With 2024 coming to a close, attention quickly turns to the year that will mark the quarter of the 21st century, with preparations for 2025 in full swing.
While Collingwood’s teams didn’t have the success they would’ve liked in 2024, the new year brings hope and a spread of optimism.
With new signings and draftees in all programs, a host of blockbuster clashes, and some significant milestones on the horizon, here are 25 things to look forward to in 2025.
1. Number one pick makes her AFLW debut
Becoming the Club’s first number one pick since 1999 when Josh Fraser was taken, Ash Centra will don the black and white for the very first time later in 2025 as a new season takes stage. While the fixture is yet to be confirmed, the AFLW’s start date has been brought forward to the week of August 11 in 2025, with Centra bringing a wealth of junior success to the league. Hailing from just outside Sale, the same town Club champion Scott Pendlebury grew up in, the stars have aligned for Centra to forge her own legacy in black and white.
2. Perryman and Houston against their old clubs
Two of the Club’s marquee additions to the AFL list over the off-season, new Magpies Harry Perryman and Dan Houston won’t have to wait long to come up against their former sides in 2025. Former Giant Perryman will pull on the black and white stripes for the first time in the Club’s Opening Round clash with GWS on Sunday March 9, while Houston’s time will come when Port Adelaide travel to the MCG a week later for a Round One clash under Saturday night lights.
3. Thursday and Friday games aplenty
The prime time Pies will once again hit the stage early in the 2025 AFL season, with a combined seven Thursday and Friday matches confirmed in the opening 15 rounds. Five of those come consecutively between Rounds two and seven, including this year’s ANZAC Day clash which falls on a Friday night. Also in there is a rare Thursday night clash with traditional rivals Carlton, a Gather Round clash with Sydney on Friday evening, followed by the traditional Easter Thursday matchup against reigning premiers Brisbane. With the remaining nine matches yet to have their date and time confirmed, the Pies could yet add even more prime time fixtures to their 2025 list.
4. Boyhood Pie Curtis Taylor pulls on the black and white
Former North Melbourne forward Curtis Taylor will pull on his childhood colours when he suits up in Collingwood’s VFL line up in 2025 in a major addition to the program. The 24-year-old has 76 games of AFL experience with the Kangaroos where he spent six seasons, kicking 33 goals across his time at Arden Street. Bringing genuine X-factor and nous around goals, Taylor will be a welcome addition of experience.
5. Steele Sidebottom’s 350th AFL game
Sitting on 331 games at the conclusion of the 2024 season, the Club’s second all-time games record holder in Steele Sidebottom will have the chance to reach his 350 game milestone during the 2025 season. Only current teammate Scott Pendlebury has reached 350 games or more in their career at Collingwood, with Sidebottom to play a 17th season at the top level in 2025. Only once has Sidebottom played less than 10 games in a season during his time as a Magpie – that being the shortened 2020 season where he notched up nine games.
6. 30th anniversary of ANZAC Day game celebrated
A permanent fixture on the Pies’ calendar for three decades now, the 2025 edition of the ANZAC Day game will make 30 years since its inception in 1995. That first game against Essendon was a draw, as was last year’s clash, with the 30th anniversary set to be a typically anticipated contest. The 2025 ANZAC Day clash falls on a Friday this season for the first time since 2014, and for only the fifth time since the tradition was started. While not confirmed yet, Collingwood’s VFL and VFLW teams typically play the Bombers as well during the ANZAC week.
7. Cashin resumes the reins of VFLW side
The Pies’ VFLW team will once again be coached by Tom Cashin in 2025, with the second-year coach looking to build on a promising maiden campaign in the black and white. With a suite of turnover last year, Cashin will come into 2025 with a much more settled squad that will be looking to jump into the finals, after missing by only half a game last season.
8. Draftees embark on their journeys
As is customary at the end of every year, a group of teenagers joined the Club in the national draft, with the Pies picking up an exciting trio in Joel Cochran, Charlie West, and Will Hayes. All fantastic athletes with strong running capabilities, the three have settled into life at Collingwood with a block of pre-season training at a trip to the Northern Territory on the Club’s inaugural Cultural Immersion program in Tennant Creek. Hayes and West will begin their careers up forward, will Cochran is a rebounding defender who won his draft pool’s 2km time trial during combine testing.
More recently, AFLW draftees Ash Centra (pick one), Georgia Knight (pick 26), and father-daughter selection Violet Patterson (pick 42) were welcomed to the Club and will be looking to take the next step in their careers when the AFLW season commences in August.
9. Pendlebury’s chance to move onto the podium
After last year becoming just the sixth player in VFL/AFL history to play 400 games, Collingwood legend Scott Pendlebury could well sit in second spot for the most games of all-time come the end of 2025. Currently on in equal fourth position with Kevin Bartlett on 403, Pendlebury will move onto the podium once he notches up five games for the season to pass Shaun Burgoyne (407), while he needs 24 matches to pass Michael Tuck (426) and move into second. With 23 home and away season matches, and a potential finals series to follow, Pendlebury’s chances at a 10th season with 23 games or more are high.
10. The longest AFLW season to date
Alongside an earlier start date, scheduled for the week of August 11, the AFLW will consist of 12 Rounds for the first time as it heads into the 10th season of the competition. Alongside the extra game is a scrapping of the condensed fixture, meaning players will be given a full three-month home and away season to contend with for the first time.
11. 200-gamers to be crowned
Fan favourite Jamie Elliott and much-loved key forward Dan McStay are set to bring up their 200-game milestones in 2025, with the two attackers six and 20 games away respectively. Elliott began his journey in 2012 after debuting in the black and white in Round Nine, while McStay’s first 161 games came for the Brisbane Lions, before arriving at Collingwood at the end of 2022. Both were injured for large chunks of 2024, so will be set for big years on the track in the new year.
12. Brady Grey straddles both sides of the building
A new addition to the AIA Centre, Brady Grey will very quickly become a familiar face around the walls of Collingwood in 2025. Not only will Grey, a former Fremantle player of 21 games, suit up for Collingwood’s VFL side, bit he will also take on the role of the Club’s Indigenous Player Development Manager (PDM). With experience as Hawthorn’s PDM in 2022, and coaching experience with both the Hawks and Dockers, Grey’s influence will be felt all around the Club in 2025.
13. Crisp’s crack at consecutive games title
A much talked about record since Jack Crisp’s consistency came to fruition in the black and white, the midfielder will have the chance to become the player with the most consecutive games in VFL/AFL history in 2025. Currently with 237, dating back to Round 18 of the 2014 season when he was wearing a Brisbane Lions uniform. All of his seasons have contained 22 games or more (except a shortened 2020 season), with Crisp requiring eight matches to take over from the legendary Jim Stynes who notched 244 games in a row during his career as a Demon.
14. Lucy Cronin continues after stellar debut year
Despite a tough 2024 for Collingwood’s AFLW side, first-year star Lucy Cronin was one of the shining lights as she made the backline her own. Debuting in Week One against Sydney despite not playing either of the warm-up games, Cronin immediately looked comfortable at the level and played all 11 matches in 2024. Her year was rewarded with a position in the AFLPA’s 22 Under 22 side, as well as finishing fourth in the Rising Star Award. A runner up finishing in the Club’s Best & Fairest was the icing on the cake, as the 19-year-old will build into her second season brimming with confidence.
15. King’s Birthday Clash closes blockbuster first half of season
The annual Freeze MND clash that falls on King’s Birthday every year will close out a hotly contested first half of 2025 for the Pies’ AFL side before they head into the bye. With the Pies and Dees playing in some memorable games over the past few seasons including a fiery 2023 Qualifying Final and the infamous lightning game to finish last year, 2025 is expected to be no different.
16. Black and white Carp-et rolled out for Barry
With outgoing President Jeff Browne stepping down at the end of 2024 after three years in the role, a new era at the Pies will begin this year with Barry Carp elected as the Club’s 15th President.
17. New clash jumper
The Pies will sport a new clash jumper in 2025, with the black and white design having some modern modifications made. Predominantly white, the black stripes featuring a feather style. The guernsey also features more stripes this season.
18. Kalinda Howarth to pull on Pies colours
Despite arriving at the Club during the 2023 trade period, forward Kalinda Howarth was unfortunately unable to get on the park on her first year at the AIA Centre due to ongoing rehab to her knee. A diligent and skilled goal-kicker, 2025 is set to be the first time Howarth will pull on the black and white in an exciting prospect for both her and her teammates.
19. AFLW recruits to bring class
Mattea Breed joined the Pies over the off-season, bringing 20 games of experience with her after a two-year career at Hawthorn. An explosive midfielder who isn’t afraid to take on the contest, Breed will complement the Pies’ engine room of Bri Davey, Brittany Bonnici, Ruby Schleicher and Mikala Cann perfectly. Late in the trade period, Fremantle speedster Airlie Runnalls also joined the black and white, brining 45 games of experience with her. Known for the quick turn of foot, the winger will slot nicely into the Pies’ plans for 2025.
20. Wheelchair side out for redemption
Going down in the Grand Final in 2024, Collingwood’s Wheelchair side will be out for redemption in 2025. Led by Captain Ben Jankovski, the side produced a fantastic season last year, improving each week to reach the decider. With the fixture yet to be confirmed, the side will use the off-season to continue improving their craft.
21. New EGM of footy
New EGM of Football Charlie Gardiner will begin at the Pies in 2025, heading up the football department. Gardiner will commence in his role at Collingwood in the new year where he will be responsible for leading and driving the strategy for the Club’s football department. Gardiner joins the Club following six seasons as an administrator with the Sydney Swans.
22. Membrey the Magpie
After joining the Pies in the 2024 off-season, Tim Membrey will be looking to cement a spot in an exciting forward line, alongside key talls Dan McStay and Brody Mihocek. Membrey has booted an incredible 293 goals and was St Kilda's leading goalkicker on three occasions (2016, 2017, 2019).
23. Reclink squad continue to prosper
Collingwood’s Reclink team will continue their strong program in 2025, after a suite of success during the 2020s. Led by former player Daniel Wells and AFLW Vice-Captain Jordyn Allen, the team plays fortnightly on Wednesdays and is a great opportunity to connect.
24. Matthew Boyd re-joins the Pies
After beginning his coaching career at Collingwood in 2018 as a Development Coach, before spending the past four seasons with Fremantle overseeing their defence, Matthew Boyd returns to the Pies in 2025 as an Assistant Coach. Boyd’s storied career for the Western Bulldogs where he played an integral role in the Club’s drought-breaking 2016 premiership has seen him seamlessly transition into coaching, where he will now be a major asset alongside Hayden Skipworth, Scott Selwood, and Jordan Roughead.
25. Hill suits up as Indigenous All Stars return
For the first time since 2015, the Indigenous All Stars team will take the field, with Bobby Hill part of the squad. The game will take place on Saturday February 15, with the Fremantle Dockers to the scheduled opponents for the Optus Stadium clash. While no Collingwood players were part of the team in 2015, new VFL member Brady Grey and Development Coach Neville Jetta were part of the All Stars in that clash a decade ago. Hill, the 2023 Norm Smith Medallist, will be part of a star-studded line up and will bring the flair that saw him awarded last season’s Mark of the Year award.
