Western Bulldogs captain Robert Murphy will play his first game for premiership points since April 2016 when his side takes on Collingwood in the 2017 season opener this Friday night at the MCG.

Murphy is joined by Matt Suckling, Lin Jong, Stewart Crameri, and former Magpie Travis Cloke, as the five players named who did not play in last year’s grand final side.

Ahead of the match Friday night’s clash, coach Luke Beveridge said the changes reflected the continuing evolutionary nature of the game, and it was something all clubs go through. 

"That's a fair amount of change when you consider the way we finished last year. Like us, [Collingwood faces] a new season, a lot of unknowns, some changes in personnel,” Beveridge told media at VU Whitten Oval on Thursday morning.

Despite Collingwood having several players unavailable, Beveridge said he was sure the Magpies would be a formidable opponent.

"They've got some talent all through their lines,” he said.

“They've probably lost a hand full of midfielders they may have expected to be available for this round one game but the mids that they've picked are very talented and influential players. 

"They've got some height and threats in their forward line that will be a challenge to combat, and they cover the ground pretty well, the Pies."

While the Magpies and a new season will present fresh challenges for the Bulldogs, Beveridge believes the 22 players selected for the Round One encounter are ready to face them.

"We feel we've built into this Round One with some momentum off the JLT3 game against the Gold Coast, so we feel like we're cherry ripe to play well tomorrow.

"The freshness and the newness of an AFL season should be enough to fertilise your growth a little bit, but we still need to get to the point where we are right on top of our preparation and our intent, right in that first minute, and I've got no doubt that the 22 picked will get each other there." 

AFL Round 1 –Collingwood v Western Bulldogs
Friday 24 March, 2017, 7:50pm
Venue: MCG