Collingwood coach Nathan Buckley has today ruled out defender Harry O’Brien out of Saturday’s blockbuster at Metricon Stadium. 

“Harry won't play this week,” Buckley told reporters on Wednesday. 

“As a club we support him absolutely. It’s not a timeframe issue. There are other issues to get right for him to be ready to play four quarters of footy.”

Tyson Goldsack is believed to be in the mix for a senior recall against the Gold Coast, whilst Brent Macaffer is expected to be given the most feared defensive assignment in the league – limit Gary Ablett’s damaging impact on the contest.

Buckley hinted at the possibility of a Macaffer vs. Ablett battle, suggesting the Magpie tagger was “an option” for the AFL’s marquee player.  

“His past couple of weeks have been really good up forward for us,” Buckley said.

“He has also played as a defender and as a run with player to make us a little bit unpredictable.”

But Buckley knows first-hand it’ll take more than just a heavy tag to keep Ablett from etching his name into the record books, the 246-game superstar running riot at the MCG last year before going on to finish with a career-high 53 disposals, six tackles and game-high seven rebounding-50s.