Forgotten Collingwood forward Anthony Rocca will become the third high-profile AFL player making a return from long-term injury this weekend in the VFL.

Rocca got through training on Friday which proved he was ready to resume after recent ankle and Achilles troubles.

Rocca has played just three AFL games this season - the last in round seven - and has not played at all since he played in mid-season VFL clash where he suffered an ankle injury.

But Collingwood football chief Geoff Walsh said Rocca's recovery had run smoothly in the past two weeks, and that the 31-year-old was ready to play for Collingwood's VFL side, against the Northern Bullants on Sunday.

"It's improved pretty rapidly, and he got through today's session OK and he's pulling up pretty well," Walsh said.

"The season's not getting any shorter so we thought we'd try him out and see how he goes."

The Magpies are hopeful the veteran forward can still play a part in this campaign, and return to the AFL side before the finals.

Geelong's Brad Ottens and Richmond's Matthew Richardson are the other two big AFL names coming back via the VFL this weekend, while out-of-favour Melbourne forward Russell Robertson will again play in the state league.

Ottens will play his first game since he suffered a knee strain in round two, for Geelong's VFL side against the Casey Scorpions on Saturday.

Richardson will play for Coburg against the Box Hill Hawks in what will be his first game since he underwent surgery to repair a hamstring tendon after round six.

The Cats are hopeful Ottens can also play a part in the finals, while Richardson is desperate to play again in the AFL this season under caretaker coach Jade Rawlings, his brother-in-law.

Robertson has spent the last few weeks in the VFL as the Demons play younger players. He will play for Casey.

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