Collingwood has named its side for Sunday afternoon’s Round 22 clash with the West Coast Eagles at Optus Stadium, with five changes made from last week's clash with Geelong.
As announced on Thursday afternoon, key defender Noah Howes will make his AFL debut against the Eagles.
Taken with pick 15 in the 2025 mid-season draft, the versatile big man arrived from SANFL club South Adelaide. Drafted as a forward, the 196cm tall was kicking bags of goals for his state league side in 2025 and arrived at the Club as key position cover in attack.
In 2026 however, Howes has been deployed in a key back post in the VFL and has displayed strong form across 12 games this year.
In 22 total VFL games for the black and white, the 20-year-old averages 11 disposals and 4.1 marks per game.
V/AFL games-record holder Scott Pendlebury will miss the clash with a corked calf, while midfielder Jordan De Goey will also miss through glute soreness.
They will join defenders Jeremy Howe (fractured arm) and Harry Perryman (hamstring), as well as midfielder Patrick Lipinski (calf) on the sidelines.
Midfielder Lachie Sullivan, wingers Roan Steele and Sam Swadling and forward Will Hayes all return to the team.
Jakob Ryan, Wil Parker and Harry DeMattia are the emergencies.
Swadling returns after two starring performances at VFL level, racking up 39 possessions last week against Geelong at GMHBA stadium.
Sullivan (Round 4), Steele (Round 16) and Hayes (Round 11) all come back into the senior side for the first time in a while after displaying strong form at VFL level.
Veteran Steele Sidebottom is set to play game 373, overtaking Sydney great Adam Goodes to move into 13th position on the VFL/AFL games played list.
Fellow veteran Jack Crisp is set for his 277th game in the black and white, drawing level with Wayne Richardson in fifth position for the most games played for Collingwood.
Sunday afternoon’s clash will be the 64th between the two sides, with the ledger currently evenly split with 31 wins each and a draw.
The two teams last met in Round 11 at the MCG when Pendlebury broke the V/AFL games record, with the Pies handing the Eagles an apt 10-point loss.
1 in 6 Australians experience food insecurity, so for the AFL’s Round 22 action, every goal scored will help deliver 1,000 meals to Australians doing it tough. This incredible initiative has been made possible by Coles Group, SecondBite and Foodbank Australia.
The match is set for Sunday afternoon at Optus Stadium, with the first ball-up at 2:10pm AWST/4:10pm AEST. The game will be broadcast live on Fox Footy and Kayo Sports.
Match details
West Coast v Collingwood
Sunday 9 August
2:10pm (AWST)/4:10pm (AEST)
Optus Stadium, Perth, Whadjuk
