Reid v Moore.

Pendlebury v Sidebottom.

Grundy v Cox.

It’s the sort of thing you only see once a year.

The slightly bizarre sensation of playing against your own teammates will kick in for the Collingwood playing list when the club hosts its annual intra-club practice match on Wednesday evening.

Fortunately for captain Scott Pendlebury, there will be no Dane Swan to line up against in the midfield, as they did in the corresponding fixture last year.

“It’s always a bit difficult playing against your teammates,” Pendlebury told Collingwood Media.

“There are certain situations in a game where you do things differently, but it’s a lot of fun, you’re just keen to get out there and have a run, see how you feel. Everyone’s working on different parts of their game. It’s great to watch all the boys go at it.”

Intra-club matches mark time in the football calendar, for they signal a shift in gears from the grind of the pre-season to the buzz of chasing the Sherrin in anger.

“It’s obviously an exciting time, all the boys are really keen to get out there and play a full game,” Pendlebury continued.

“All the young guys, too, appreciate the atmosphere. A lot of fans get down here to the Holden Centre, which is fantastic. We usually get a few thousand people which is a great little preview for all the young guys for what to expect when the Magpie Army gets out in full force.”

Wednesday’s match will be the first time a handful of players suffering long-term injuries step back out onto the oval to play a proper match.



Swan and Pendlebury: A sight we won't see again.

“There are guys like ‘Ramma’ (Jackson Ramsay) and ‘Shaz’ (Matthew Scharenberg) who are coming off long-term knee injuries, and it’s great for them to get back in, get a feel for the game, get rid of the nerves and hopefully they can hit the season really focused and ready to go.”

Those who can’t get to the Holden Centre at 6.10pm on Wednesday are encouraged to check out Collingwood Media’s live stream of the event on the club website and in the new official App.

“One of the good things about our intra-club game is the Collingwood Media team live streams it,” said Pendlebury.

“If you can’t get here, make sure you tune in.”

Collingwood Media's Intra-Club Live Stream 2017
Date: Wednesday 8 February
Time: 6pm
Venue: Holden Centre

Tune into Collingwood Media's live stream of the club's annual intra-club match at the Holden Centre on Wednesday 8 February.

The club website, collingwoodfc.com.au, and official smart phone App, will broadcast the match live to all members and supporters around the world.

The coverage will include interviews with selected Collingwood players and officials, and provide you with an inside look into how the players and coaches are preparing for the season ahead.

A list of players involved in the match will be published on the day.

Be it on a desktop, mobile, tablet or even on your own television, be sure to upload your photos of where you're watching the match to social media using #piesintra. Your photos might just feature in our live coverage. Tune in to find out!