Collingwood will welcome Tim Membrey back to the field when it faces Werribee in Round 9 of the VFL on Saturday 23 May at Melbourne Avalon Airport Oval. The forward will play his first VFL game since 2024 after recovering from the hamstring injury he picked up in Collingwood’s AFL Anzac Day clash with Essendon.
Membrey is one of four changes for the Magpies, who are trying to respond after a road loss to Sydney. Jack Buller and Wil Parker also return, while Lachie Sullivan is back after the concussion he suffered in Collingwood’s Round 7 VFL clash against Box Hill. The reshuffle gives Collingwood a different look as it heads into a match that will be streamed live and free on from 11am AEST.
Brady Grey will miss the game through injury, while Harry Kennedy and Liam Hude are also out. Zac McCarthy has been managed against Werribee. Hude, Kennedy, Luke Quaynor, Jack Marks, Hamish Collins and Charlie McCartin will serve as emergencies.
The selection call comes after Collingwood’s previous VFL match on the road against Sydney, where Sam Swadling posted a season-high 40 disposals at Tramway Oval even though the team came away with the loss. That performance offered one of the few bright spots from a difficult trip, but the return of Membrey and the other changes suggests Collingwood is treating this week as a chance to reset rather than simply shuffle names around.
For Membrey, the significance is more immediate. His return adds proven AFL experience to a VFL side that needs a lift, and Saturday’s match will give Collingwood a clearer read on how quickly he can settle back after the hamstring setback. If the Magpies can turn the changes into a result against Werribee, the answer to their short-term problem will be as simple as the score line.
