The match will begin at 7.50pm AEST.
Since 2009, the AFL has only confirmed the schedule for the final round with a handful of weeks remaining, rewarding the sides which are best placed to launch a tilt at the Premiership each season.
The Friday night fixture means the Magpies will be afforded a six-day break following its clash with Greater Western Sydney in the penultimate round, but will enter any final, should they qualify, with at least seven day break.
In its release of the fixture, the AFL provided the following explanation of the Friday night blockbuster:
“It was the AFL’s view that the Collingwood vs. Hawthorn match should be scheduled on the Friday night as this was the only game in round 23 whereby a current top-four side was able to be fixtured for that night, and preference needed to be given to higher-ranked sides on the ladder.
This will maximise the number of days’ break for the currently second-placed Hawthorn before week one of the finals.”
Collingwood will be desperate to reverse its recent record against Hawthorn.
The Pies have not beaten the Hawks since the 2011 Preliminary Final.
View Collingwood’s 2014 home and away fixture here.
