The toing and froing of trade week was almost enough to make Taylor Adams feel dizzy.

The highly talented 20-year-old was the subject of much newspaper and online speculation for the best part of three weeks as Collingwood and Greater Western Sydney sought to cut a deal that would see Heath Shaw become a Giant.

Then, just as it appeared Adams might have to reconsider his options for 2014, word filtered through that the clubs had made an arrangement.

“It’s been a pretty long trade week for me,” a relieved Adams told CTV on Thursday morning.

Watch Adams' first interview since being traded to Collingwood on CTV in the video above.

“I was really keen to get to Collingwood through a trade but obviously it drew out a fair bit and took a couple of weeks.

“Yesterday was such a fantastic day, it was such a relief.

“I got the call and found out that the Pies and the Giants had come to an agreement. (I’m) just overwhelmed with excitement. I’m so excited to get into the club and meet all the guys and get stuck into training.”

Several clubs would have been more than happy to see the No. 13 selection in the 2011 National Draft land in their lap but Adams had only one destination in mind when he decided to leave Western Sydney.


“I was actually up at my manager’s office and we were sitting there chatting about options and I kept saying to him ‘I really want to go to Collingwood. That’s where I want to go, my heart’s set on it, I’m going to the Pies.’

Find out what they're saying about Collingwood's newest recruit.

“We were thinking about a back up plan and then the call came through so there wasn’t too much doubt. Nathan Buckley was pretty confident that the deal would get done and so was Derek (Hine) so I had full faith in the club and I guess that’s the reason why the deal was done.

The contrast between the two clubs is stark. The Giants are the newest team on the block, with two seasons behind them and an average crowd of 15,715.

In comparison, Collingwood has 121 years of history and an average home and away crowd of 53,754.


The differences are understandable considering the Giants are in their infancy, but Adams admitted that he can’t wait to sample the Magpie Army in full flight.

“The thing about Collingwood that really drew me here was just the success the club has had and I think the club can have.

Find out which selections the Magpies are set to take into the National Draft.

“I want to be part of a successful football club, a successful team, and I think the way that the club is going at the moment, it’s a big chance to win a premiership in the next few years.

“But also the facilities, the supporter base and the fact that you get to play on the MCG most weekends in front of big crowds is just something that’s very enticing.”

Adams said his decision to leave Greater Western Sydney wasn’t made easily and will miss the teammates and support staff with whom he says will be his friends for life.

Now that he has set foot in the Westpac Centre, he can turn his attention to knuckling down ahead of his third season at the highest level.



Taylor Adams wears the famous Black and White stripes for the first time at the Westpac Centre on Thursday morning.

A midfielder vaunted for his hard-nosed approach, Adams is perfectly placed to learn from and complement the likes of Luke Ball, Dane Swan and Scott Pendlebury in the centre square.

“My strength is probably my ability to win contested footy,” he said.

“That’s what I pride my game on and that’s how I play my footy. I’ve always played that way, in and under, trying to be tough, win the hard ball and just release it to the guys that can run and use the ball.



Adams poses for collingwoodfc.com.au's cameras on Thursday morning on the sprung floor at the Westpac Centre.

“I think I’m a pretty hard working player and I’ve had to work pretty hard to get where I am today. I pride myself on that as well.”

With an attitude like that, you can be confident that Adams is going to fit in just fine.



Adams took a close look at the new facilities at the Westpac Centre on Thursday.



Getting introduced to the club's rich history.



Welcome to Collingwood, Taylor.