Bacon has Victorian Football League experience with the now-folded Bendigo Gold.

He broke his collarbone last season and made his return to the field in a stellar show with the Lions in the Ballarat Football League.

Bacon was a confirmed starter on Friday night, named on the bench, to face the Magpies, with the Selkirk Roosters still yet to finalise their interchange and awaiting the final word from AFL partner North Melbourne to help determine this.

Ballarat Swans’ Lachie Cassidy, a former North Ballarat Rebel, is also set for his first game as a Roosters-listed player, as will Andrew Hooper, who was drafted to AFL club Western Bulldogs from the Rebels.

Cassidy was playing under the 23rd man rule.

Forward Michael Powell and developing ruckman Rowan Marshall were named emergencies with North Ballarat City’s Shaun Lyle. City has a bye, but Powell and Marshall will likely now feature in Sebastopol’s BFL season-opener against Bacchus Marsh alongside fellow Roosters-listed Burras Matt Austin and James Richards.

Roosters coach Gerard FitzGerald said Collingwood was a formidable opening-round opponent to host at Eureka Stadium, but no match was an easy match.

The Magpies outplayed the Roosters in a practice match at Victoria Park last week, but the Roosters were strong for long periods of the game.