Click here to watch Nick Perry discuss his upcoming season

Two knee operations over repeated seasons has done little to dissuade Collingwood’s New South Wales scholarship holder Nick Perry’s desire and motivation to achieve his ultimate goal, to become a listed Collingwood player.

Signed as a 14-year-old in 2007, Perry was the third player to sign with the Magpies under the NSW scheme, which allows the club to have first rights to list players when they become draft eligible.

In Perry’s case, the 192-centimetre defender will be up for selection by the club’s national recruiting manager Derek Hine in this year’s AFL Draft.

“It’s up to me to put my case forward this year and hope I can prove myself to the club,” Perry told CTV during his visit to the Lexus Centre last week.

Down for the week to work with the coaching staff and players at an intimate level, Perry is looking forward to playing a full season without injury.

“The last few years have been a bit hard.  I tore the cartilage in both of my knees and had to get arthroscopy on both of them.

“Now I am looking forward to a good year and a big preseason.”

Perry looks to emulate the path taken by former NSW scholarship holder Scott Reed, who after two years as a scholarship holder, was signed by the club at the end of 2009.

“Seeing people actually getting on list, you have the motivation right there.  I have looked up to those two (Reed and Tom Young) since I have been in the scheme so it’s really happy to see. It gives me a bit of confidence and it also gives me more drive to get there.”

Perry has worked with development coach Luke Beveridge during his week stay in Melbourne before he returns to Sydney where he will vie for a spot on the NSW Rams (state side) after making the squad earlier this year.

“It’s been fantastic.  To train with the boys in the environment in the gym is just a blast every second of it.  You can feel yourself improving more down here.”

For a big man possessing immense agility and speed, Perry models his game after Magpie Heath Shaw.

“ (I am) more of a Heath Shaw-type player.  Trying to run off the half-back and be creative for the forwards.

“(There is) nothing better than hitting a 50-metre pass to the forwards.”

Now that he has graduated from high school, Perry will be increasing his time in Melbourne ahead of the draft in October.

“Now that school is over I can spend more time focusing on my footy and hopefully, if things go to plan, I can get my shot.”