COLLINGWOOD will buck the trend of its rivals by playing four matches against opposition clubs before round one.
The Pies will play consecutive scratch matches against Geelong and Carlton, then Marsh Community Series games against Richmond and St Kilda before enjoying a week off ahead of their season opener against the Western Bulldogs on March 20.
It goes against the recent shift in clubs requesting fewer matches over summer which had the official pre-season competition reduced from three games to two per club in 2018.
Port Adelaide will also tackle Adelaide in an under-23 trial match at Thebarton Oval on Saturday, February 29 on their respective week's break in the Marsh Series.
Essendon and Melbourne players not required in the Marsh Series will head to Casey Fields for a practice match on February 21.
The Demons will also play North Melbourne a week later at Arden Street Oval.
Meantime, Gold Coast and Brisbane will play a pre-season fixture on February 15 at Metricon Stadium, following the Suns' first AFLW home match against Richmond.
The Pies' clashes against the Cats at GMHBA Stadium (February 13) and Blues at IKON Park (February 20) will come as scratch matches before their Marsh Community Series begins. The date against the Cats will also include training drills between the two outfits.
The trip to face Geelong comes the week before the Marsh Series, while they will visit the Blues on the same day the Marsh Series opens between St Kilda and Hawthorn.
Both the Pies and Blues have been scheduled to sit out the opening weekend of the Marsh Series that will be played across three weekends from February 20 to March 9.
A gold coin donation for entry to IKON Park will support bushfire relief for communities ripped apart by the national crisis.
FULL FIXTURE Every round, every game
The Pies' first Marsh Series match will come against Richmond on Sunday March 1 in Wangaratta, two days after the State of Origin Bushfire Relief match where three Pies will take part. Their final tune-up will come against St Kilda on Sunday March 8 in Morwell.
STATE OF ORIGIN How the Vic v All Stars teams will be picked
The extra game time will allow the Pies to continue exploring the possibility of forward Jamie Elliott playing as a midfielder and Will Hoskin-Elliott in defence before a tricky start to the season against the Dogs, Richmond, Hawthorn and Brisbane.
Hawthorn and St Kilda will play a scratch match in Morwell on February 28 to raise funds for bushfire relief – eight days after the pair play their Marsh Series opener at Moorabbin.
ADDITIONAL PRE-SEASON HITOUTS CONFIRMED
Geelong v Collingwood – Thursday February 13 – GMHBA Stadium – TBC
Gold Coast v Brisbane – 7pm, Saturday February 15 – Metricon Stadium – 7pm – 4x25min
Carlton v Collingwood – 4pm, Thursday February 20 – IKON Park – 6x25min
Melbourne v Essendon – Friday February 21 – Casey Fields – TBC
North Melbourne v Melbourne - 1.10pm, Friday February 28 – Arden Street Oval
Hawthorn v St Kilda – 5pm, Friday February 28 – Morwell – 4x25min
Adelaide v Port Adelaide – 12pm, Saturday February 29 – Thebarton Oval – 4x25min
FULL MARSH SERIES FIXTURE Who is your club facing and where?
