AFL 2025: Collingwood set for major reinforcements for its clash with Hawthorn on Friday

Collingwood will welcome back a handful of A-graders for its clash with Hawthorn, while another remains at least a fortnight away.

The Collingwood cavalry is coming.

The already red-hot Magpies will welcome back stars Bobby Hill, Darcy Moore, Steele Sidebottom, Scott Pendlebury and Lachie Schultz for their bout with Hawthorn on Friday.

Hill (personal), Sidebottom (managed) and Pendlebury (illness) all missed just one match, while Moore and Schultz have missed the past two.

The key absences have had little impact on “Fly’s Pies”, with brilliant wins over Adelaide and North Melbourne in the last fortnight.

The Hawks, meanwhile, have suffered losses to Gold Coast and Brisbane across the same stretch.

Collingwood coach Craig McRae understands the risk of major changes but is rapt to welcome back “some really important magnets”.

“That could be a cost (changes) but the reward is we’ve got experience around some roles we really rate,” he said.

“We’ve got a coach connection every week, it’s not something we take for granted – team chemistry is really important to us.

“I think there’s a reality some would know that, it’s not so much last in last out, that doesn’t work like that, but we want to keep rewarding behaviour around here.

“Guys playing really well at VFL level like Wil Parker has been doing, got his chance and showed he’s capable at the level. Those conversations are always difficult but again you’re having many and more along the way.”

Steele Sidebottom and Scott Pendlebury return for Collingwood. Picture: Michael Klein

Brownlow medallist Tom Mitchell is unlikely to be added to the senior squad despite his improving form in the VFL.

Mitchell, returning from injury, has played the past three matches in the twos.

A discussion with Mitchell about his timeline is high on McRae’s priority list as he feels the ball winner remains at least a fortnight away.

“I went and watched the VFL on Sunday (and) it was a tough game. When you’re taking guys out last minute, there’s a ripple effect to that,” he said.

“Tom, I’ve got to have a chat to him this afternoon, but I think he’s a couple of weeks away at least.”

Superstar Nick Daicos ran riot after half time last week against North Melbourne to finish with a match-shaping 38 disposals.

Hawthorn has employed tagger Finn Maginness to Daicos to some effect in recent years and McRae expects the Hawks to double down on that tactic on Friday.

“We anticipate Maginness will go to (Daicos), last time they played him as a sub and he didn’t come on until the game was all over,” he said.

“We anticipate that may happen again.”

Originally published as AFL 2025: Collingwood set for major reinforcements for its clash with Hawthorn on Friday