Collingwood’s Senior Coach Craig McRae has announced the Magpies’ extended squad for their Round 20 match against Richmond at the MCG on Sunday.
The squad sees the inclusion of Mason Cox, Lachie Schultz, Harvey Harrison, Billy Frampton, Jack Bytel, and Wil Parker. Nathan Kreuger (concussion), Reef McInnes (omitted), and Joe Richards (omitted) have been left out.
The final team, including three emergencies, will be chosen from this extended squad and will be announced at 5pm on Friday.
Cox is set to return after missing the last seven games due to concussion and a knee injury, both sustained during the Round 11 draw against Fremantle. The 221cm player is in line for his 125th AFL game and 12th of the 2024 season this Sunday.
Schultz re-enters the squad after missing the previous game against Hawthorn due to concussion. The 26-year-old is the Magpies’ joint second-leading goal-scorer for the season and averages 3.8 tackles per game.
Harrison is back after being managed for last week’s game, while Frampton and Bytel have been named following their time in the VFL.
Wil Parker, who returned to football in the VFL last week after surgery for a meniscus tear, is back in the AFL squad for the first time since Round 13. Parker, who switched from professional cricket to join the Magpies in the 2024 pre-season, is in contention for his third AFL game.
Sunday’s match will also be an opportunity for the Magpie Army to support a good cause. The Collingwood Foundation is partnering with Coles to raise funds for the Magpie Nest Program.
The Magpie Nest, a collaboration between Collingwood and the Salvation Army (Project 614), provides housing, meals, and other services to Victorians in need. It supports 41 houses in Melbourne, accommodating over 120 adults and children, including women and children in half of these homes. The Magpie Nest Café in Melbourne’s CBD serves over 10,000 free meals a month to those struggling.
In a remarkable show of support, Major Brendan Nottle, Commanding Officer of the Salvation Army, will be sleeping rough at the AIA Vitality Centre to highlight the plight of struggling Victorians.
Coles will match donations made throughout Round 20.
The Magpie Army is encouraged to visit several activations at the AIA Vitality Centre this weekend to help raise funds. Coles will host a BBQ, and there will be numerous activities for kids, including a games zone, face painting, live music, and more.