Collingwood are returning to their spiritual base of Victoria Park next year, with the club's VFL team to play all their home matches at the famous inner suburban venue.

In a deal thrashed out with the City of Yarra, the Magpies will play nine games annually at the ground which will also be developed as a multi-purpose community centre.

Collingwood currently play their VFL home games at arch rival Carlton's Princes Park.

Magpies president Eddie McGuire says the return to Victoria Park is a significant move for the club.

Collingwood now have their administrative and training centre at the state of the art Lexus Centre, while their AFL home games are played at the MCG.

"For our football club it means we retain our link with the place that is the birthplace of the Collingwood Football Club and everything that this club stands for," McGuire said.

However, he said the move was not about attracting large crowds.

"I think for the first game, in conjunction with the council, we'd like to do something community-spirited," he said.

"But this is all about open and passive recreation ... this is a community ground now.

"It was donated to the Collingwood Football Club in the first place for the community in the Collingwood area and we want to make sure that this is for the people of Collingwood as well as the small time that we use it for a game of football.

"We're looking to fit in absolutely with the council's masterplan of making this an open recreational reserve for people to be able to walk across, to enjoy themselves, to walk their dogs.

"This is not Collingwood coming back to Victoria Park to play big games."

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