Collingwood’s final team for Sunday’s clash with Hawthorn includes Josh Thomas’ return to senior football.

Thomas hasn’t played for 1,036 days with his last game also coming against Hawthorn in round 23, 2014. The Queenslander’s path to the MCG was cleared on Thursday when he was upgraded from the Magpies’ rookie list.

As confirmed in the initial team announcement, Jamie Elliott will return from his troublesome ankle injury against the Hawks. Elliott adds potency to a forward line which will also include American Mason Cox.

Jackson Ramsay takes James Aish’s place in the side as a small defender/midfielder, while Callum Brown, Ben Reid and Ben Crocker have also been omitted.

Reid and Brown remain emergencies, alongside South Australian Matthew Scharenberg.

All four omitted have been named to play for the VFL Magpies earlier in the day. A Victoria Park clash against Footscray kicks off at 11.45am.

Hawthorn v Collingwood
Round 15 2017
Sunday 2 June
MCG, 3.20pm

Collingwood
B: Jeremy Howe, Lynden Dunn, Tom Langdon
HB: Jack Crisp, Tyson Goldsack, Brayden Maynard
C: Steele Sidebottom, Scott Pendlebury, Tom Phillips
HF: Jordan De Goey, Darcy Moore, Will Hoskin-Elliott
F: Jamie Elliott, Mason Cox, Alex Fasolo
Foll: Brodie Grundy, Taylor Adams, Adams Treloar
Int: Levi Greenwood, Josh Thomas, Tim Broomhead, Jackson Ramsay
Emg: Matthew Scharenberg, Callum Brown, Ben Reid

IN: Mason Cox, Jamie Elliott, Jackson Ramsay, Josh Thomas
OUT: James Aish, Ben Crocker, Ben Reid, Callum Brown

A long time coming
Named on the interchange bench, this week marks the first time Josh Thomas has been named in a senior squad since 2014.

Thomas and teammate Lachlan Keeffe served a two-year league-imposed ban in 2015 and 2016 after testing positive to a banned substance in March, 2015.

Since returning in full capacity earlier this year, Thomas has quietly worked his way back to his best form in the VFL, where he is averaging 23.3 disposals from seven games.

Thomas last played senior football against Hawthorn in round 15, 2017.

Jamie’s impact
The Magpie Army will breathe a huge sigh of relief when it sees Jamie Elliott’s name on the Collingwood team sheet.

For those who underestimate Elliott’s value to Nathan Buckley’s team, try these facts on for size:
- Elliott has kicked at least three goals in each of his past five games, and at least three in six of his eight games this season
- It was Elliott's goal that sparked Collingwood's return from a 40-point deficit to overcome the Hawks in round nine
- Elliott has a strong record against the Hawks, kicking nine goals in his past five games

VFL squad
Collingwood’s VFL team will take on Footscray in a curtain raiser at Victoria Park on Sunday morning.

The match will provide the platform for Travis Varcoe to make his return from a hamstring strain.

Varcoe has missed the past eight weeks owing the injury he sustained against Geelong in round six.