Collingwood Coach Craig McRae has made four changes to his team for Thursday night’s Round 9 clash with Fremantle.

It’s the Pies’ first time back at Optus Stadium since their draw with the Dockers in Round 12, 2024.

Defender Oleg Markov will celebrate his birthday tomorrow when he returns for his first AFL match of 2025. The 28-year-old’s last match at senior level was Round 19, 2024.

Fellow defender Jeremy Howe is back in the team after he was managed for last week’s Geelong clash. Howe, 34, had played all seven matches of 2025 up until last Saturday night.

Midfielders Lachie Sullivan and Ed Allan make up the other two inclusions.

Sullivan, 27, had a career-high 24 disposals in last year’s draw with Fremantle and will add to his 13 career games tally with his fourth of 2025.

Allan, 20, whose father Ben was the inaugural captain of the Dockers, made his debut in the corresponding fixture last year and will take the field for his sixth career match.

Forward Brody Mihocek will be sidelined after sustaining an abdominal strain in last week’s clash with the Cats, in which he booted four goals.

Midfielders Scott Pendlebury and Jordan De Goey and defender Brayden Maynard will all be managed for the match in lieu of the five-day break between Round 8 and 9.

Charlie Dean, Charlie West and Will Hayes will be the emergencies for the trip west.

The tactical substitution will be selected from the bench and will be named 60 minutes before the first bounce.

Collingwood fans can watch the game live on Channel 7, Fox Footy and kayosports.com.au, with the first bounce at 6:10pm AWST/8:10pm AEST.

Thursday 8 May
Fremantle v Collingwood
Optus Stadium, Whadjuk
6:10pm AWST/8:10pm AEST

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