Sicily and Moore return as Hawthorn and Collingwood name teams for MCG blockbuster

Key facts

• Hawthorn's James Sicily and Dylan Moore return from suspension for the Round 8 clash.
• Collingwood captain Darcy Moore plays his second match of 2026 after a hamstring injury.
• Ned Reeves will play his 50th AFL game for Hawthorn on Thursday night.
• Collingwood's Tim Membrey is sidelined for four weeks with a hamstring strain.
• Scott Pendlebury and Jeremy Howe are managed due to a five-day break between rounds.
• The match is scheduled for Thursday 30 April at 7:30pm AEST at the MCG.

Experienced duo bolster Hawthorn line-up

Hawthorn has named its team for Thursday night's blockbuster against Collingwood at the MCG, making two changes from the side that defeated Gold Coast by 49 points last week. James Sicily and Dylan Moore, both suspended for that win at UTAS Stadium, return to the senior line-up. Harry Morrison and Jack Dalton have been omitted from the Round 8 squad. The Hawks also confirmed that ruckman Ned Reeves will play his 50th AFL game under the Thursday night lights.

Magpies bring in captain and three others

Collingwood has made four inclusions for the clash, headlined by captain Darcy Moore. Moore will play his second match of 2026 after recovering from a low-grade hamstring injury and inflamed bursa sustained in the Pies’ Round 3 win over GWS. Midfielder Ned Long, who sits seventh in the AFL for average tackles, returns after being managed for Collingwood’s Anzac Day victory. Defenders Wil Parker and forward Jack Buller also come into the side, each playing their third game of the season after featuring in the Magpies’ first two matches against St Kilda and Adelaide respectively.

Veterans managed, key forward out for a month

With only a five-day break between Rounds 7 and 8, Collingwood has opted to manage veterans Scott Pendlebury and Jeremy Howe. Forwards Tim Membrey (hamstring) and Beau McCreery (general soreness) will miss the match. Membrey experienced hamstring awareness following the Magpies’ Anzac Day game against Essendon. Scans have since confirmed a hamstring strain, and he is expected to be sidelined for four weeks. The Pies have named Ed Allan, Lachie Sullivan and Charlie West as emergencies for Round 8.

Match details and broadcast information

The Round 8 clash between Collingwood and Hawthorn will take place on Thursday 30 April at the MCG, with the first bounce scheduled for 7:30pm AEST. The match will be broadcast live on Channel 7, 7plus, Fox Footy and Kayo Sports.

The bottom line

• Hawthorn regains two key players from suspension, while Collingwood rests two veterans and loses a forward for a month.
• Darcy Moore's return is a significant boost for the Magpies after a hamstring injury kept him out for several weeks.
• Ned Reeves reaches a personal milestone in his 50th AFL game for Hawthorn.
• Tim Membrey's four-week absence with a hamstring strain will test Collingwood's forward depth.
• The match is a Thursday night blockbuster at the MCG, with both sides vying for crucial premiership points.