Collingwood 2015 National Draft Selections

Collingwood News

Collingwood 2015 National Draft Selections
Brayden Sier Collingwood have used their first pick in the 2015 National Draft to select midfielder Brayden Sier from the Northern Knights. Name: Brayden Sier Recruited from: Northern Knights Age: 17 Height: 190cm Age: 91kg Position: Midfielder Profile: Sier is a big-bodied midfielder who stands at 190cm and carries a playing weight of 91kg. He is a slightly unknown commodity who played two games for the Northern Knights in 2015. In his pair of appearances he averaged 15 disposals, three tackles and delivered the ball at 80 per cent efficiency. He didn't attend either the national or state combine, but spent the majority of the season playing for his school Marcellin, where he won their best and fairest. He also managed six senior games for Banyule in division three of the Northern Football League. He has good skills, uses the ball efficiently and has matured into a good-sized player. What they said: "Brayden is a late developer who played for Marcellin and won their best and fairest. He has been in our squads as an Under 15, but he was a little bit chubbier and heavier then, and he hadn't grown. He's a big-bodied mid with good vision, good hands, kicks the ball well and is a really good size and shape now. He only played a couple of games but he's created a lot of interest." - Northern Knights talent manager Peter Kennedy. "He came into our side late in the year. That's just where he was development wise. We played him and there was enough there... A number of clubs tested him post season. We've tracked him right through but because of his size and shape and aerobic capacity more than anything... I think he was playing seconds school footy at one point. But he grew significantly across the year and he's just a fine shape of a kid at 190cm and 85kg." - Andrew Shakespeare, Northern Knights coach.	Tom Phillips Collingwood has selected 186cm midfielder Tom Phillips with pick 58 in the 2015 National Draft. Name: Tom Phillips Recruited from: Oakleigh Chargers Age: 19 Height: 186cm Weight: 75kg What they say: "Tom had a very good year right across the board. Very flexible in terms of where he can play - he played down back, played through the midfield and up forward too. We challenged him throughout the year to balance out numbers with defensive elements of his game, so he was able to match a 40-possession game with a 11, 12, 13-tackle performance. Finished second in our best and fairest, played a game at Port late in the year against Collingwood and was named Port's best player for the day at senior VFL level." - Craig Notman, Oakleigh Chargers talent manager.
Rupert Wills Collingwood has used its 64th selection in the 2015 National Draft to recruit Rupert Wills from the club's VFL affiliate team. In being selected, Wills becomes the first player to graduate from the VFL Magpies to Collingwood's senior list. Name: Rupert Wills Recruited from: Collingwood VFL Age: 22 Height: 191cm Weight: 89kg Position: Midfield/Forward Profile: Wills is already familiar with the Holden Centre after being a member of Collingwood's VFL side in 2014. He averaged 17.2 disposals in six games for the VFL Magpies in 2015, before being sidelined after suffering concussion. Prior to making his VFL debut, Wills established a fine reputation playing for Old Scotch in the VAFA. At 191cm, Wills was a key presence at Old Scotch for two years. After dominating in the reserves for much of 2013, he was rewarded with a place in the senior side and gained invaluable experience during the latter stages of the season. He secured a more regular spot in the side in 2014 and was named in the best in six of his 11 senior games. He is a proven ball-winner and a clearance specialist who finds ease getting first hands on the ball in the contest. What they say "Rupert is a powerful, tall midfielder… He's got really good upside and has some genuine power with the way he plays. He's quite an exciting player." - Collingwood VFL coach Dale Tapping, February 2015 "Rupert Wills has played only six VFL games for Collingwood this year but recruiters sure do talk about him. Tall onballer from Old Scotch." – VFL expert Paul Amy, August 2015	Ben Crocker With its fourth and final National Draft selection (No. 65 overall), Collingwood selected Oakleigh Chargers captain Ben Crocker. Crocker, 18, captained the Chargers to premiership glory against the Eastern Rangers in the TAC Cup. Name: Ben Crocker Recruited from: Oakleigh U18 Age: 18 Height: 185cm Weight: 84kg Position: Midfield/Forward Profile: A high half forward with a great attitude to training. His brother, Sam, was once on St Kilda's list, while he hails from the same Oakleigh Chargers team that once featured Jordan De Goey and Darcy Moore. The Collingwood connection continues well beyond his Oakleigh days. He grew up as a passionate Magpie fan and lived next door to Scott Burns growing up. What they say "Crock captained this year and is a real competitor who doesn't like to be beaten. He trains at a very, very high level. He's more of a forward half player at this stage but he has shown at times he can go through the middle. He is good in front of goal, has good set of hands, and I think he played better when he's hitting up the ball rather than trying to wrestle but I think he shapes as one of our best hopes come draft time," – Oakleigh Chargers' talent manager Craig Notman in Inside Football, as compiled by Brett Anderson and Ben Casanelia.