Click here to view highlights of Edwards in action in the NSW state under-15 championships held earlier in the year.

At first sight Elijah Edwards’ appearance can lead the uninformed to underestimate the 14-year-old.

Bearing soft-facial features and a quiet-spoken tone, the boy from Kalgoorlie, his mother's hometown, in Western Australia possesses a sublime talent which has created murmurs in the sporting world.

Signed by Collingwood last week as a New South Wales scholarship player, Edwards caught the eye of the Magpies’ recruiting department playing for Batemans Bay located on the south coast of NSW, 150 kilometres east of Canberra.

Click here to view Collingwood's NSW-scholarship list.

“We are delighted to announce Elijah’s addition to our NSW Scholarship list, Elijah is a player of unlimited playing potential who has attracted a lot of interest from other AFL club’s and we are delighted that Elijah and his family have accepted our offer to join our club via our scholarship list", national recruiting manager Derek Hine told collingwoodfc.com.au.

"I think Elijah’s signing is also a win for the AFL as he has attracted a lot of interest from basketball circles having played at a representative level. He is small in stature but has cat-like reflexes, is a furious tackler with a playing style that is very similar to Cyril Rioli.

"Elijah was the youngest member of the recent flying “Boomerangs” Indigenous playing tour of South Africa where he acquitted himself very well and in 2009 represented NSW in the national under-15 championships as a 13-year-old."

The eldest of four brothers and one sister, Elijah and his family travelled across the country in 2005 to relocate to Batemans Bay.

“When I moved to Batemans Bay I found the competition a lot easier compared to playing back in WA,” Elijah told Collingwoodfc.com.au last week.

“Back home there are more guys who play AFL but in NSW everyone is into rugby.”

Elijah’s career at Batemans Bay has been filled with success featuring in two premiership sides in 2006 and 2008.  Positioned as midfielder with stints in the forward pocket, he was elevated to the under-17 side at the beginning of 2010.

“The bodies are bigger and I get thrown around a bit but it’s good to play with the older guys.

“I enjoy playing in the midfield where I can get to the ball.”

Following West Coast and superstar Daniel Kerr as a youngster, Elijah has changed his favourite player to a new found friend.

“I loved watching Kerr play back in WA but since meeting Leon Davis and having a chat with him last year, I have tried to pick things up from his game.

“He is exciting to watch and it’s been great to meet him again this week.”

Elijah visited the Westpac Centre last week to work out with the Magpie playing list and spend some time utilising the world-class facilities and coaching talent on hand.

Collingwood will oversee the development of the young midfielder over the next four years with the hope that his skill, strength and aptitude can develop to a level which warrants a spot on the senior list in 2014.

“Since the scholarship program inception, Collingwood has really embraced the program and has used it as another avenue to continue to grow its list. Elijah along with our last signing to be announced once the paper work has been finalised,  I think will enable us to finish our involvement on a very positive note," stated Hine.