Magpies playing the long game with their prized key position draft pick
COLLINGWOOD father-son recruit Darcy Moore says he is relieved knowing his destination ahead of November's NAB AFL Draft.
The son of dual Brownlow medallist and Collingwood champion Peter Moore officially joined the Magpies when the club committed to taking him at pick No.8 in the draft following Monday's father-son bidding meeting.
Moore and his mother Jane were given a tour of the Westpac Centre by CEO Gary Pert and director of football Rodney Eade on Tuesday.
The young Magpie says he feels he has a distinct advantage on some of his draft contemporaries.
"I've got those six weeks to sort out any niggles from a long year and really get rolling on a long pre-season," Moore said when fronting the media for the first time on Tuesday.
"From day dot I've always acknowledged how lucky I am, and I feel grateful to not only have my fate decided on October 6, but to be wearing these colours is certainly very humbling."
Eade said it was not out of the realms of possibility Moore could be playing senior football next year, but stressed the Magpies would not rush the key-position prospect.
"His athletic profile is very strong. He's lean at this stage, so you wouldn't expect him to play key position (early in his career)," Eade said.
"With his athletic profile, there's no reason why he couldn't play senior footy.
"Our expectations wouldn't be that; we'd certainly hope that he does but we see a 10 to 12 year player here.
"So we've got to do the right development."
Darcy's father Peter was in New York when the Magpies selected him on Monday.
But Darcy spoke to his dad on the phone and said Peter was thrilled that his son was continuing the family legacy.
"He just said to enjoy it," Moore said of his father's advice.
"He knows the effect it's had on me not officially knowing my future.
"Whilst it is the end of my junior footy career, it's just the beginning of a long hard road, hopefully."
Moore said he doesn't model his game on one particular player.
"What Buddy Franklin is doing for the game at centre half-forward is pretty revolutionary," Moore said.
"When I watch that I feel like, with my athletic profile, I can take bits and pieces out of his game.
"I still believe Matthew Pavlich is the best inside forward 50 in the game and I look at the versatility of someone like Mark Blicavs and think how impressive that is."