As the Collingwood journey continues into its 125th year, the Magpies will commence their AFL campaign when they face Essendon in Thursday night’s JLT Community Series opener.

Collingwood Media presents all the important information to keep in mind when following the game from Etihad Stadium.

Who’s playing?
The Collingwood line up will include three draftees, four experienced recruits and a further four players we haven’t watched for some time.

Essendon, meanwhile, has named seven of its returning players, including new captain Dyson Heppell and his predecessor Jobe Watson.

Collingwood
1. Alex Fasolo 2. Jordan De Goey 5. Jamie Elliott 6. Tyson Goldsack 9. Jesse White 11. Jarryd Blair 12. Matthew Scharenberg 14. James Aish 15. Lynden Dunn 16. Chris Mayne 18. Travis Varcoe 19. Levi Greenwood 21. Tom Phillips 22. Steele Sidebottom 23. Lachlan Keeffe 25. Jack Crisp 26. Josh Daicos 28. Ben Sinclair 30. Darcy Moore 31. Jackson Ramsay 32. Will Hoskin-Elliott 37. Brayden Maynard 38. Jeremy Howe 40. Josh Smith 41. Henry Schade 43. Adam Oxley 44. Liam Mackie 45. Max Lynch 46. Mason Cox

Essendon
1. Andrew McGrath, 3. Darcy Parish, 4. Jobe Watson, 7. Zach Merrett, 8. Martin Gleeson, 9. Brendon Goddard, 11. David Zaharakis, 12. Mark Baguley, 13. Orazio Fantasia, 15. Josh Green, 17. James Stewart, 18. Michael Hurley, 20. Jackson Merrett, 21. Dyson Heppell, 22. Matthew Leuenberger, 23. David Myers, 24. Craig Bird, 28. Mitch Brown, 29. Patrick Ambrose, 30. Kyle Langford, 32. Travis Colyer, 33. Jayden Laverde, 34. Jake Long, 39. Heath Hocking, 40. Ben Howlett, 43. Anthony McDonald-Tipungwuti, 44. Shaun McKernan, 47. James Kelly, 49. Matt Dea

What are the rules?
As is the norm, the pre-season competition comes with its own unique set of guidelines.

For a start, the no clubs will be permitted to use a third man up in ruck contests. All ball ups must involved two nominated ruckmen.

High tackles, too, will become the subject of greater focus. The AFL has decreed that 'where a tackle is reasonably applied and the ball carrier is responsible for the high contact via a shrug, drop, arm lift or duck, play on should be called'.

The deliberate rushed behind rule will be applied a stricter interpretation. All deliberate rushed behinds will result in a behind to the opposition team and a ball up at the top of the goal square.

Elsewhere, teams will be permitted to use eight players on their interchange bench and make their rotations without any restrictions.

The supergoal is back, too, worth nine points for any goal scored outside the 50m arc.

In Collingwood's first two games of the competition, quarters will run for 20 minutes, without time on during the first 15 minutes (other than when a goal has been scored).

Where can I watch it?
For those who can make it to Etihad Stadium, all Collingwood and AFL members, with match entitlements, have access to free entry by scanning their membership card at the gate (subject to capacity). General admission tickets are available at the ground or online at ticketmaster.com.au

Can’t make it to the ground? All JLT Community Series matches will be broadcast live around the country on Fox Footy (channel 504).

Anything else I need to know?
Senior Magpies who will sit out Thursday’s match include Taylor Adams, Brodie Grundy, Scott Pendlebury, Ben Reid, Adam Treloar and Daniel Wells. In Pendlebury’s absence, Steele Sidebottom will captain the side.

Collingwood last met Essendon in a pre-season match back in 2013. The Magpies emerged triumphant by just two points, with Dayne Beams, Scott Pendlebury and Jordan Russell among their best.

Two years earlier, the Magpies secured only their second pre-season/ night series premiership with a 22-point win over the Bombers. Heath Shaw was awarded the Michael Tuck Medal as best afield, while Andrew Krakouer and Chris Dawes made their presence felt with three goals each.



The Collingwood players and coach Mick Malthouse pose for a team photo ahead of their NAB Cup Grand Final against Essendon in 2011.