Collingwood 2017 Draw and List Changes

Herald Sun - Jay Clark

Nathan Buckley is entering the final year of his contract. Picture: Wayne Ludbey

COLLINGWOOD faces a challenging start to a season Nathan Buckley has labelled make or break.
In the 2017 AFL fixture release, the Pies will tackle the two Grand Finalists Western Bulldogs (Round 1) and Sydney Swans (Round 3) and losing preliminary finalists Geelong (Round 6) and Greater Western Sydney (Round 8).
Collingwood's early-season run also includes blockbusters against Richmond on a Thursday night (Round 2) and Essendon (Round 5) in the traditional Anzac Day match on Tuesday, April 25.
The Pies finished 12th and slotted into the last spot of the middle-six grouping, meaning the Pies received a tougher draw than Richmond, which finished in 13th, in the bottom six.Collingwood will play one bottom-six side twice in 2017, which is Essendon.
In a softer run, the Tigers will play three bottom-six sides twice, Carlton, Fremantle and Brisbane Lions.
Out-of-contract Buckley has openly labelled next season a defining year for his tenure at Collingwood, saying he knows he is "on the hook" in 2017 if the Pies don't perform and arrest their run of three-straight years out of the finals.

List changes
Brent Macaffer (retired) Alan Toovey (retired) Dane Swan (retired) Matthew Goodyear (delisted) Tim Golds (delisted) Darrean Wyatt (delisted)	Corey Gault (retired) Nathan Brown (free agent - St Kilda) Jarrod Witts (traded - Gold Coast) Travis Cloke (traded - Western Bulldogs) Jack Frost (traded - Brisbane) Marley Williams (traded - North Melbourne)

Collingwood 2017 Draw

Round 1 Friday, March 24 Collingwood v Western Bulldogs MCG Home 7.50pm TV: 7mate Round 2 Thursday, March 30 Richmond v Collingwood MCG Away 7.20pm TV: 7mate Round 3 Friday, April 7 Sydney Swans v Collingwood SCG Away 7.50pm TV: 7mate Round 4 Sunday, April 16 Collingwood v St Kilda Etihad Stadium Home 3.20pm TV: 7mate Round 5 Tuesday, April 25 Essendon v Collingwood MCG Away 3.20pm TV: 7mate Round 6 Sunday, April 30 Geelong Cats v Collingwood MCG Away 3.20pm TV: 7mate Round 7 Saturday, May 6 Collingwood v Carlton MCG Home 2.10pm TV: Foxtel Round 8 Saturday, May 13 GWS GIANTS v Collingwood Spotless Stadium Away 4.35pm TV: Foxtel Round 9 Saturday, May 20 Collingwood v Hawthorn MCG Home 7.25pm TV: 7mate Round 10 Sunday, May 28 Collingwood v Brisbane Lions MCG Home 1.10pm TV: Foxtel Round 11 Sunday, June 4 Fremantle v Collingwood Domain Stadium Away 2.40pm TV: Foxtel

Round 12 Monday, June 12 Melbourne v Collingwood MCG Away 3.20pm TV: 7mate Round 13 BYE Round 14 Saturday, June 24 Collingwood v Port Adelaide MCG Home 1.45pm TV: Foxtel Round 15 Sunday, July 2 Hawthorn v Collingwood MCG Away 3.20pm TV: 7mate Round 16 Saturday, July 8 Collingwood v Essendon MCG Home 2.10pm TV: Foxtel Round 17 Saturday, July 15 Gold Coast SUNS v Collingwood Metricon Stadium Away 4.35pm TV: Foxtel Round 18 Sunday, July 23 Collingwood v West Coast Eagles Etihad Stadium Home 3.20pm TV: 7mate Round 19 Sunday, July 30 Collingwood v Adelaide Crows MCG Home 3.20pm TV: 7mate Round 20 Saturday, August 5 North Melbourne v Collingwood Etihad Stadium Away 7.25pm TV: 7mate Round 21 Sunday, August 13 Port Adelaide v Collingwood Adelaide Oval Away 4.10pm TV: Foxtel Round 22 Saturday, August 19 Collingwood v Geelong Cats MCG Home 2.10pm TV: Foxtel Round 23 Date TBC Collingwood v Melbourne MCG Home Time TBC TV: TBC