Bounce
Collingwood Coach Craig McRae has made two changes to the Magpies’ team to take on the Adelaide Crows at Adelaide Oval on Thursday night.
American Pie Mason Cox returns to the senior side for the first time since the Pies’ Round 19 clash with Fremantle.
It will be the ruck/forward’s ninth appearance in 2025, where he’s averaged 6.9 disposals and 2.5 marks.
Defender Wil Parker also makes his way back into the team with his last appearance coming in Collingwood’s last match against Adelaide, a three-point defeat in Round 23.
McRae heaped praise on Parker in the coach’s press conference on Tuesday.
"He played really well in Adelaide only a couple of rounds ago,” McRae said.
“We just love his fight and his tenacity at the ball.”
Forward Dan McStay has been omitted from the side, while defender Jeremy Howe (injury) will also miss the clash after he sustained an adductor strain in Round 24’s victory over Melbourne.
McStay and midfielders Tom Mitchell and Ed Allan are the emergencies for the match.
The tactical substitution will be selected from the bench and will be named 60 minutes before the first bounce.
Forward Beau McCreery has recovered from a foot injury he sustained in Round 24 and will line-up for his 18th match of 2025 and seventh finals appearance.
Mid-season draftee Roan Steele has retained his position from the Pies’ last outing, with the winger set to play his fourth AFL game and first finals match.
Along with Steele, Parker and Ned Long will suit up for their first finals games in their careers.
2024 recruit Lachie Schultz and 2025 recruits Harry Perryman, Dan Houston and Tim Membrey will also line-up for their first finals for Collingwood after participating in finals campaigns for their former clubs.
The records don’t stop falling for veteran Scott Pendlebury, with the Club games record-holder set to break Collingwood legend Gordon Coventry’s long-standing finals games record of 31 matches. The Qualifying Final will be Pendlebury’s 32nd finals match and 424th AFL game.
The record has stood for 88 years, since Coventry played his last match – a 32-point loss to Geelong in the 1937 VFL Grand Final.
The Qualifying Final will be the third clash between the Pies and Crows in 2025, with the ledger split at one each after Collingwood’s 10-point win in Round 10 and Adelaide’s three-point win in Round 23.
Collingwood fans can watch the game live on Channel 7, Fox Footy and kayosports.com.au, with the first bounce at 7:10pm (ACST)/7:40pm (AEST).
Thursday 4 September
Adelaide v Collingwood
Adelaide Oval, Kaurna
7:10pm (ACST)/7:40pm (AEST)
