BRAYDEN Sier could very easily be this year's Jack Graham if Collingwood makes a charge through the finals.
The Magpies' midfielder, in very similar circumstances to Graham of 2017, is a new addition to the team and doesn't look like going anywhere anytime soon.
He broke into the side in round 15 and is now set to line up in his first AFL final, just over two months after he made his debut.
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These similarities aren't lost on Sier, who has acknowledged Graham's remarkable run from round 22 debutant last season to Richmond premiership player in the space of just five games.
"Fingers crossed, three more wins and we've got it, so it's not too far away. We can taste it now," Sier told AFL.com.au this week.
"It would be a handy little feather in the cap.
"I've come in at that right time of year. It's always good to be playing football in September, you can smell the freshly cut grass of spring and it's been really good fun."
It could also be a time for reflection for the 20-year-old, after his career was in serious danger in the middle of last year.
His first two seasons at Collingwood were ruined by injuries, but it was his lack of professionalism that had questions being asked throughout 2017.
He knows how close he came to being cut, but is choosing to focus now on what's going on around him rather than the past or future.
"It could have gone one of two ways but I'm lucky enough to still be here and enjoying what I do," he said.
"I think I showed enough last year that they could stick with me and hopefully I'm repaying them now for their faith.
"I don't really think too far ahead or back to be honest. I'm just doing what I have to do every day and just enjoying it."
A Thailand-based Muay Thai training camp last off-season saw him shed weight, learn resilience and boost his fitness, which has him considering a return bout this year.
"It's only as hard as you make it, really. It's all different classes but it was one of the hardest things I've ever done in a week while still thoroughly enjoying it," he said.
"You do it off your own bat and you're paying for it too, so you might as well enjoy it."
There's plenty of upside to Sier, who was compared to Sydney captain Josh Kennedy by commentator Garry Lyon during the year.
It was a comment the big-bodied midfielder was flattered by and has given him something to work towards as he looks to make good on the faith showed in him by coach Nathan Buckley.
"It's good to have people supporting you with that sort of stuff I guess, [Lyon] was a great player in his own right so he's obviously got a bit of influence," he said.
"Talking to 'Bucks' even today, there's no real roof or limits on what we can sort of achieve this year individually and as a group.
"It's one week at a time for me to be honest, it's just play footy, play well, and make everyone better on the team and do what I can."
