Western Australian ruckman Corey Gault caught up with CTV after arriving at the Westpac Centre for the first time on Monday.
The 20-year-old was drafted to Collingwood with pick 65 in last Thursday’s AFL national draft, and spoke of his excitement at joining the 2010 premiers.
“I was just sitting at home with mum and a close mate, and I thought I was about a 50-50 chance to get picked, and my name got picked up at pick 65,” Gault said after his first session.
“The Eagles, Kangaroos and Brisbane were the main ones who were pretty interested. Collingwood had three interviews, so I thought they were probably the most keen.”
Gault joins Andrew Krakouer and Kirk Ugle as current Magpies with WAFL club Swan Districts (who also wear the black and white stripes) as a part of their football heritage.
He played a few matches alongside Ugle in 2010, and will reunite with his former teammate when the bulk of the Collingwood list returns from its Arizona training camp.
“With Andrew, I didn’t get to play with him, but he did a bit of coaching with the colts, prior to 2010, so that’s how I knew him.
“Kirk came up from the south of WA, and I played a few games with him as well. I don’t know them too well, but I’m sure they’ll help me settle in pretty well.”
Playing the majority of his season in the ruck for the Swan Districts colts, Gault averaged 22 hitouts, 17.8 disposals and 3.4 tackles per game. In his one senior outing, he gathered 17 disposals, took seven marks and booted a goal.
Although described by Collingwood’s national recruiting manager Derek Hine as a utility, Gault has predominantly made his name as a ruckman. He cites West Coast Eagles champion Dean Cox as the player he has modelled his game on during his junior career.
“I’ve watched a lot of his (Cox’s) games, and just watching him move around the ground and how he got the ball and that kind of thing. And Darren Jolly; his tap-work’s really good, so I’m sure I’ll be able to learn a lot off him as well.”
Gault will shortly commence pre-season training with the senior side, and in the meantime is set to move in with Irish recruit Caolan Mooney.
