Team Selection: Forward to make long awaited return

Collingwood Senior Coach Craig McRae has named the Magpies side for Saturday’s Round 19 clash against Hawthorn.

Collingwood Senior Coach Craig McRae has named the Magpies side for Saturday’s Round 19 clash against Hawthorn.

Forward Dan McStay will play his first AFL game in 302 days after successfully completing his rehabilitation from an ACL rupture sustained during pre-season.

Jeremy Howe will also return after being sidelined with a neural issue, while Lachlan Sullivan also comes into the side.

Lachie Schultz (concussion), Harvey Harrison (managed) and Billy Frampton (omitted) are the three players to make way.

Frampton, Finlay Macrae and Jack Bytel will be the three emergencies, while the tactical substitute will be selected from the extended bench and named 60 minutes prior to the first bounce.

McStay played 40 minutes in last week’s VFL clash against Geelong, kicking one goal, taking four marks and having seven disposals.

Saturday’s clash will be the 29-year-old’s first at AFL level since last year’s Preliminary Final victory over the GWS GIANTS, with McStay suffering a PCL injury in the game that ultimately saw him miss the 2023 Grand Final.

McStay played 14 games in the black and white in 2023, after crossing to Collingwood from Brisbane in the 2022 Trade Period. The forward played 161 times for the Lions from 2014 to 2022 after being drafted at Pick 25 in the 2013 National Draft.

His first season at Collingwood saw the 196cm forward yield 20 goals, including two majors prior to injuring his knee in the Preliminary Final victory over the GWS GIANTS.

Howe makes his return after missing the Magpies’ Round 19 clash against Geelong through hamstring awareness that was caused by a neural issue in his back.

Sullivan will play his first game at AFL level since the Round 16 loss to the Gold Coast SUNS, after a number of standout performances in the VFL. The midfielder collected 31 disposals in Round 15 versus Frankston and kicked two goals in Round 16 versus Geelong.

The 12^th placed Collingwood come face to face with the Hawks who are sitting one spot below in 13^th. The two sides last played in Gather Round in Round Five, which saw Collingwood run out five-point winners in a thriller at the Adelaide Oval.

Midfielder Jordan De Goey lead all comers with 31 disposals, while Tom Mitchell was prolific against his old side with 10 tackles.