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Collingwood livewire Jack Ginnivan will finish off a rollercoaster year in the starting 22 on grand final day, delighting friend and teammate Isaac Quaynor.

In the space of a year, Jack Ginnivan has gone from Collingwood's breakout sensation, to the outer, to an AFL grand final redemption story.

Isaac Quaynor was there every step of the way.

Ginnivan, 20, booted 40 goals last season but missed this year's opening two rounds through suspension for taking an illicit drug.

He didn't make Collingwood's team until round five, played eight games in a row then was dropped until round 22.

An energetic substitute in the first two finals, Ginnivan has been elevated into the starting 22 for Saturday's decider against Brisbane.

"It's unreal. He's put in a power of work, especially the second half of the year to fight back for his spot," Quaynor said.

"At times he kind of lost a little bit of hope and I always was like, 'just trust me - like I feel that you're just going to be able to break in'.

"For him to be able to do that on grand final day, to make the actual 22, is so cool.

"I know that the Magpie army will love him being out there and if he kicks a goal at any point throughout the game, it'll turn them absolutely bananas."

Quaynor was a friendly ear throughout Ginnivan's ups and downs.

"I was just someone there just to support and listen to him vent if he needed to or anything like that," he said.

"I just always had confidence that he was going to be able to bring his strengths and that that would be enough.

"He's an AFL player, he always has been. So it's just where he fitted and now he's back in."

Ginnivan, high-profile despite playing just 43 games, has gone back to basics - impressing with his training standards and performances as substitute.

"He's probably the most talked-about person in the AFL," Quaynor said.

"He's gone back to just working hard and getting better and trying to prove it on the footy field."

Now Ginnivan needs to hit the scoreboard on the biggest stage.

"We just think Jack will give us a bit of a spark," coach Craig McRae said.

"He's a big game player.

"He's proven that on Anzac Day, he kicked multiple goals this year and last year.

"We want to give a little bit more potency up forward and obviously Dan (McStay) out ... we think Jack can play that role for us."