Billy Frampton to replace Dan McStay in Pies’ GF team

The Pies’ forward stocks took a hit at the wrong time when Dan McStay went down against GWS, but coach Craig McRae has locked in the former Lion’s replacement for the big dance.

MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA – SEPTEMBER 20: Billy Frampton of the Magpies is tackled by Tom Mitchell (L) and Steele Sidebottom of the Magpies during a Collingwood Magpies AFL training session at Olympic Park Oval on September 20, 2023 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Daniel Pockett/Getty Images)

Billy Frampton will play for Collingwood on Saturday.

Magpies coach Craig McRae has revealed that the tall forward will be the replacement for injured goalkicker Dan McStay.

But what he chooses to do with the substitute will be decided on Thursday. .

“I’m comfortable to say to the footy world that Billy Frampton will play,” McRae said on SEN on Wednesday afternoon.

“He gets an opportunity to come in. I told him yesterday afternoon and we’re excited for him. He’ll be good for us.

“He can play forward for us and go back where need be, and play on the likes of (Joe) Daniher and others, and he can play (as) second ruck, so he gives us good flexibility in the team.

“Excited for the young lad.

“We’re still working through (the sub). As we always do, we’ll announce who our sub is.”

Billy Frampton will come into Collingwood’s team for the grand final. Picture: Andrew Henshaw

He said maintaining structure in the absence of a tall had been paramount in selection.

“For Bill, it gives us a little bit more flexibility,” he said.

“If Bill plays back, we can move Howey (Jeremy Howe) forward. We’ve shown that card before, and also in the ruck, if we want to play Mason (Cox) a little bit more forward, we can play Bill in the ruck.

“Normally it is one in, one out, but in this case we’ve got some flexibility with that.”

Vice-captain Taylor Adams ruled himself out of contention on Tuesday after suffering some hamstring awareness at training as he raced the clock to play.

McRae said telling Frampton had resulted in “a genuine hug” – and didn’t stay quiet as long as he would have liked.

“I asked if he could come and see me in my office … he was walking in and I’m not sure if he was excited or what he was expecting, but there was a genuine excitement,” He said.

“I said ‘can you keep it to yourself, mate, and I’ll announce it in the next 24 hours?’.

“He walked out and Howey saw him and he had the big smile and gave him a big hug.

“So much for keeping it quiet!

“For every heartache story, there’s an opportunity, and Billy gets that.”