With 149 days remaining until round one, Collingwood Media has provided the ultimate preview for the season ahead. Build the momentum and help analyse every one of our 22 home and away games.

Round 1

Sydney v Collingwood
Saturday March 26, 7.25pm
ANZ Stadium
Collingwood will kick off its 2016 season on Easter Saturday with its first of two trips to Sydney.

ANZ Stadium will be the destination and the Swans will be the opponent in the season opener, in the game that will potentially launch the Collingwood careers of Adam Treloar, Jeremy Howe and James Aish.

2015 marked the first time in 13 years in which the Magpies didn’t frequent the stadium famous for hosting the Sydney Olympics. It has historically been a venue of success, with 10 wins coming from 13 total games. After missing out last year, there will no doubt be a sense of confidence in improving the record further.

Round 2

Collingwood v Richmond
Friday April 1, 7.50pm
MCG
The Magpie Army will be made to wait until round two for Collingwood to return to the home of football.

A Collingwood blockbuster at the MCG is almost a weekly occasion, and a Friday night clash against Richmond will be no exception.

Despite the comfortable surrounds, the Magpies will take a sense of caution into their first home game of the year. Recent memories of a 91-point loss to the Tigers in round 21 last year will be hard to forget.

Round 3

St Kilda v Collingwood
Saturday 9 April, 1.45pm
MCG
Ongoing injuries prevented him from playing a senior game in his two years at Collingwood, but Nathan Freeman no doubt hopes he can make his AFL debut for St Kilda in time for the clash against his old side.

While it will be in opposition colours, round three at the MCG may be the first time many of the Magpie Army see Freeman in the flesh after he was drafted at pick No. 10 in the 2013 Draft.

Round 4

Collingwood v Melbourne
Sunday 17 April, 3.20pm
MCG
Melbourne used its second match against Collingwood as a monumental drought-breaker in round 18, 2015.

It was the first time in five years that the Magpies and Demons had met twice in a season. But more importantly, it was Melbourne’s first victory over Collingwood since round 11, 2007.

Nathan Buckley’s side will be determined take a clean sweep of the Demons in 2016, and it will start when the two sides meet in round four.

Round 5

Collingwood v Essendon
Monday 25 April, 3.20pm
MCG
Outside the Grand Final, ANZAC Day is the single biggest day on the football calendar. And every year Collingwood and Essendon are lucky enough to pencil in a trip to the MCG on ANZAC Day long before the fixture is released.

88,395 people filled the MCG to witness Paul Seedsman’s extraordinary ANZAC medal-winning display in Collingwood’s 20-point victory on Anzac Day in 2015.

As the hottest ticket on the home and away calendar, the 2015 crowd could easily be surpassed on a Monday afternoon in 2016.



The Magpies celebrate a victory over Essendon on Anzac Day in 2015.

Round 6

West Coast v Collingwood
Sunday 1 May, 2.40pm
Domain Stadium
A trip to Perth to take on West Coast in round six arguably presents the most challenging task in Collingwood’s 2016 fixture.

Not only will the Magpies have to take on the reigning Grand Finalist’s on their own turf, but will also have just six days to have to recover from an emotion-charged ANZAC Day clash.

Collingwood have five six-day-breaks scattered through next year’s fixture, however with ANZAC Day falling on a Monday the previous week, this one was unavoidable.

Round 7

Collingwood v Carlton
Saturday 7 May, 1.45pm
MCG
If all goes to plan, Steele Sidebottom will lead the Magpies onto the MCG as he celebrates his 150th AFL game against the Blues in round seven.

It’s hard to believe that seven years have passed since Sidebottom debuted as an 18-year-old against St Kilda.

While the Saints won’t be invited to this Saturday afternoon celebration at the MCG, there will plenty queuing up to watch Sidebottom show off the classy leader he’s become.

Round 8

Brisbane v Collingwood
Saturday 14 May, 7.25pm
GABBA
Securing the signature of 19-year-old James Aish means the links between Collingwood and Brisbane continue to grow. The South Australian joins Jack Crisp as former Lions playing for the Magpies, while Dayne Beams and Jackson Paine have traded the black and white for maroon, blue and gold.

The familiarities don’t end there. Brisbane’s Chief Executive Officer Greg Swann filled the same role at Collingwood from 2000 and remained in the position until current CEO Gary Pert took over in 2007.

However all parties will be kept waiting for what could be an emotional meeting at the MCG. Given that Collingwood and Brisbane last met in round one 2015, there will be a long time coming between the two sides locking horns.   

Round 9

Collingwood v Geelong
Saturday 21 May, 1.45pm
MCG
Adam Treloar verses Patrick Dangerfield. Yep, it’s happening. Subject to injury, the two big names of the recent trade period will meet in Collingwood and Geelong’s round nine clash at the MCG.

For Treloar and Dangerfield, it was all about coming home when both requested trades from GWS and Adelaide respectively. They both landed at their ideal destinations and will headline a mouth-watering Saturday afternoon showdown.

Round 10

Collingwood v Western Bulldogs
Sunday 29 May, 3.20pm
MCG
Who could forget Indigenous Round 2015? With the rain tumbling down on a cold Sunday afternoon, it looked set to be a miserable day for Collingwood as North Melbourne raced ahead to a 39 point lead at half time. 

The 22 out on the field in black and white stripes had other ideas. Jamie Elliott led an inspired Magpies outfit which kicked nine goals to nothing in the third term.

The game ebbed and flowed until its conclusion, with Elliott kicking a goal in the thirty-second minute to cement a memorable victory.

This season the Magpies will don their Indigenous guernsey against the Western Bulldogs, in the first of two home and away season matchups.

Round 11

Collingwood v Port Adelaide
Sunday 5 June, 1.10pm
MCG
Collingwood’s season was on the line when it met Port Adelaide in round 15 this season. A win would keep the Magpies in touch with the top four, whereas a loss would be Collingwood’s third in a row after such a promising start to the year.

The latter appeared to be on the agenda as Port kicked five goals to one to open up a 26-point lead at the first break. A gradual fightback ensued, however it ended in vein. With seconds remaining, Jamie Elliott flew for a wet ball in front of goal, but couldn’t pull down the mark that would have given Collingwood a chance to overturn a three-point deficit.

Round 12

Melbourne v Collingwood
Monday 13 June, 3.20pm
MCG
Upon arrival at Collingwood, new recruit Jeremy Howe hinted that the 2016 Queen’s Birthday clash will hold extra meaning as he lines up against his former teammates for the first time.

His father, a mad Collingwood supporter, admitted he used to watch the big clash hoping for Jeremy to play well and for Collingwood to win. He can now cheer for his son to play well in a winning side.

The match will also be the first time former Pie Ben Kennedy faces his old team.  



Jeremy Howe marks against the Magpies on Queens Birthday last year.

Round 13

Bye

Round 14

Collingwood v Fremantle
Friday 24 June, 7.50pm
MCG
After bowing out of the 2015 finals series in the penultimate match, the Dockers barely fired a shot in October’s trade period and look like to be the sleeping giant of the off-season.

If anything will wake them, it will be a trip to Melbourne to take on the Magpies at the home of football, the MCG.

The last time these two sides met was at Domain Stadium in Round 13 2015, where the Dockers held off a gallant young Magpies side to win by seven points in a Thursday night thriller.

Round 15

Carlton v Collingwood
Saturday 2 June, 7.25pm
MCG
ANZAC Day aside, there is no surer thing in the AFL fixture than two clashes between arch rivals Collingwood and Carlton. You have to cast your mind back to 1991 to find the last time the two sides met on just one occasion.

To add a little context to that timeframe; in 1991, 20 of Collingwood’s current list weren’t born.

The Magpies will resume hostilities against the Blues at the MCG in round 15 after their initial battle in round 7.

Round 16

Greater Western Sydney v Collingwood
Saturday 9 July, 1.40pm
Spotless Stadium

There’s one man who will no doubt already have this Multicultural Round game pencilled into his calendar. His name? Adam Treloar.

After months of speculation, Treloar officially swapped the Giants strip for the black and white stripes on the third last day of the AFL Trade period.

Few have made more of an impact at Spotless Stadium in GWS’s foundation years than Treloar. In his first four years the midfielder played 79 games, kicking 48 goals and he averaging 25.2 disposals.

Treloar’s former teammates will no doubt be desperate to give him a less-than-friendly welcome, but it’s hard to imagine the ever-professional 22-year-old being fazed by the pressure.

Round 17

Adelaide v Collingwood
Saturday 16 July, 7.10pm
Adelaide Oval
Paul Seedsman has black and white running deep in his blood after a lifetime to of barracking for the Pies, but Collingwood will be the enemy for Paul Seedsman when these two sides clash in round 17.

Seedsman found a new home at West Lakes this trade period after 49 games for the Magpies between 2012 and 2015. He etched his name into the AFL history books this season by winning the 2015 ANZAC Day Medal thanks to a thrilling 31-possession game against the Bombers in round four.

Opportunities became limited as the season progressed and Seedsman ended his Collingwood career in the VFL. However the 23-year-old seems to have a clearly defined role in new Adelaide coach Dom Pyke’s vision for 2016.

“Seedsman offers the versatility Pyke wants from his players,” Michelangelo Rucci wrote in the Adelaide Advertiser on October 15.

“He can be considered for midfield duties, as highlighted in this year’s Anzac Day clash with Essendon.”

Round 18

Collingwood v North Melbourne
Friday 22 July, 7.50pm
Etihad Stadium
North Melbourne coach Brad Scott has a better knowledge of Collingwood than most other senior coaches in the league.

Before accepting the Kangaroos job, Scott was a development coach at Collingwood, working alongside fellow assistant coach Nathan Buckley and overseeing the development of the young, up-and-coming players.

Three of those fresh faces were Ben Reid, Nathan Brown and Tyson Goldsack. They are all now 100-gamers and could apply a few of the defensive traits that Scott no doubt passed on during his time in black and white.



Brad Scott (right) alongside Geoff Walsh and Mick Malthouse in his time as a development coach at Collingwood.

Round 19

Collingwood v West Coast Eagles
Saturday 30 July, 4.35pm
MCG
Grand Final day 2015 was just the second time West Coast ran out onto the MCG in 2015.

With the likelihood being that the Eagles will once again be playing at the ‘G in September next year, the AFL has scheduled this clash against Collingwood at the home of football in round 19.

Round 20

Richmond v Collingwood
Friday 5 August, 7.50pm
MCG
If you follow Dane Swan or Dustin Martin closely on social media, you’ll notice that the pair are currently enjoying some time away together in the United States.

One discussion that may have arose over the dinner table is who plays better when the two line up against one another.

Swan averages 26.8 disposals against the Tigers, while Martin is not far behind with an average of 24.3 against the Pies. Swan also comes out advantageous in the win-loss department, having won five of the pair’s seven meetings.

First night in LV..... @mwilliams_26 this is for you egg

A photo posted by Dane (@danes84) on Oct 16, 2015 at 10:13pm PDT

Round 21

Western Bulldogs v Collingwood
Friday 12 August, 7.50pm
Etihad Stadium
Collingwood will play the Western Bulldogs more than any other team in 2016, with a NAB Challenge clash and two home and away season matchups.

Early media speculation predicts Nathan Buckley’s young list will be the ‘2016 version of the Bulldogs’, an exciting, youthful group of players ready to run opposition off their legs and captivate fans with an exciting brand of football.

If these predictions are correct, it’s understandable the AFL is keen to highlight the clashes between the Magpies and Bulldogs in 2016. Get out your popcorn for this one.

Round 22

Collingwood v Gold Coast Suns
Saturday 20 August, 7.25pm
Etihad Stadium
Last time these two sides met resulted in a party for the Magpies on the Gold Coast as 200-gamer Scott Pendlebury led his side to a 69-point victory on the Gold Coast.

While the Magpies enjoyed stamping their authority on the Suns’ home turf, the memories only get better at the MCG.

Former Pie Dale Thomas kicked three goals from 32 disposals as Collingwood won by 97 points in the only previous clash between the two sides at the MCG.

Round 23

Hawthorn v Collingwood
TBC
If the Magpies are readying themselves for a stint in the finals, they will face the ultimate dress rehearsal in their only clash against Hawthorn in round 23.

While the AFL will finalise details of round 23 at a later date, the match will no doubt take place at the MCG and will more than likely be witnessed by a bumper crowd.

It’s a long time to wait for a clash with the reigning premiers, but it’s one challenge that Nathan Buckley will be no doubt looking forward to.