Frost set for hot Magpies debut

Debut ... Jack Frost could play after being elevated from the rookie list. Source: Wayne Ludbey / News Limited

Jack Frost is in for a hot introduction to the AFL when the Collingwood defender debuts this Sunday against North Melbourne.

Coach Nathan Buckley says Frost is a prime example of the greater depth of talent that Collingwood will take into this season.

The 21-year-old joined the Magpies last December through the rookie draft and his impressive pre-season prompted an elevation last week onto the senior list.

The 'Pies will throw him into the deep end against North Melbourne, which features the three-pronged tall forward set-up of Drew Petrie, Robbie Tarrant and Lachie Hansen.

"One of the most positive aspects of our pre-season was the emergence of a couple of our rookie-list players,'' Buckley said.

"Jack Frost ... has proven his ability to shut down tall defenders with the absence (in the pre-season) of Nathan Brown and Ben Reid at times.

"He adds to our depth there and it becomes important, shutting down North's talls.

"They generally play that three-tall forward set-up more often than not.''

While Collingwood will be without prime movers such as Luke Ball and Dale Thomas for round one, Buckley said on Tuesday that they have more ability to cope.

"As I've banged on about all pre-season, I feel like we have some great depth,'' he said.

"We have a few injuries we'd rather do without, but the fact is we have the depth to cover it.''

Thomas and Andrew Krakouer will play for Collingwood's VFL team at the MCG in a curtain raiser to the Carlton-Richmond clash.

Ball has been in full training for about a fortnight, but he might not return for another month.

"In his mind, he'll tell you he's about two weeks away,'' Buckley said.

Ruckman Darren Jolly, forward Tyson Goldsack and Reid should all play.

It is a big season opener for Collingwood, particularly given North opened them up in round 21 last season.

"The intensity is going to be high and North Melbourne are a hard-running side,'' Buckley said.

"They showed us up in round 21 last year, so we have some work to do.''

While Collingwood and North have done their pre-season homework on each other, Buckley said there was always a sense of the unknown going into round one.

"You don't know what's changed - you find out soon enough,'' he said.

"We have a look ... at what they've done through the NAB Cup and we see the way they've trained and what they're trying to do in their training.

"How much of that gets rolled out on match day is that last 10 per cent that you need to stay agile enough as a coaching group to be aware of and prepare your players for.''

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