OF ALL the unlikely stories helping propel Collingwood in its premiership pursuit, Jack Madgen's surely ranks as the most extraordinary. And he's still pinching himself about it.

Madgen is in line to play his first AFL final on Saturday night when the Magpies take on West Coast at Optus Stadium. It will be only his fifth senior game in just his first season playing football since quitting his basketball career and picking up the Sherrin last year.

Barring a selection surprise – defender Jeremy Howe will return to the side at the expense of someone – Madgen will face one of the Eagles' key forwards and look to shut them down. If he took the time to take it all in, Madgen might be a little overwhelmed.

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"I definitely pinch myself at what's happened," he told AFL.com.au this week.

"Coming from trying to be a professional in basketball and falling short of what my hopes and dreams were, to be given a lifeline by Collingwood, I feel as if I've made the best of my opportunity and have done everything in my power to be where I am.

"I get to wake up every day and come here where the facilities are first-class, it's an awesome and proud club.

"It's still very surreal and I don't think I'll be able to fully appreciate and understand what I've been able to do this year until I take a couple of weeks off and actually reflect with my parents and family."



Madgen signed with Collingwood less than a year ago as a category B rookie, having been picked out of the Cairns Taipans NBL side.

Collingwood knew his story well – his uncle is the Magpies' recruiter Matt Rendell, himself a former player with Fitzroy and the Brisbane Bears – and identified his athleticism as a key trait.

Madgen grew up playing football in South Australia, rating himself better at it than basketball in his formative years. And when struggling for opportunity in the NBL, the thought of switching codes gained momentum.

"I thought about it when I was in college that if basketball didn't work out I'd definitely give footy a crack," he said.



"I was in Cairns and I had a chat with Matt and told him about my frustrations in Cairns and a lack of opportunity. He said: 'Why not after this you come down and have a run in the VFL and see how you go?'

"The seed was already in my mind, but the opportunity wasn't quite there. I got back to Adelaide and gave them a call and he said come and have a run. I'm very lucky for Matt. I feel like with category B spots you do need to have a connection somewhere. I feel like I've repaid their faith."

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Madgen's build was a gradual one early in his time at Collingwood. He knew he had to get his skills and kicking up to scratch, and was starting to perform well before a broken jaw in the middle of the season while playing in the VFL.

The 25-year-old was told he would be out for six weeks so made a goal to be back within four, which he met, before circumstances fell in his favour.

He knows if Matt Scharenberg and Lynden Dunn didn't go down with season-ending knee injuries that his opportunity may not have opened, but he came into the Magpies' line-up for its round 20 clash with Sydney and has kept his spot since.

"It's terrible what happened to 'Shaz' and 'Dunny', but I knew that I had to give myself every opportunity to be ready if my number was called that I'd be ready to go," he said.

Now he's ready for what the finals holds. Madgen played in the Magpies' VFL elimination final loss last week while his teammates had the weekend off and knows tough calls are coming at the selection table.

"I'd be lying if I said I didn't think about it, but after having a lot of talks with the coaches if I'm focusing on that I'm not focusing on the right things. There's no point feeling sorry for yourself, you have to come in and put your hand up and if you're lucky enough to play it's a credit to you," he said.