Collingwood is pleased to announce the signing of its third New South Wales AFL Scholarship recipient.
Highly sought after 14-year-old Nick Perry, who hails from the Penrith Swans Football Club in the western suburbs of Sydney, joins promising youngsters Scott Reed and Tom Young as Collingwood scholarship holders.
Under the scheme introduced by the AFL in 2005, which is aimed at giving the best young athletes in NSW a clear pathway to AFL football, each AFL club is able to sign two NSW youngsters per year, with first option of selecting those players with the club’s final pick in the draft in the year the player is eligible.
In 2006 Collingwood signed Central Coast and AIS Academy prospect Scott Reed, and recently added Bowral native Thomas Young to its list of potential future Magpies.
Perry, meanwhile, is a 190-centimetre talent with tremendous athletic capabilities, lured to AFL football when he was 10 by a couple of mates, having played state representative baseball for many years.
Perry was spotted by Collingwood playing local representative football, something he has done for each of the five years he has played Australian rules. As with Thomas Young, Perry is another product of Collingwood’s New South Wales Talent Academy managed by former Sydney Swan veteran Rod Carter.
Perry has recorded a remarkable beep-test result of 14.8, at last month’s state trials at Saint Ignatius College in Sydney and placed in the top five per cent for each discipline tested.
Perry’s father John spoke to collingwoodfc.com.au shortly after the announcement.
“The family is elated. It’s hard to put into words how exciting it is.
“Nick chose Collingwood because of the professionalism the club has shown. There was no lip service, all the talk was followed up by actions, which impressed us immensely. Collingwood were able to outline a clear and decisive development plan that will develop Nick’s potential to the maximum.
"We couldn’t be happier or more impressed with Collingwood.”
Collingwood’s National Recruiting Manager Derek Hine spoke of the club’s excitement.
“We are delighted that Nick has chosen the Collingwood Football Club as with Scott Reed and Thomas Young we see Nick with all the necessary physical attributes to play at the elite level," Hine told collingwoodfc.com.au.
“Nick does not turn 15 until June and he already stands at 190 centimetres. We see Nick potentially developing into a key position prospect with all the physical scope of a midfielder. Nick has been closely monitored by Collingwood for the past two years and has continued his rapid development via our New South Wales Talent Academy under the tutelage of Rod Carter.
“As with Scott Reed and Thomas Young, Nick has displayed an insatiable desire to work on his game which is a testament to his rapid development.
“Collingwood could not be more delighted with our three scholarship holders who we feel all have the necessary attributes to play at the highest level. We look forward to all the boys working with Alan Richardson and Brad Scott as members of our Collingwood Development Academy.”
Perry will this year play for the Penrith Swans Under 16 side, and also the Penrith Rams Under 18 team where possible, to further his development.
Highly sought after 14-year-old Nick Perry, who hails from the Penrith Swans Football Club in the western suburbs of Sydney, joins promising youngsters Scott Reed and Tom Young as Collingwood scholarship holders.
Under the scheme introduced by the AFL in 2005, which is aimed at giving the best young athletes in NSW a clear pathway to AFL football, each AFL club is able to sign two NSW youngsters per year, with first option of selecting those players with the club’s final pick in the draft in the year the player is eligible.
In 2006 Collingwood signed Central Coast and AIS Academy prospect Scott Reed, and recently added Bowral native Thomas Young to its list of potential future Magpies.
Perry, meanwhile, is a 190-centimetre talent with tremendous athletic capabilities, lured to AFL football when he was 10 by a couple of mates, having played state representative baseball for many years.
Perry was spotted by Collingwood playing local representative football, something he has done for each of the five years he has played Australian rules. As with Thomas Young, Perry is another product of Collingwood’s New South Wales Talent Academy managed by former Sydney Swan veteran Rod Carter.
Perry has recorded a remarkable beep-test result of 14.8, at last month’s state trials at Saint Ignatius College in Sydney and placed in the top five per cent for each discipline tested.
Perry’s father John spoke to collingwoodfc.com.au shortly after the announcement.
“The family is elated. It’s hard to put into words how exciting it is.
“Nick chose Collingwood because of the professionalism the club has shown. There was no lip service, all the talk was followed up by actions, which impressed us immensely. Collingwood were able to outline a clear and decisive development plan that will develop Nick’s potential to the maximum.
"We couldn’t be happier or more impressed with Collingwood.”
Collingwood’s National Recruiting Manager Derek Hine spoke of the club’s excitement.
“We are delighted that Nick has chosen the Collingwood Football Club as with Scott Reed and Thomas Young we see Nick with all the necessary physical attributes to play at the elite level," Hine told collingwoodfc.com.au.
“Nick does not turn 15 until June and he already stands at 190 centimetres. We see Nick potentially developing into a key position prospect with all the physical scope of a midfielder. Nick has been closely monitored by Collingwood for the past two years and has continued his rapid development via our New South Wales Talent Academy under the tutelage of Rod Carter.
“As with Scott Reed and Thomas Young, Nick has displayed an insatiable desire to work on his game which is a testament to his rapid development.
“Collingwood could not be more delighted with our three scholarship holders who we feel all have the necessary attributes to play at the highest level. We look forward to all the boys working with Alan Richardson and Brad Scott as members of our Collingwood Development Academy.”
Perry will this year play for the Penrith Swans Under 16 side, and also the Penrith Rams Under 18 team where possible, to further his development.
