UPDATE: Friday, 5pm
Collingwood has made three changes to its line up for Sunday's clash with Essendon in the final round of the home and away season.

Rover Ben Kennedy returns for his first game since round 17.

He will be joined by defenders Alan Toovey and Adam Oxley, while Paul Seedsman, Jarrod Witts and the uncapped Matthew Goodyear are the three emergencies.

Essendon, meanwhile, has made four changes. Paul Chapman, Courtenay Dempsey, Michael Hibberd and Nick O'Brien will miss. Their replacements Tate Pears, Elliott Kavanagh, Shaun Edwards and Kyle Langford.

Bomber champion Dustin Fletcher won't be taking his place. The 400-game veteran has announced his retirement, and his injured groin has not allowed him to enjoy one final hurrah at the home of football.

Collingwood v Essendon
Round 23 2015
Sunday 7 September
MCG, 3.20pm

Collingwood
B: Tom Langdon, Nathan Brown, Jonathon Marsh
HB: Brayden Maynard, Ben Reid, Adam Oxley
C: Jack Crisp, Taylor Adams, Steele Sidebottom
HF: Travis Varcoe, Darcy Moore, Jordan De Goey
F: Alex Fasolo, Jesse White, Jamie Elliott
Foll: Brodie Grundy, Levi Greenwood, Scott Pendlebury
Int: Ben Kennedy, Matthew Scharenberg, Alan Toovey, Jarryd Blair
Emg: Jarrod Witts, Matthew Goodyear, Paul Seedsman

IN: Ben Kennedy, Adam Oxley, Alan Toovey
OUT: Ben Sinclair (hand), Dane Swan (knee), Marley Williams (hamstring)

Essendon
B: Orazio Fantasia, Jake Carlisle, Mark Baguley
HB: Brent Stanton, Michael Hurley, Jake Melksham
C: Heath Hocking, Dyson Heppell, David Zaharakis
HF: Jackson Merrett, Jayden Laverde, Ben Howlett
F: Conor McKenna, Joe Daniher, Cale Hooker
Foll: Shaun McKernan, Kyle Langford, Brendon Goddard
Int: Elliott Kavanagh, Shaun Edwards, Martin Gleeson, Tate Pears
Emg: Ariel Steinberg, Jason Ashby, Alex Browne

IN: Shaun Edwards, Elliott Kavanagh, Kyle Langford, Tayte Pears
OUT: Paul Chapman (retired), Courtenay Dempsey (suspended), Michael Hibberd (knee), Nick O'Brien (hamstring)

Thursday: 6.25pm
Six inclusions and a debutant.

Collingwood’s match committee obviously isn’t going to let 2015 slip away quietly.

The men charged with selecting the team have turned to…

Experience
In the form of Alan Toovey.

Promise
In the guise of Ben Kennedy, Adam Oxley, Paul Seedsman, Jarrod Witts and Paul Seedsman.

And youth
As evidenced by the selection of the yet-untried Matthew Goodyear.

Goodyear, Kennedy, Seedsman, Toovey and Witts are among an extended seven-man interchange bench that will be trimmed to four at 5pm on Friday.

The six additions replace the injured Ben Sinclair (hand), Dane Swan (knee) and Marley Williams (hamstring).

Who is Matthew Goodyear?
Athleticism is Goodyear’s strong suit, as he has a great turn of foot and elite endurance. The former Calder Cannon averaged 23 disposals in 15 appearances at TAC Cup level last season. Rarely fazed by the occasion, he is a great decision-maker.

In sixteen games in the VFL this season, Goodyear has averaged 13.9 disposals and 3.8 tackles while splitting his time between the wing and half back.

He enters this weekend’s games in good touch, having backed up a season-high 25 disposals against Richmond with a further 24 against Port Melbourne last Saturday.

Kids Under 15 enter for FREE

Kids under 15 will also be able to enter the stadium free of charge at all Sunday games.

Collingwood v Essendon
Round 23 2015
Sunday 7 September
MCG, 3.20pm

Collingwood
B: Tom Langdon, Nathan Brown, Jonathon Marsh
HB: Brayden Maynard, Ben Reid, Adam Oxley
C: Jack Crisp, Taylor Adams, Steele Sidebottom
HF: Travis Varcoe, Darcy Moore, Jordan De Goey
F: Alex Fasolo, Jesse White, Jamie Elliott
Foll: Brodie Grundy, Levi Greenwood, Scott Pendlebury
Int (from): Ben Kennedy, Matthew Scharenberg, Alan Toovey, Jarryd Blair, Jarrod Witts, Matthew Goodyear, Paul Seedsman

IN: Matthew Goodyear, Ben Kennedy, Adam Oxley, Paul Seedsman, Alan Toovey, Jarrod Witts
OUT: Ben Sinclair (hand), Dane Swan (knee), Marley Williams (hamstring)
NEW: Matthew Goodyear (19, Calder U18)

Essendon
B: Orazio Fantasia, Jake Carlisle, Mark Baguley
HB: Brent Stanton, Michael Hurley, Jake Melksham
C: Heath Hocking, Dyson Heppell, David Zaharakis
HF: Jackson Merrett, Jayden Laverde, Ben Howlett
F: Conor McKenna, Joe Daniher, Cale Hooker
Foll: Shaun McKernan, Kyle Langford, Brendon Goddard
Int (from): Ariel Steinberg, Jason Ashby, Elliott Kavanagh, Shaun Edwards, Martin Gleeson, Tayte Pears, Alex Browne

IN: Jason Ashby, Alex Browne, Shaun Edwards, Elliott Kavanagh, Kyle Langford, Tayte Pears, Ariel Steinberg
OUT: Paul Chapman (retired), Courtenay Dempsey (suspended), Michael Hibberd (knee), Nick O'Brien (hamstring)

Fast Fact
The last time Collingwood met Essendon in the final round of the home and away season was in 2012. On that occasion, the Magpies were victorious by 32 points, with Dane Swan earning the three Brownlow Medal votes.