FORMER Collingwood forward/midfielder Sam Dwyer was a late AFL bloomer, and as a "young 29-year-old" he's hoping to extend his career at a new club.
Dwyer was delisted by the Magpies this week after 39 games in three seasons.
The utility told AFL.com.au he would forever be grateful to Collingwood for taking a chance on him as a 26-year-old in the rookie draft at the end of 2012.
At the time, Dwyer was coming off eight seasons in the VFL with Port Melbourne. He had won the Borough's 2009 best and fairest award and been a key player in their 2011 premiership team, but he was still pleasantly surprised when, after being overlooked in countless drafts, Collingwood finally called out his name.
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Dwyer knew the Pies were taking a "big punt" but he quickly repaid their faith.
Elevated to Collingwood's senior list after an impressive NAB Challenge campaign, Dwyer made his debut in round one, 2013, as the Pies' substitute against North Melbourne and went on to miss just two games that year, both through injury.
Playing primarily across half-forward, he averaged nearly 17 possessions in 21 games and kicked 15 goals. Most impressively, he led Collingwood in goal assists, with his season tally of 22 ranked equal ninth in the league.
Dwyer's dream start to AFL life hit a hurdle when osteitis pubis sidelined him for much of the 2014 pre-season. Once the home and away season started, a succession of knee and groin injuries limited him to 13 senior games.
Dwyer started 2015 well enough, playing four straight games from rounds three to six. But from there, he fell out of favour.
Dropped to the VFL, he played just one more senior game for the season, in round 18 against Melbourne, despite averaging 21 possessions for the Magpies' VFL team and regularly being named in their best players.
Just two weeks ago, Dwyer starred in the Magpies' elimination final win over Werribee with 30 possessions.
As frustrating as the 2015 season was, Dwyer spent time in a new role as an inside midfielder and proved himself a handy clearance winner.
He also finished the year feeling as fit as he ever has – both physically and mentally – and is confident his pace has not dropped off at all.
Several AFL clubs have expressed an interest in Dwyer, possibly with a view to selecting him in this year's rookie draft. And if a rookie list is Dwyer's only path back into the big time, it's one he's more than happy to take.
"If my AFL career is over, I can accept that. If I don't get an opportunity anywhere else, I'm going to be very grateful for the opportunity that Collingwood gave me and I'll look back on the time there with great memories," Dwyer said.
"But I think I've still got a lot to offer another team. I turned 29 last month but I definitely feel like a young 29-year-old.
"This year's probably as fit and healthy as I've been, and mentally at no stage do I look at myself as an older player. I don't see myself at 29 as being limited in how many years I've got left."
