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Talented youngster, Scott Reed, will become the Magpies’ first scholarship student in a new program that is aimed at attracting the best young talent from NSW to the AFL.
The 15-year-old, who was the stand-out talent among 200 players in last week’s AFL NSW parade, chose to join the Pies, having been courted by several other top AFL clubs, including Fremantle and Sydney.
Reed, who lives in Terrigal, just outside Newcastle, has represented NSW at Under 15 level. He is an elite youth athlete, who cemented his selection in the minds of Collingwood recruiting staff when he excelled while playing for a representative under-15 side last week at a carnival in Canberra.
Unfortunately, the youngster suffered a broken leg in the showcase match, but had done enough to convince most AFL clubs that he was the brightest of stars on show. The minor set back, which will sideline Reed for the next two months, did not deter Collingwood’s National Recruiting Manager, Derek Hine, who has tracked the development of the youngster for over a year.
Hine said from the Lexus Centre on Monday, “His development in the last six months has been incredible.
“We are over the moon with Scott. There is no doubt that he is the absolute stand-out in New South Wales. His leg speed, his size and his agility is great for his age. He works extremely hard in all areas of his game. He is a work in progress.
“A few people I’ve talked to think that he’s a natural defender, while I’ve seen some attributes in him that would suggest that he would go in to the midfield quite comfortably, the beauty of this scholarship system is that we are able to develop him over a three-year period in to a number of roles.”
Reed will join former Collingwood defender, Alan Richardson, in the Magpies’ Youth Academy. Richardson, who re-joined the club in the summer to establish Collingwood’s Youth Academy, has been working with Collingwood’s first, second and third year players, on skill acquisition, and personal and professional development.
Based in Terrigal, just outside Newcastle, Reed is used to travel. As part of the scholarship, Reed will travel to Melbourne every month, while continuing his weekly training sessions with former Swans full-back Rod Carter in Sydney. Carter, who recently joined the Pies Youth Development Academy, will oversee all Sydney-based programs, and will assist Richardson in delivering support and coaching north of the boarder.
And with regular visits to the Lexus Centre, and training from Collingwood coaching staff, the opportunity for Reed to acquire an understanding of the professional demands of top-flight football, as well as Collingwood’s ‘beliefs system’, can only be positive in the 15-year-olds development, according to Hine, who believes the youngster could be a strong prospect for the future.
“That’s the exciting thing. We can develop his game and we can develop his ethic – and that bodes well for the future. The difference between getting a player on board now and having to wait for the draft – is that we have extra time in those formative years to work with them and develop them – in the Collingwood way.”
Reed will continue to live with his parents, David and Michelle, in their family home in Terrigal. He will continue his schooling, while receive elite coaching, with one eye on a career with the biggest sporting club in the country.
An elite junior athlete, Reed won gold at the under-15 beach sprint at the NSW titles last year. And with several AFL clubs interested in his signature, it was a decision in the end made by the youngster himself. According to father David, Collingwood was the clear stand-out in Scott’s mind, despite overtures from a host of other clubs.
“In the end it was the professionalism of the Club and the way they went about ‘selling’ the development program at Collingwood.
“Our dealings with Derek (Hine) were always professional and he presented the Club, and the path that Scott would follow in his development, in a very positive and thorough way. They have show great support in what they have offered Scott, to help him become the best footballer he can be.
“At the end of the day though, it was Scott’s decision, and he decided that Collingwood was the best place to develop his game.”
Scott will be in Melbourne for this weekend’s clash with the Blues, and will put pen to paper on a three-year scholarship with the Pies. The Scholarship program will entitle Collingwood to select Reed as their final draft selection when he attains draftable age.
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Yeah, there may have been another one, but I can't remember his name or find the link.
