Jordan De Goey returns as Collingwood names two inclusions for 31st Anzac Day clash
Collingwood has made a timely selection call for the 31st annual Anzac Day clash, with jordan de goey named to return alongside Steele Sidebottom for Saturday afternoon at the MCG. The pair missed the Round 5 loss to Fremantle after Sidebottom suffered a hip pointer and De Goey sustained a concussion. Their return gives Collingwood a more settled look for a fixture that carries extra weight because of its history, the stage, and the club record books now closing in on fresh milestones.
Two changes shape the Anzac Day selection picture
Collingwood has confirmed two inclusions and two omissions for Round 7. Ned Long, listed as managed, and Ed Allan, omitted, make way for Sidebottom and Jordan De Goey. Wil Parker joins them as an emergency for the match.
The timing matters because this is not just another home-and-away game. Saturday’s meeting with Essendon will be the 250th match between the clubs, and Collingwood leads the rivalry 137 wins to 107. In that setting, even routine selection decisions carry extra significance. Jordan De Goey’s return, in particular, restores another midfield option after a short absence that began with the concussion sustained against Fremantle.
Jordan De Goey and Sidebottom return with record context
Sidebottom’s comeback brings an individual milestone into focus as well. He will play his 360th AFL match, moving past Geelong’s Tom Hawkins and Fitzroy/North Melbourne’s John Blakey into outright 16th on the VFL/AFL games played list. That detail gives Collingwood more than a selection boost; it adds another layer of occasion to a match already wrapped in ceremony and tradition.
The numbers around the Daicos family also stand out. With Josh Daicos selected for his 158th game, Nick Daicos for his 101st, and Peter Daicos adding 250, the family will reach 509 games for Collingwood, breaking an 81-year record for father-sons at the club. The previous mark of 507 was set in 1945 by Charlie Pannam Snr and his sons Charlie Jnr and Alby, including some VFA games. In practical terms, the club is walking into Anzac Day with selection headlines and historical markers converging at once.
What the selection call says about Collingwood’s approach
The decision to bring back Jordan De Goey and Sidebottom suggests Collingwood is prioritising experience and continuity for a game that tends to reward composure under pressure. That reading is reinforced by veteran Scott Pendlebury, who will overtake Essendon’s Dustin Fletcher for most Anzac Day clashes when he lines up for the 19th time. Pendlebury’s presence, along with the returning midfield pair, points to a side leaning on familiarity in a fixture where momentum can swing quickly.
There is also a practical layer to the call. Collingwood’s senior side is being adjusted after a period in which availability has been shaped by management and injury recovery. The context around jordan de goey remains straightforward: he missed after concussion, and now returns to the senior team. No broader medical timeline has been provided, so the selection itself is the clearest signal available. For Collingwood, that is enough to matter on a day when even small changes can have outsized consequences.
Broader stakes in a historic rivalry
Saturday’s match will be played at the MCG at 3: 20pm AEST and broadcast live across major platforms. But the larger story is the scale of the occasion. With 250 clashes between the clubs, a record father-son tally pending, and Pendlebury about to set another Anzac Day benchmark, the game sits at the intersection of club identity and league history.
From a regional perspective, the return of Jordan De Goey adds interest to a contest that already draws heavy attention because of its timing and symbolism. For Collingwood, the challenge is simple to state but harder to execute: convert the return of key names into performance. In a game carrying tradition, milestones and selection scrutiny all at once, that may be the clearest test of all.
And if Collingwood gets the balance right, what might the return of Jordan De Goey mean once the first bounce settles?
