AFL: Jakob Ryan to make Magpies debut as Jordan De Goey, Bobby Hill ruled out

An injury to another Collingwood star has opened the door for a mulleted teenage flyer to make his debut against the Lions.

Coach Craig McRae will rest Jordan De Goey. Picture: Michael Klein

Collingwood will unveil first-year defender Jakob Ryan against Brisbane as injuries force Jordan De Goey and Bobby Hill out of the top-of-the-table clash.

De Goey suffered a glute strain against Geelong, with the Magpies expecting him to return for the round 24 clash against Essendon, while Hill left the track early at Wednesday’s main training session with hamstring tightness and will not be risked on Friday night against the Lions.

Steele Sidebottom (foot) and John Noble (ankle) have both been cleared to face Brisbane in a welcome reprieve for the Magpies, who were already missing their best two players this season in Nick Daicos and captain Darcy Moore.

McRae said he would selected De Goey and Hill if this week’s game was a grand final but saw no need to risk the pair.

Jordan De Goey will miss at least a week with a strain deep in his glute suffered during the win over Geelong on Friday night. Picture: Darrian Traynor / Getty Images

“We’re anticipating that (De Goey) will be right (for next week). I think if it was the grand final, I’d be pushing hard for all of them to play, to be honest,” he said.

“(Hill) expressed a little bit of extra awareness (in his hamstring), and there’s risk and reward attached to this time of year.

“There’s a cost to that – four of your best players out, it’s a bit of a cost.”

McRae said Ryan, a 189cm intercept-marking defender who was taken with pick 28 in last year’s draft, would add welcome extra energy to his side as they try to seal the minor premiership against Brisbane.

“He’s been in great form for a number of weeks now, we’ve had him as emergency a couple of times,” McRae said.

“A young South Australian lad, he’ll be a crowd favourite with his haircut.

Debutant Jakob Ryan is highly regarded for his foot skills and intercept marking and finished in the top five during a pre-season beep test in December. Picture: Michael Klein

“It’s exciting to give someone an opportunity this time of year – he gets a reward for playing above the level at VFL.

“We’ll look for energy at all different sources at this time of year and get a debutant to just come in and be himself, play free … hopefully that’s a bit infectious for others.

Last week’s sub Jack Ginnivan is set to return to the Magpies’ starting 22, while young midfielder Finlay Macrae could be in line for a senior recall after 25 disposals, six clearances and seven tackles in an emphatic 74-point VFL win over Geelong.

“I’m excited for what that could mean for four new fresh faces. When you’re playing one of the best teams in the competition with four of your best players out … we’ve got to get to work,” McRae said.

“We are in discovery mode somewhat and finding out what our best looks like.”

McRae said it was difficult to anticipate “what team” would turn up when the Lions travel to Melbourne, but he said the Magpies had to respect their excellent record at Marvel Stadium and were still yet to record a win against them during his tenure.