COLLINGWOOD defender Nathan Brown will make his long-awaited return to football on ANZAC Day against Essendon at the MCG. 

Coach Nathan Buckley confirmed his selection after training on Tuesday.

Brown will play his first game since the 2010 Grand Final after his season last year was ruined by two knee injuries.

He required a reconstruction in the pre-season after a training incident, and then hurt his other knee mid-year on a hike in Arizona.

He split his kneecap in two when he tripped and fell on a rock, and required surgery when he returned to Australia.

He has played the last three games in the VFL, and will bolster the Pies' undermanned defence on return against the Bombers.

Buckley said his selection was earned and not forced by injuries, and believed he would have the fitness to man Stuart Crameri if required.

"He personifies everything we love about the club. He's a hard worker, he's disciplined, he's selfless, he's a great team man," Buckley said.

"His teammates are rapt to see him back on the MCG and he's looking forward to it.

"He couldn't tick another box. We couldn't have created any more boxes for him to tick at the moment. He's flying."

Alan Didak - who has played two games in the VFL after overcoming an adductor injury - is in the mix, along with rookie Marley Williams.

All trained on Tuesday at Gosch's Paddock, as did Scott Pendlebury amid rumours he was carrying an injury.

Buckley said the vice-captain was "right".

He also backed Williams, who has New Zealand heritage, to embrace the big stage if he was named to debut.

"Marley's competitiveness and leg speed has been encouraging. He's a real go-getter and if he was called upon, I have no doubt he'd be able to stand up on the occasion," he said.

Mick Malthouse ensured his players were schooled in the history of Anzac Day in the lead up to the game each year, and Buckley said that would continue with first-year players attending the Dawn Service.

"Mick held this day in very high esteem, being a student of war, and I benefited from that as a player," he said.

The Pies will pick their 22 based on weather and recovery from Saturday, and who is best to face the undefeated Bombers.

"I thought [Essendon] looked like they played for each other and with each other very well," Buckley said.

"It was a very tight team, disciplined performance over four quarters [against Carlton]. I thought it was an exceptional performance and win for them."

The views in this article are those of the author and not necessarily those of the AFL or its clubs.

Jennifer Witham is a reporter for AFL Media. Follow her on Twitter @AFL_JenWitham