Collingwood’s 2023 Draftees Harry DeMattia and Tew Jiath have fronted the media for the first time as Magpies players, speaking after training at Victoria Park on Monday.
The pair spoke about how they have been able to learn off experienced players at the Club, after being selected at picks 25 and 37 respectively in last month’s National Draft.
“I’m loving it. Learning off great mentors like the Daicos Brothers, Tommy Mitchell, Pendles and Steele, all those older guys have so much knowledge and wisdom to pass down onto us,” said DeMattia.
“I’ve been working with Q (Isaac Quaynor) and a few of those guys who are best in their lines in the competition and in a position that I want to strive to get to, so I’m absolutely loving it here.
“Coming to the best team in the competition, off the back of last year and being able to learn off the best in the league, you’re only going to get better every day, so that’s the main thing for me,” said Jiath.
DeMattia, a speedy midfielder recruited from the Dandenong Stingrays, spoke on how he is enjoying the rigours of his first AFL pre-season.
“I love it. I’m an extremely driven and competitive person and it fits into this mould and environment here. We are very hungry to get to work and strive for success.”
Jiath, a lifelong Magpies fan before joining the Club, was asked about whether any of his new teammates intimated him when first walk through the doors of the AIA Vitality Centre.
“I wouldn’t say intimated, they’re a bit different to what it looks like on TV. They all just comfort us and open their arms up and let us into the Club.
“Bruzzy (Brayden Maynard) would be the main one, I think he’s got a bit of white line fever, but I think when I met him in person, he’s very kind and very generous too. I think those types of people are very comforting.”
Although he grew up as a Carlton fan, DeMattia was an avid SuperCoach player, providing him with a great insight into his new teammates.
“I loved my SuperCoach, so I’d always follow them very closely throughout the year, so it was nothing new to me and it’s been great learning off a variety of different players in different roles.”
The young midfielder gave an insight into his SuperCoach strategy when asked about the Collingwood players he used to select.
“(Nick) Daicos at the start of this year, he was pretty good. I also had Darcy Cameron to switch between ruck and forward.”
Ahead of Collingwood’s 2023 Community Camp, Jiath spoke about how he’s excited to return to the area where he grew up, this time as a Magpies player.
“I worked at a Primary School back in Morwell so to be able to do a clinic there will be good and to see some familiar faces and give back to the community.
“To be able to give back after what they’ve done for me in the past 18 years, it’s going to be good.”
DeMattia was also asked about how the headbands that he and Darcy Moore have both been wearing at training.
“Darce has got me covered, he’s got the fluro one out so I probably have to up my game there.”
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