Tom Gordon, Declan Reilly, Jack Perham and Jye Bolton were all selected by the Magpies in the 2010 AFL Rookie Draft.
Click here to view the profiles and CTV edits of the new rookies.
Jonathon Bernard (Collingwoodfc.com.au): How confident were you heading into Tuesday’s rookie draft?
Tom Gordon (pick 25): It was that weird feeling I guess. Heading into the national draft you think you might get picked up but when I didn’t you have to just let it be.
Ending up at the Magpies is a great honour and they are the best team in the country. Being apart of that culture will be a great experience.
Declan Reilly (42): I wasn’t too nervous. It didn’t keep me up but I knew it was my last chance to get picked up. The Pies hadn’t contacted me since the national draft so it was a bit of a surprise.
Jack Perham (58): I was just really hoping to get picked. Not that confident.
What did you think your chances were in the national draft?
TG: I thought I had a pretty good year with some inconsistencies. I was more confident than not. You want it that bad that you have to hope. Some people miss out and unfortunately I was one of them.
DR: I tried not to get my hopes up because I didn’t have too much contact with clubs. The Phantom Draft had me going at number 59 which really surprised me.
JP: I didn’t give myself much of a chance. I thought maybe I was a chance for one of those late picks in the 70s. I was always looking to the rookie draft.
How did you handle the disappointment?
TG: Obviously that night wasn’t too good. I had a few hours to myself to reflect. But I woke up the next morning and decided I can’t dwell too much on the past and I worked hard and started training from that Friday. The way I got over it was to work hard.
How were you feeling the morning of the rookie draft?
TG: I woke up at 8:30 and the nerves set in. I thought it was at 10am so I was sitting at the computer for an hour and the nerves built up.
I had mum, dad, my brother and my uncle from Canada. It was good to have them there because they have been there for me during my football career.
JP: Me and my old man were watching it and my name came up on the screen and we were excited. My old man is in a wheelchair and he jumped up. He was pretty happy.
DR: I was by myself.
Jye Bolton (73): I was incredibly nervous this morning. My heart was pounding every time Collingwood’s pick came up. Mum was at work. She is a teacher in Werribbe and got up and about in her classroom. I was with Nan and we were very happy.
What was it like to speak to Eddie McGuire?
TG: Eddie called me an hour later after I was selected and it was very good to speak to him. He welcomed me and gave me a short history lesson.
DR: He welcomed me and told me what would happen with the processes. I was shocked he called. I couldn’t believe someone that high within the club would contact me.
JP: It was a big buzz to talk to Eddie. You can sort of recognise his voice. He had a chat with my old man and my old man was stoked.
JB: It was pretty surreal to speak to Eddie. He welcomed me to the Collingwood Family as he calls it. Nick Maxwell also gave me a call and invited me to stay at his place on Tuesday night.
Which current Magpie do you want to emulate?
TG: I am more of a forward so playing a similar role to Chris Dawes or Travis Cloke. That’s where I want to aspire to. When you talk of work rate you think of Dane Swan and Scott Pendlebury. Cloke’s the one though, tall, left footer who dominates the one-on-one contests.
JP: Scott Pendlebury is a pretty smooth mover and I am a big fan of his.
JB: I do admire Nick Maxwell. The way he represents himself on and off the ground. His leadership. He wants to succeed through his team, not himself. You can see how he does that when he jumps back in packs. Also Steele Sidebottom and how he has developed since he has been at the club.
Who did you support as a kid?
TG: I don’t want to say this but I was a Carlton supporter. As a Carlton supporter I didn’t have much hatred for Collingwood, which was surprising. I loved watching the Pies play this year.
DR: I supported Collingwood so I am very happy about that. It’s a dream come true. My whole family is a Collingwood family. My dad was happy. Not sure what he would have done if I went to another team. It’s surreal. I remember those two grand finals we lost. I was in England (visiting family) waking up at the crack of dawn and watching us lose. It was heartbreaking.
JP: Melbourne. Loved watching Garry Lyon and Jim Stynes. Don’t worry though I am off that ship.
JB: Supported Geelong because I live down here.
How many messages did you receive after you were drafted?
DR: A ludicrous amount. It’s been amazing.
JB: I have had so many messages telling me it was well deserved and all my hard work has paid off. It’s one of the most satisfying feelings to be rewarded for hard work.
Do you know any of the boys at the club?
TG: I know Reilly the pick after me. I played on him as a defender in one of the finals in the TAC Cup this year.
JP: One of my best mates, Alex Fasolo was selected by the Pies with their first pick. We played at East Fremantle together and looking forward to having a kick with him. We played with each other for the last two years and we are real good mates.
