Key forward Nathan Kreuger will play his first game of 2024 when he lines up for Collingwood’s VFL side in their clash against Southport this Saturday.

The 24-year-old has been hampered by soft tissue injuries so far this year and was on the cusp of returning last month, however, is now ready to take the field.

He’ll join a star-studded forward line that includes Joe Richards who sits at the pointy end of the league’s goal-kicking table, and Reef McInnes who has featured at AFL level four times this season.

Alongside Krueger, six VFL-listed players come into the side for the Club’s maiden trip to Southport.

Harrison Kennedy (four games in 2024), Cooper Macdonald (two games in 2024), and Patrick Farrant (one game in 2024) all make their way back into the team.

Joining them is Jedd Longmire, Jonathan Tomasiello, and Yu Yu Ashwin who will all play their first games this year.

Both Longmire and Tomasiello are in their second seasons on the list having played nine and four games respectively in 2023, while Ashwin will add to his six career games having debuted as a teenager in 2022.

Lachie Sullivan goes out of the side having been elevated to the AFL team for his maiden appearance at the top level, while Oleg Markov has been recalled to the senior team.

Jack Hutchinson, Ned Long, Ben Crocker, Liam Purcell and Conor Willis are also out from last week’s team.

Saturday 4 May
Southport v Collingwood
Fankhauser Reserve, Southport
12:05pm (AEST)