Collingwood has confirmed key defender Noah Howes as the club's next debutant for its upcoming clash against West Coast at Optus Stadium on Sunday.
The 196cm 20-year-old was taken with pick 15 in the 2025 mid-season draft by the Pies.
After spending his first six months at the club as a key forward, Howes was swung back in 2026 and in Round 22 will make his AFL debut.
Across 12 games this season Howes has emerged as a key defensive option for the Magpies and will likely line up against fellow young guns and Eagles Jobe Shanahan and Cooper Duff-Tytler.
Howes, plucked out of SANFL league side South Adelaide, is the sixth Pie to debut in 2026 and the fourth with links to the South Australian state league.
The Magpies have been dealt major injury blows in recent weeks with in-form key defender Jeremy Howe injuring his arm last weekend against Geelong.
In the same game, winger and half-back Harry Perryman injured his hamstring and will miss three to four weeks.
Captain Darcy Moore has been ruled out for the remainder of the season with a hamstring injury and vice-captain Brayden Maynard is out of the team with a knee/hamstring injury for the next two weeks at least.
Collingwood sits in ninth spot on the ladder on 46 points, but to secure safety in a wildcard spot, the Pies must beat the Eagles at home.
In the final two rounds of the home-and-away season, Collingwood faces premiership fancies Hawthorn and Brisbane with the likes of Carlton, St Kilda and GWS nipping at the Magpies' heels.
