The clubs will also be looking to highlight their readiness for September football as both head towards the finals.
Collingwood has not beaten Hawthorn since knocking them out of the 2011 finals in a famous three point preliminary final win.
The recent losing streak includes last year’s Qualifying Finals loss to the Hawks, which Collingwood will hope to avenge on Friday in this next chapter of the growing rivalry between these modern-day heavyweights.
But behind Friday’s match there is a message that is just as important as September glory, and that is that depression and anxiety can affect anyone, anywhere, at any time.
The AFL beyondblue Cup is an opportunity to promote awareness of depression and anxiety and ensure that footballers across the country look out for themselves and their mates.
When it comes to men and their mental health, the statistics are frightening.
Australian men remain much less likely than women to seek help and are three times more likely to die by suicide.
Over the course of a lifetime, one in eight Australian men will experience depression and one in five will experience some type of anxiety disorder.
But too many men still see conditions such as depression or anxiety as a sign of weakness and think that getting support is another sign of failure.
To help men learn more about good mental health, beyondblue recently launched www.mantherapy.org.au, which delivers these serious messages in a light-hearted way.
The fact is, conditions such as depression and anxiety can affect even the toughest blokes and it takes guts for someone to tackle these challenges and take back control of their life.
Anyone can do it, they just might need a bit of support.
So if you have a mate who you think may be struggling a bit, ask them if they are ok.
Suggest they can start taking charge by calling the beyondblue info line on 1300 224 636, 24 hours a day, seven days a week or visiting www.mantherapy.org.au. They can also visit www.beyondblue.org.au for a live web chat between 4pm and 10pm seven nights a week.
Taking the first step is often the hardest, but it is well worth it.
