The following excerpt was published in the July edition of the 'In Black and White' magazine.
A change of role and the patience of a coaching staff have seen Ben Reid emerge as an exciting addition to the Collingwood backline in 2010. By James Weston.
A Round 12 nomination for the NAB Rising Star says two remarkable things about Collingwood defender Ben Reid. One, that he is playing some impressive football in the Magpies’ backline, and on that particular week he was a standout in the club’s draw against Melbourne. And, two: the very fact that Reid is even eligible for the award is, well, remarkable.
In the history of the Rising Star, first awarded to Nathan Buckley in 1993, no player has won the award any later than his second year. In fact, 11 of the 17 winners were rookies. The fact that fourth-year player Reid remains in contention says much about the path he has charted since arriving from Bright in the 2006 national draft.
He was chosen as the Pies’ first round pick that season, the eighth overall selection in a draft that produced Bryce Gibbs, Joel Selwood and Jack Riewoldt. Reid had been a useful junior player at Wangaratta Rovers for a season before joining the Murray Bushrangers. He thrived under coach Peter Dean, and was earmarked as a potential high AFL draft choice after compiling a solid season as a TAC Cup forward.
Reid also earned selection in the underage AIS team that represented Australia against Ireland in the International Rules series; his star was on the ascent, and Collingwood did not hesitate to take him despite Reid being only eligible for the draft deadline by a mere two days. Yet the message preached by the football club was simple: Reid will be an excellent player, as long as supporters remain patient.
Click here to view the table of contents for the July edition.
“Part of it has been injuries, part of it has been adjusting to the level expected,” Reid explains.
“Even going from Ovens & Murray footy to the TAC Cup was a huge step, and each step from there is equally challenging. So to come here was fantastic, but it has taken some time to adjust to the level and try to play consistent games of football.”
In truth, you can ignore Reid’s first two seasons at the Westpac Centre. As a rookie in 2007, he was blooded for three modest games. Having overcome quadriceps problems to work his way into the senior team in 2008, he broke his foot after just three more games and did not play senior football after Round 13. Hence, 2009 was his first genuine chance to build consistency and form in the VFL, aided by Collingwood’s outright control of its own reserves team.
But a funny thing happened on the way to the goalsquare: instead of making a name for himself as a forward, for which he was first identified then drafted, Reid has become a key position defender. He notes a late 2008 game in the reserves - he was given a final round game at centre half-back to test out his recovery from the broken foot - as a watershed career moment. Reid played with distinction, catching the eye of the coaching staff and suggesting there was more to his abilities than they realised.
Online: Purchase the July edition of 'In Black and White', Collingwood's official magazine ($7.95)
