Itโs a do or die outing for Collingwood in this afternoonโs VFL Wildcard Final against Williamstown at Victoria Park.
The equation is simple: win and progress to next weekโs 2ndย Elimination Final against the Brisbane Lions, lose and itโs all over for season 2025.
After finishing in seventh spot on the 2025 Smithyโs VFL Ladder, the Magpies earned hosting duties against the 10thย placed Seagulls. The two sides came face to face only three rounds ago and it was the Magpies who came out on top by 11-points at DSV Stadium.
Collingwood are headlined by the inclusion of Round 12 Telstra Rising Star nominee Ed Allan, who is one of four changes to the Magpies side that went down to Port Melbourne last week in the final round of the home and away season against Port Melbourne.
AFL defenders Wil Parker and Oleg Markov also return to the side, with the pair joined by VFL-listed Max Mahoney as the fourth and final inclusion.
After announcing his retirement from football come seasons end during the week, 2023 AFL Premiership Player Will Hoskin-Elliott will be looking to push for an AFL recall in with a strong performance in todayโs clash, after being omitted from the senior side last week.
WATCH COLLINGWOOD V WILLIAMSTOWN LIVE AND FREE HERE!
Fellow Premiership players Tom Mitchell and Mason Cox will also be looking to showcase their best to regain their AFL spots after not featuring in the senior side since Round 22 and 19 respectively.
Rounding out the AFL listed Pies taking the field in the Wildcard clash are Charlie Dean, Joel Cochran, Will Hayes, Finlay Macrae, Noah Howes, Ash Johnson, Oscar Steene and Harry DeMattia.
All VFL finals including the Wildcard are fully ticketed, with fans encouraged to pre-purchase their tickets via the link here.
WATCH COLLINGWOOD V WILLIAMSTOWN LIVE AND FREE HERE!
Smithyโs VFL Wildcard Round
Collingwood v Williamstown
Victoria Park, Melbourne (Wurundjeri)
Sunday 24 August, 2:05pm (AEST)
| FB | B. De Bolfo | S. Glover | C. Dean |
| HB | O. Markov | W. Parker | J. Cochran |
| C | H. Mahoney | E. Allan | W. Hoskin-Elliott |
| HF | B. Grey | W. Hayes | F. Macrae |
| FF | N. Howes | A. Johnson | O. Steene |
| FOLL | M. Cox | H. DeMattia | T. Mitchell |
| INT | T. Wilson | C. Algeri | C. Mulvogue |
| J. Bennetts | M. Mahoney |
