AdminCollingwood has reinforced its VFL lineup as the AFL finals approach, with returning champions Jordan De Goey and Bobby Hill set to participate in a Saturday night match in Frankston.
This pair is among five significant returns as Collingwood’s challenge for the final month of the regular season gains momentum, with Billy Frampton also re-entering through the VFL, while Dan Houston and Tim Membrey are set to face Richmond in the AFL on Sunday.
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The Magpies will also scout a potential future talent, with Tom McGuane, son of former premiership legend Mick, slated to play in the VFL contest.
It will mark De Goey’s first VFL appearance in over ten years as he seeks to return to the AFL squad, having participated in only five matches in 2025 and not since round 9 due to an achilles issue.
He was also placed under concussion protocols following a training incident with teammate Brayden Maynard, which postponed his comeback.
Norm Smith Medallist Hill hasn’t taken the field at the AFL level since round 16, having stepped away from the club to address personal matters and cope with health challenges.
The participation of these two athletes at Kinetic Stadium in Frankston, with the AFL team not scheduled to play until Sunday, could attract a large crowd at the local venue.
De Goey, in particular, is the focal point of interest in this match after facing a challenging year plagued with injuries.
Collingwood coach Craig McRae acknowledges that “there’s always an element of risk” associated with a player returning from injury, yet he remains optimistic about De Goey’s hard work.
“We’re thrilled for what lies ahead, (De Goey has) been out for I don’t even know how many weeks,” he stated.
“Bobby Hill will also play in the VFL … it’s fantastic to have both of these players back for our club. There’s inherent risk in all situations, but according to the past three weeks of training, (De Goey) appears to be really fit and strong.
“It’s an opportunity to get on the field, especially for Bobby; he’s been through quite a bit, and it’s wonderful to see him happy.
“It might be challenging down at Frankston on the Hill … they’ve got bongos going on, which actually adds to the fun. I’m eager to observe how everything unfolds.
“Billy will play in the VFL as well … we could opt to train him another week, but we decided it’s best to get him into the VFL for some minutes. There will be a huge crowd down at Frankston.
The Magpies are set to play against Richmond this Sunday after facing consecutive losses for the first time in 2025.
Darcy Moore from Collingwood had an unusually lackluster performance against Fremantle last Sunday, where he struggled against Docker Patrick Voss.
McRae had a conversation with Moore regarding his game earlier this week and anticipates a strong comeback from the captain.
“I had a productive discussion with Darcy earlier in the week; the six goals can’t be solely attributed to him. We believe in a team structure that supports him,” he noted.
“However, there are areas for improvement, and perhaps this will serve as a moment for them to showcase that, especially if you somewhat isolate Darcy.
“We expect our leader to defend the field better than he did at certain moments over the weekend, and we won’t hesitate to address that. ”
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