Nineteen months after defecting from Hawthorn as an AFL free agent, Clinton Young will finally feel like a Collingwood player this weekend.
After a first season with the Magpies decimated by injury, Young will line up against the brown and gold for the first time on Saturday afternoon at the MCG.
If he bears any grudges from his time at Hawthorn, Young hides it well.
Seeing his class of Hawks earn a second premiership last season in a year he mostly featured on Collingwood's injury list has done nothing to make him bitter.
"I wanted to prove to Collingwood people that I could play and I couldn't do that," he said of his frustrating 2013 season.
He played just twice all season but did go to the grand final - as a spectator.
"It was a bit of a tough day," he said.
"But I was happy to see them win, being there before and being a part of the loss (in 2012), it was great to seen them bounce back.
"They thoroughly deserved it, they were the best team all year."
His injection could be the missing ingredient for Collingwood; Hawthorn have won the last five meetings between the teams since a nail-biting 2011 preliminary final.
Young said a win against his former employers would help cap a return to form and fitness this season.
"It's been a year and a half since I made the move and it's my first experience against them, to get the win it would be the icing on the cake."
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