Bounce
Collingwood has selected recruits Harry Perryman and Tim Membrey for the Club’s Opening Round clash against the GWS GIANTS at ENGIE Stadium on Sunday afternoon.
Perryman, 26, will face his former team after switching to the Pies as an unrestricted free agent over the off-season. The 187cm midfielder played 129 games for the GIANTS, finishing third in their 2020 Best and Fairest.
Membrey, 30, signed as a delisted free agent last year following 179 games for St Kilda. The 188cm forward, has booted 293 goals, making him the most prolific goal-kicker on Collingwood’s list.
Collingwood Head Coach Craig McRae addressed the media on Friday morning, saying it was 'exciting' for the new recruits.
"I know they'll be fan favourites with the way they prepare themselves, but just the way they play team footy," McRae said.
"We thought we'd bring Harry in to play a little bit of midfield because he's such a good transitional runner.
"We know he can go back and play those defensive roles for us. I think he can switch between both roles."
"I'm a big fan of Tim's. Just a great human being and a great family man."
"[He] just wants to come here and ... be part of a team and do his job."
"We're rapt to have him," McRae said.
From the initial squad, Lachie Sullivan has been added as an emergency, replacing defender Oleg Markov who sustained a low grade calf injury at training today. Sullivan, 27, appeared in 10 matches in 2024 after being added to Collingwood's list following the Pre-Season Supplemental Selection Period.
After missing the Pies' practice match win against Richmond due to soreness, vice-captain Brayden Maynard will suit up for his 210th game.
Dual E.W. Copeland Trophy winner Jack Crisp has been named to play in his 250th game. It will also be the midfielder’s 238th consecutive match, second most of all-time behind Jim Stynes’ 244.
Veterans Scott Pendlebury and Steele Sidebottom will play in their 306th match as teammates. It will take the pair to outright second all-time behind only Andrew McLeod and Tyson Edwards’ 307, moving past Joel Selwood and Tom Hawkins.
After 20 games and 19 goals in the black and white, Reef McInnes is set to play his first match in defence after impressing in a role change over the pre-season. Standing at 194cm, the 22-year-old performed strongly in Collingwood’s practice match victory over Richmond, collecting 14 disposals, five spoils and four intercepts.
Dual All-Australian Dan Houston will have to wait another week to make his Collingwood debut as he continues to serve a five-match suspension handed down in Round 23, 2024.
The tactical substitution will be selected from the extended bench and will be named 60 minutes before the first bounce.
The clash will be the Magpies’ first of the season, and one of two matches to make up the AFL’s second annual Opening Round, following the postponement of the two matches scheduled in Queensland.
Collingwood fans can watch the game live on Channel Seven, Fox Sports and kayosports.com.au, with the first bounce at 3:20pm (AEDT).
