Round 12 Telstra AFL Rising Star nominee Ed Allan has returned to Collingwood’s VFL side, set to take on Williamstown in a do-or-die Wildcard Final at Victoria Park on Sunday.

Allan is one of four changes to the side who went down to Port Melbourne by eight-points in the final home-and-away match of the 2025 VFL season, with defenders Wil Parker and Oleg Markov also coming back into the side.

VFL-listed Max Mahoney rounds out the inclusions for the clash.

After a season-high 32 disposals that saw him awarded a VFL Coach’s MVP nod, mid-season draftee Roan Steele has been recalled to the AFL, while Conor Willis, Liam Hude, and Tom McGuane have been omitted.

After announcing his AFL retirement at season's end, Will Hoskin-Elliott will again suit up for the VFL side alongside Premiership teammates in Markov, Tom Mitchell, and Mason Cox.

Harrison Kennedy, Ned Byrne, Riley Mason, Angus Seivers, Liam Hude, Conor Willis, Ryan Eyre and Matt O’Brien are the emergencies for Sunday.

A win on Sunday will see Collingwood play in its first VFL finals since 2023, with a clash against the sixth-placed Brisbane likely.

All VFL finals including the Wildcard are fully ticketed, with fans encouraged to pre-purchase their tickets via the link here.

Saturday’s clash with Williamstown will be streamed live and free on Collingwoodfc.com.au.

Smithy’s VFL Wildcard Round
Collingwood v Williamstown
Victoria Park, Melbourne (Wurundjeri)
2:05pm (AEST)