Premiership Magpie Tom Mitchell will make his much-anticipated return to competitive football after overcoming a foot injury that has kept him sidelined for 380 days.
The 203-gamer, who hasn’t played since Collingwood’s Anzac Day clash in 2024, will play limited minutes on Saturday.
Mitchell is one of six changes VFL Head Coach Andy Otten has made to the team that lost to Footscray last weekend, with AFL-listed players Charlie West and Joel Cochran returning to the side.
Former Hawk Josh Bennetts is also set to make his long-awaited Collingwood VFL debut after overcoming a hamstring injury, along with VFL debutant Rod Ali.
Tom Wilson and Ben De Bolfo have come out of the side due to injury, while Michael Kiraly, Josh Murphy, Josh Tovey and Isaiah Markovsky have been omitted.
The Pies will be looking to bounce back from their 72-point defeat to the Bulldogs at Victoria Park last weekend, which was just their second loss to the otherwise strong start to the 2025 season.
Michael Kiraly, Boston Dowling, Angus Seivers, and Josh Tovey will be the emergencies.
Saturday will be the Club’s second VFL and VFLW double header of the season, with the Collingwood’s VFLW side set to face Darebin at 10:35am.
The Collingwood and Northern Bullants clash will be streamed live and free via collingwoodfc.com.au.
Smithy’s VFL Round 7
Northern Bullants v Collingwood
Genis Steel Oval, Preston, Wurundjeri
2:05pm (AEST)
