Collingwood Coach Craig McRae has named the Magpies’ team to take on the West Coast Eagles at Marvel Stadium on Sunday, which includes AFL debutant Joe Richards and Club debutant Jack Bytel.

Reef McInnes and Finlay Macrae also come into the side after impressive performances at VFL level.

Beau McCreery (concussion), Jamie Elliott (back), Brody Mihocek (hamstring) and Lachie Schultz (suspension) are the four outs from the side that beat Carlton last Friday night.

Edward Allan, Aiden Begg and Charlie Dean are the three emergencies.

The tactical substitute will be selected from the extended bench and will be named 60 minutes before the bounce on Sunday.

Richards has been rewarded with an AFL debut following consistent goal kicking form in the VFL. The Wangaratta product has booted 13 goals from his six games, including a bag of six straight against Brisbane in Round Two.

Selected at Pick 48 in the 2022 National Draft, Richards has followed a rare pathway to the AFL after being recruited while playing for the Wangaratta Magpies in the Ovens and Murray League.

The then 23-year-old was being coached by Collingwood Premiership Player Ben Reid and had set the league alight. Winning three Senior club best and fairest, two premierships and two second placings in the league best and fairest.

Bytel was signed by Collingwood on the eve of the 2024 season in the supplementary selection period. The midfielder played 22 games for St Kilda at AFL level between 2018 and 2023, after being drafted at Pick 41 in the 2018 National Draft.

The 24-year-old has averaged 23 disposals from six games in the VFL this year, including 27 and five tackles in last week’s defeat to Southport.

McInnes has played four games at AFL level this season, with the 21-year-old-forward booting six goals. At VFL level, McInnes has played two games, including kicking two goals against Southport last weekend.

Finlay Macrae returns to the side for his fourth AFL game of 2024 after consistent performances in the VFL, including 25 disposals last weekend.

Senior Coach Craig McRae spoke about the return of Macrae in this morning’s press conference.

“He’ll get a good opportunity to play a full game and go show what he’s capable of. I think one of thing that’s going to present to us is that we’re going to play some players that have been craving opportunity,” McRae said.

Sunday May 12
West Coast Eagles v Collingwood
Marvel Stadium, Wurundjeri
1:00pm (AEST)

In: McInnes, Richards, Macrae, Bytel
Out: McCreery (concussion), Mihocek (hamstring), Elliott (back), Schultz (suspension)