Star Geelong recruit Patrick Dangerfield will have his first AFL hitout for the Cats this Friday night when they host Collingwood.

James Aish also leads the newcomers in the Magpies’ squad for the Simonds Stadium match.

Dangerfield was the off-season’s biggest free agency signing and his move from Adelaide is a key reason why Geelong are so bullish about their 2016 prospects.

He was named in Geelong’s leadership group at their Tuesday night season launch.

Likewise, Aish will add depth and class to Collingwood’s midfield as they try to end their two-year absence from the finals.

Collingwood also recruited Adam Treloar from GWS to boost their onball options, but he had off-season surgery and will not play.

The Magpies also left out Jamie Elliott, Tyson Goldsack and Matthew Scharenberg as they recover from injury, while coach Nathan Buckley is unsure when Melbourne recruit Jeremy Howe will be available as he comes back from finger surgery.

Captain Scott Pendlebury, Tom Langdon, Ben Reid, Marley Williams and Travis Cloke are other significant names missing from the Magpies squad of 29, which will be trimmed to 26 for the match.

But Dane Swan, Alan Toovey, Steele Sidebottom and Nathan Brown will add some experience.

And Darcy Moore will play after a solid pre-season.

The match will feature two acting captains, with Geelong’s Joel Selwood yet to recover from his foot injury.

Jimmy Bartel, Selwood’s brother Scott and Mitch Clark also will not play.

But the Cats named former Carlton player Lachie Henderson, ex-Gold Coast ruckman Zac Smith and fellow recruit Sam Menengola in their squad.