Why one-game ruck swapped Blues for Magpies

Flynn Riley has experienced a whirlwind few months.

The 22-year-old ruckman was picked up by Carlton with Pick 4 in the mid-season rookie draft on May 26.

16 days later on July 11 he made his AFL debut for the Blues against Hawthorn at the MCG, kicking a goal from six touches with five tackles and 17 hitouts.

Earlier in 2026, Riley had played a couple of games of local footy with Aberfeldie in the Essendon District Football League, before impressing in the VFL with the Blues.

On October 13, he was traded to Collingwood - the club he supported growing up - in exchange for a 2028 third-round pick.

Riley admits it has been a “surreal” season.

“The first half of the year I was in the VFL program at Carlton and I even played in a few local footy games playing at full-forward for Aberfeldie,” Riley said on AFL Trade Radio.

“Next thing you know you play a few VFL games, spark some AFL interest, and then I was lucky enough to get drafted by Carlton mid-year.

“Five weeks later I got to debut. It’s been surreal really.”

Given the Blues gave him his initial chance, does he feel a sense of loyalty to the Baggers?

Riley says conversations with the Pies about increased opportunities were enough to turn his head given Oscar Steene suffered an ACL injury in May, essentially making him number two to Darcy Cameron.

“I would have liked to stay at the Blues, but also the Pies were on the radar of course. It was just purely for that opportunity reason,” he added.

“I feel like I can bring those attributes to Collingwood.

“Having those chats with Leppa (Justin Leppitsch) and Shane O’Bree it just felt right to come to Collingwood in the end.”

Riley insists that being a Pies fan throughout his childhood did not have a major impact on his decision to swap clubs.

“Not necessarily, it was more just an opportunity standpoint,” he said further.

“Play at Collingwood or want to play at the highest level, and Collingwood lucky enough was the team that came ringing.

“That was a bit of a bonus that I grew up going for that team really.”

He also revealed his favourite Magpies as a kid.

“When I was really young I was a mad Daisy Thomas fan. When he went off to Carlton I switched to Brodie Grundy,” said Riley.

“Growing up it was Grundy, watching him play at Collingwood and how unreal he was going. At Sydney now I still watch him play and the way he goes about it is awesome.

“The other rucks I do watch are Max Gawn. I learnt so much from Matty Kreuzer at Carlton as well throughout my time, and learning off Pitto (Marc Pittonet) as well which I was really grateful for.”

Riley joins Cameron and Steene as the main Magpies ruck stocks for 2027.