Collingwood will unveil its seventh debutant of the year when Trent Bianco steps out for his first AFL appearance this weekend.
Ollie Henry, Jay Rantall, Caleb Poulter, Beau McCreery, Tom Wilson and Finlay Macrae have already pulled on the black and white stripes in 2021, and Bianco will add to that growing list when the Magpies meet Geelong at the MCG on Saturday.
It adds to the six debutants the Pies unearthed in 2020 and that entire group of youngsters is helping captain Scott Pendlebury remain excited about his footy.
“Personally I’ve loved having seven different guys debut this year,” he said on SEN’s Bob and Andy.
“It gives you energy, they’ve all brought something different to the table.
“I’m sure ‘Trenta’ (Bianco) will play really well on Saturday for us.”
Pendlebury, 33, is loving what he is seeing from the Magpies kid, referencing vital goals kicked by McCreery and Poulter in last weekend’s one-point loss to Port Adelaide.
The skipper says having a youthful core to focus on gives himself and the senior Pies some added yet wanted responsibility.
“They train really well, they’re a really tight group, the first and second year players,” he added.
“Even on the weekend, just little moments where Beau McCreery kicked one of our goals in the last quarter, Caleb Poulter kicked a goal in the last quarter.
“Just that steely resolve to go back and knock those shots over and give us a chance.
“I feel like our responsibility as senior players is to put as much time and effort in as we can to fast-track them.
“Also to lead by example when we play and make sure we’re doing the simple things really well and playing our role so they can jump on the back of that and do that as well.”
The five-time Copeland Trophy winner has also alluded to finishing up as club captain before his days in the game are done.
2019 draftee Bianco, 20, joins fellow 2021 debutants Poulter and Wilson in the 22 to take on the third-placed Cats with Pendlebury again to lead the way.