Collingwood coach, Nathan Buckley has confirmed that both Jaidyn Stephenson and Sam Murray will debut against Hawthorn in their round one season opener on Saturday night.
According to Herald Sun AFL journalist Sam Landsberger, Buckley made the announcement to the Collingwood team today that the duo will debut this weekend.
Nathan Buckley told his players at lunchtime that Jaidyn Stephenson and Sam Murray would debut. Bucks happy with the health of the list with 40 fit Magpies. Wells and Fasolo will play VFL Friday. De Goey a couple away. Contested ball and stoppages again their strength.
— Sam Landsberger ๐ฏ (@SamLandsberger) March 20, 2018
Collingwood invested in Stephenson with the number six pick in the 2017 AFL Draft and their investment seems to already be paying off following his solid JLT Community Series performance, which earned him the spot to play alongside the senior team this week.
The 19-year-old averaged almost 14 disposals between his two JLT Community Series appearances, which included a win against the Bulldogs and a blowout loss to GWS.
If Collingwood were looking for a willing all-rounder, they've found one in Sam Murray, who will be looking to make a difference in the round one matchup against Hawthorn.
Murray tallied an impressive 24 disposals against the Western Bulldogs in this years JLT Community Series.
The Magpies can expect a lot of effort from the 20-year-old, who was traded back in October as part of a deal between the Pies and the Sydney Swans.
The duo will take the field on Saturday night as Collingwood take on the Swans at the MCG.
