week.

Bytel is named in the squad for the first time, after also being signed by the Magpies during this year’s Supplementary Selection Period. The midfielder joined Collingwood after 22 games for St Kilda between 2019 and 2023.

The news of 26-year-old Sullivan’s debut was announced to the Magpies’ playing group yesterday afternoon, with Coach Craig McRae highlighting the journey the inside-midfielder had endured to finally reach his lifelong dream.

“How many years have you been waiting?” McRae asked Sullivan.

“Six years,” replied Sullivan.

“Six years! Six years to get an AFL opportunity. Well, it’s coming this weekend, good luck to you,” replied McRae, before the playing group broke out in raucous applause.

Sullivan was overlooked in numerous drafts while plying his trade at State League level for both Port Melbourne and Footscray while working as an electrician. The midfielder was recruited to the Magpies off the back of two Best and Fairest for Footscray in 2022 and 2023.

In his four VFL games across 2024 for Collingwood, Sullivan has averaged 14.5 disposals and 4.5 tackles a game. In 2023, the hard-nosed midfielder won Footscray’s Best and Fairest, placed equal third in the league’s JJ Liston Trophy for best and fairest and was named Captain of the league’s Team of the Year.

Markov returns after four games in the VFL, averaging 11 disposals and five marks a game, while providing invaluable leadership to the emerging group.  

The clash between Collingwood and Carlton marks the 31^st edition of the Peter Mac Cup. The Peter Mac Cup is the longest running charity match in VFL/AFL history, with the first clash taking place in 1993. Each year, the traditional rivals come together for one important cause – to support ground-breaking cancer research at Melbourne’s Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre.

Fans are encouraged to donate the Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre here.

Friday May 3
Calrton V Collingwood
MCG, Wurundjeri
7:40pm (AEST)

In: Sullivan (debut), Markov
Out: Mitchell (foot), De Goey (groin)