Harry DeMattia is set to make his debut in Collingwood’s VFL team on Saturday, marking his first appearance in the club’s colors. This match will also be the team’s first game at Victoria Park for the 2024 season.
The 18-year-old had been progressing positively during his first pre-season with the club until he suffered a finger injury just before the start of the first pre-season games of the year.
The injury has kept DeMattia out of action for the past two months, but he is now prepared to kick off his journey with Collingwood. He joins three other notable additions for the upcoming clash against Essendon.
Reef McInnes returns to the side for his first VFL appearance of the 2024 season, while Lachie Sullivan is back after being rested last week. Jakob Ryan is also making a comeback following a short-term hand injury.
McInnes, who last played at the VFL level during last year’s Wildcard clash against Richmond, has featured in four AFL games this season. He will play as the deepest key forward in Saturday’s match, aiming to build on his tally of 39 goals from 24 career VFL matches.
Sullivan, currently in his first season with the club, missed last week’s Round Four encounter with Essendon but returns for his fourth game in Collingwood colors. This upcoming Round Five fixture marks his 73rd appearance at the VFL level and his first at Victoria Park as a Magpie.
He will be part of a formidable midfield alongside Finlay Macrae, Ned Long, and Ed Allan.
Ryan sat out the previous two games of the 2024 season due to a hand injury he suffered during training earlier this month.
VFL-listed players Cooper Macdonald, Harrison Kennedy, Tom Wilson, and Patrick Farrant are the four players omitted from Saturday’s game.
