Collingwood key defender Ben Reid is set to play his 50th game of AFL football against Fremantle on Friday night.

The 22-year-old from Bright in north-east Victoria is one of only five Magpies to have played all 20 games in season 2011 after playing in the club’s premiership triumph last year.

He was drafted from the Murray Bushrangers under 18s with the eighth overall selection in the 2006 draft, a pick that was acquired by the Magpies from Fremantle in exchange for Chris Tarrant.

Reid debuted in round 13, 2007 against Hawthorn, but managed just eight games in his first three seasons.

Having come to the club as a key forward, Reid spent the 2009 season transitioning to defence in the Magpies’ VFL team, and in 2010 established himself as an important part of the club’s senior backline.

In addition to his premiership medallion, Reid won a Rising Star nomination last year.

Reid has enjoyed an excellent 2011 season so far. He is averaging 20 possessions per game and has also regularly taken on and beaten some of the competition’s premier key forwards.

He trails only Travis Cloke for most contested marks and most total marks at the club, and leads the AFL for marks taken from opposition kicks (57).

Reid was substituted off the ground during the third quarter of the win over Brisbane last Saturday night after landing heavily on his back but is expected to play against Fremantle.

His father Bruce played 119 games for Footscray and Carlton from 1977-85, while his younger brother Sam currently plays for Sydney.