Collingwood will return to Tasmania for the first time in over a decade when the club faces reigning premiers Hawthorn in its opening match-up of the 2015 NAB Challenge.
The match, scheduled for February 26, represents Collingwood’s first trip to the Southern isle since March 2001, when the side suffered an 18-point defeat at the hands of Melbourne during a rain-drenched pre-season clash at North Hobart Oval.
Hawthorn stands as a stern test for the youthful Magpies, presenting an exciting, early challenge for Collingwood’s litany of emerging stars, including Jamie Elliott, Taylor Adams and Tim Broomhead, in a pivotal marker in side’s preparation for the 2015 AFL season.
Collingwood’s two top 10 selections from the 2014 National Draft are also likely to feature in black and white for the first time, including athletic father-son pick Darcy Moore, in addition to fellow off-season recruits Travis Varcoe, Levi Greenwood and Jack Crisp.
Having travelled to Wangaratta during 2014, Bendigo will be the next regional Victorian city to experience Collingwood live in action when the side heads north to face Carlton in its second pre-season hit out on March 15.
The clash ensures the swift return of elite level football to the proud football region, and offers a piece of neat symmetry, given Collingwood featured in Bendigo’s final ever VFL match in August this year.
The Black and White pre-season campaign will then reach its conclusion in the more familiar surrounds of Etihad Stadium, with Western Bulldogs standing as the club’s final opponent before taking on Brisbane during round one of the 2015 home and away season.
The AFL has announced that club members with game access will be entitled to attend NAB Challenge matches free of charge.
2015 NAB Challenge
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Game One
Hawthorn v Collingwood Aurora Stadium Hobart Thursday 26 February 7.10pm |
Game Two
Collingwood v Carlton Queen Elizabeth Oval Bendigo Sunday 15 March 4.40pm |
Game Three
Western Bulldogs v Collingwood Etihad Stadium Melbourne Saturday 21 March 7.10pm |
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