Roan Steele Set for Collingwood Debut Against Carlton in a Real-Life Script Flip
One Steele out, another in — Roan steps up for blockbuster debut against the Blues
There are footy stories, and then there are footy moments — and Roan Steele’s debut for Collingwood might just fall into the latter category. In a twist that feels like it was dreamt up in the writers’ room of a sports movie, young Steele is set to make his AFL debut against arch-rivals Carlton, replacing none other than the veteran Steele Sidebottom, who is sidelined due to illness. One Steele out, another Steele in — if it wasn’t real, you’d think the headline was clickbait.
Roan Steele’s path to the big stage has been the stuff of quiet determination and late-blooming grit. Originally from Frankston, the 23-year-old made his name playing for West Perth in the WAFL, where his 2025 season turned heads with consistent, hard-nosed performances in the middle. Averaging over 21 disposals a game and covering more ground than your average greyhound, Steele quickly earned a reputation as a tireless, disciplined runner — the kind of player who does the one-percenters, lives in the gym, and keeps GPS trackers up at night.
That work ethic caught the attention of Collingwood recruiters mid-season, and they pounced on him with Pick 8 in the 2025 Mid-Season Draft. The club described him as someone who could push for senior selection immediately, and clearly, they weren’t bluffing. With Steele Sidebottom ruled out late in the week due to illness, the coaching staff made the call — it’s Roan’s time.
Now, debuting for Collingwood is one thing. Doing it against Carlton? That’s a different beast altogether. This isn’t just any game. This is the game. Black and white versus navy blue. A rivalry soaked in over a century of bruises, banners, and boos. Add in a Friday night timeslot and a full house at the ‘G, and you’ve got a baptism by fire.
There’s no soft launch here. No easing in against a rebuilding team in front of 14,000 at Marvel. No, Roan Steele is stepping into the thick of the most storied rivalry in the league, asked to do a job once reserved for the club’s most trusted veteran. And ironically, it’s because of that veteran’s absence that he’s getting the shot.
Steele Sidebottom’s unavailability is a notable loss. The 342-game premiership hero has been in terrific form in 2025, turning back the clock and reminding fans exactly why he’s held in such high regard both inside and outside the Westpac Centre. His leadership, composure, and smarts would’ve been invaluable in a clash like this, but unfortunately, illness doesn’t care about milestone matches or marquee clashes.
But where one door closes, another opens — and Roan Steele now walks through it. The expectations are modest. No one's asking him to be Sidebottom. But in a system-driven club like Collingwood, it’s less about replacing individuals and more about fulfilling roles. Roan’s job will be to bring the same endurance, the same pressure, and the same willingness to run both ways that earned him this chance in the first place.
By all reports, his training form has been electric, and insiders at the club have privately said they wouldn’t be surprised if he holds his spot even after Sidebottom returns. There’s something about this kid, they say. A calmness. A readiness. A bit of the classic Pies toughness.
And so we head into one of the biggest nights on the AFL calendar, with a fresh face wearing the black and white and the weight of history humming in the background. Maybe he’ll get 12 touches and lay some key tackles. Maybe he’ll bob up with a goal in the final quarter. Or maybe, just maybe, we’ll all be talking about Roan Steele on Saturday morning like we’ve known his name for years.
Either way, it’s a moment he — and the Magpie faithful — won’t forget any time soon.