Ben Crocker will make his return to the Collingwood Football Club’s VFL side after a gap of 1724 days when they face Carlton in Round Three on Sunday. The forward, who previously played 26 games for the club between 2016 and 2019, is one of four new additions to the team for this game at Ikon Park.
Joining Crocker are AFL-listed players Finlay Macrae and Oscar Steene, who will be making their first VFL appearances for the 2024 season. Additionally, defender Cooper Macdonald will be making his debut for the club.
Crocker, who has played 87 VFL games overall, including 41 while on the AFL list with Collingwood, returns to face his former team, Carlton, for his first game of the 2024 season. Macrae, who has featured in three AFL matches this year, will bolster the midfield alongside Ned Long and Ed Allan. Steene, having recovered from a facial fracture and concussion suffered in a practice match last month, will resume his role in the ruck alongside teammate Aiden Begg.
The quartet’s inclusion necessitates the omission of injured players Jakob Ryan and Sam Sofronidis, as well as VFL-listed players Chad Mulvogue and Liam Purcell. Ryan sustained a hand injury during AFL training and is expected to be sidelined for several weeks, while Sofronidis will miss out due to a foot injury.
In: Ben Crocker, Cooper Macdonald, Finlay Macrae, Oscar Steene
Out: Chad Mulvogue, Liam Purcell, Jakob Ryan, Sam Sofronidis
Date: Sunday, April 14
Match: Carlton vs. Collingwood
Venue: Ikon Park, Wurundjeri
Time: 2:05pm (AEST)
