collingwood vs essendon is set for Friday afternoon at the KGM Centre in Melbourne, where both clubs have finalised their VFL sides for the annual Anzac Day eve fixture. The match is scheduled for 2: 05pm AEST on Friday, with streaming available live and free from the AFL app and website, while the Bombers have confirmed two inclusions and one omission.
Bombers make two changes as Collingwood names five
Essendon VFL has named its side with small forward Huss El Achkar returning after missing last week’s win over the SUNS through illness. Former Collingwood VFL tall Boston Dowling will make his first appearance for the Bombers, while Nick Bryan will sit out because of general soreness. The Bombers are preparing for their annual clash at the KGM Centre, a fixture that carries extra weight on the home-and-away calendar.
Collingwood has also adjusted its VFL line-up, making five changes as it looks for a second win of the VFL season. Bobby Hill returns for his first VFL game of 2026 and will play limited minutes as he continues to build fitness. 21-year-old midfielder Ed Allan is back, along with 2025 Collingwood Next Generation Academy graduates Jai Saxena and Zac McCarthy, both managed last week. VFL off-season recruit Zavier Maher also comes in after missing the Round 4 clash against Carlton due to suspension.
Matchday details confirmed for Friday afternoon
The teams will meet at the KGM Centre for a 2: 05pm start on Friday, with the match available to stream live and free. Collingwood has listed 16 AFL-listed players to feature in the Anzac Day eve VFL clash, underscoring the importance both clubs have placed on the occasion. For Essendon, the return of El Achkar and the first outing for Dowling are the headline personnel moves in a side aiming to handle a busy stretch of the football calendar.
Wil Parker has come out of Collingwood’s side and will serve as the emergency for the 31st AFL Anzac Day clash against Essendon on Saturday afternoon at the MCG. Ben De Bolfo, Max Mahoney, Harry Mahoney and Xavier Laverty are also omitted, with De Bolfo, Harrison Kennedy, Charlie McCartin, Max Mahoney, Hamish Collins and Robbie Varcoe listed as emergencies.
Immediate reaction from the selection moves
The selection changes frame this as more than a routine VFL fixture. Collingwood’s management of Hill and the return of Allan, Saxena, McCarthy and Maher suggest a measured approach, while Essendon’s inclusion of Dowling adds a new face against his former club. In a week built around Anzac Day, the build-up has been sharpened by the fact that this meeting sits alongside the broader Saturday program at the MCG.
Essendon’s club selection update also noted the presence of an inspirational servicewoman as part of the weekend’s pre-game program, adding to the occasion around the match. The Bombers’ side has been adjusted with the annual clash in view, and the timing leaves little margin for change before Friday’s first bounce.
What this clash means next
Collingwood vs essendon now moves into matchday with both clubs having set their lines and their emergencies. The focus will turn to how the Bombers handle their two inclusions and whether Collingwood’s returning players can make an early impact while managing minutes. With streaming confirmed and the fixture locked for 2: 05pm AEST in Melbourne, collingwood vs essendon becomes the next key checkpoint in the VFL schedule.
