He’s been on the list since November 2012 and has even been named as an emergency on the odd occasion, but the question could be heard in every corner of Etihad Stadium once the final teams were announced at 2pm on Sunday.

Who is Tim Broomhead?

Due to illness and injury, the 20-year-old South Australian has kept a low profile since arriving at the Westpac Centre in the spring of 2012.

But now he’s received a taste of life at the elite level, you can be sure that Sunday’s match won’t be the last time we hear his name.

What’s his background?
Broomhead became a Magpie with selection No. 20 in the 2012 National Draft. Some would argue he was already a Magpie, having played for the Port Adelaide variety in the SANFL during his junior days. He was one of three South Australians to land at Collingwood that off-season, all of whom were chosen with the club’s first three selections in the National Draft.

"Tim is a more of an outside wingman type with great awareness and great pace. He was one who went away to the national carnival and came back and improved his football again which can be very difficult to do. Played about 10 senior games for us this year playing wing because he doesn't have the body at this stage to play onball but we threw him in there at times for experience. Quick and has good awareness" – Brian Leys, Port Adelaide General Manager, Inside Football, November 2012.

Broomhead, Brodie Grundy and Ben Kennedy arrived at the Westpac Centre with big expectations, but unfortunately Sunday’s debutant was forced to bide his time in the medical room before being granted the opportunity to pull on his new No. 29 jumper.

A bout of glandular fever struck during the 2013 NAB Cup and left him bedridden for some time. It might yet prove to be a well-disguised good luck charm – teammates Scott Pendlebury and Tyson Goldsack were also bedridden by the illness during their early years at the club.

“It came out of nowhere. I was sitting at home one night and had a bit of a cough and a sore tooth. I thought it was just molars or something that I’d get checked out if it didn’t go away, but the next morning I felt a bit light headed and fairly tired and lethargic. I saw the doctor at the club who sent me down to get a test where I found out I had glandular fever. Without a doubt it was the worst I’ve ever felt,” – Tim Broomhead, collingwoodfc.com.au, 17 May 2013.

After successfully completing a two-kilometre time trial around Olympic Park Oval, Broomhead was deemed fit enough to make his VFL debut. He started off in a thriller against Geelong at Victoria Park and by his third match had quickly established himself as a player to watch, mopping up the heavy footy 31 times in the bog at Preston City Oval.

“Had a good day. He played in the midfield and showed some really good strength for a kid who was only in his third game back. He didn’t impact the scoreboard (three behinds). He is a little bit like ‘Pendles’ in that he doesn’t get tackled a whole lot. He breaks the tackles really well,” – Anthony Rocca, collingwoodfc.com.au, 4 June 2013.

It didn’t take long for Broomhead to find himself in AFL contention. After playing a lone hand in a 90-point loss to the Casey Scorpions in round nine (23 disposals, seven tackles), he found himself named alongside Alan Didak (another former Port Adelaide Magpie) in the 25-man squad to take on the Western Bulldogs in round 13. But his moment hadn’t yet arrived, and he went about finishing a solid first season in the VFL. He was one of Collingwood’s best with 26 disposals in the loss to Port Melbourne in the Elimination Final.

How has his form been in the VFL?
Since returning to the fray after wrist and shin injuries marred the tail end of his pre-season, Broomhead has been one of Collingwood’s most consistent state league performers.

He has steadily worked his way into top form, culminating in 31 disposals against Bendigo in round seven.

“Tim is starting to get some continuity with his football. He is being used through the midfield and up forward and is covering a lot of ground. His ball use is a real feature,” – VFL coach Dale Tapping, collingwoodfc.com.au, 21 May 2014.

He played a sightly quieter game in the wet against the Scorpions last week, but was still commended for his work ethic off the ball, as his 10 tackles attest.

“Wasn’t at the heights of his recent games in terms of his impact – he had 18 disposals – the pleasing part was that 12 were contested. He also laid 10 tackles and he got his hands dirty, playing more inside this week. He had good balance in his game. A solid contributor,” – Development Manager Craig McRae, collingwoodfc.com.au, 12 June 2014.

What are his key attributes?
Class. He has it by the bucketload, as supporters witnessed with his first possession against the Western Bulldogs.

Broomhead’s poise, clean hands in close and ability to find space make him stand out from the crowd. His disposal and decision-making are features of his game, as is his ability to sniff out a goal.

What’s been his best performance so far?
It’s hard to go past his 31 disposals (21 contested), four clearances and four tackles against the Northern Blues in round eight, 2013. The ground was a mud heap after heavy overnight rain but Broomhead quickly established himself as the team’s resident mudlark and ran out the game strongly despite being underdone due to illness.

Is he over his injuries now?
It has been anything but plain sailing for the No. 29 but his patience and hard work is beginning to pay off. His glandular fever of early 2013 is behind him, as are the wrist and shin injuries that forced him back into the doctor’s office in the early rounds of 2014.

Anything else I need to know?
Broomhead wears No. 29, a number that has become synonymous with South Australian Magpies in recent times.

It was made famous by Norwood import Scott Russell in 182 games for Collingwood between 1990 and 1998. Russell regularly polled well in the Copeland Trophy and will always hold a special place in the Magpie Army’s heart for his role in the 1990 premiership triumph.

More recently, it was worn by Matthew Lokan – himself a former Port Adelaide Magpie – in seasons 2004 and 2005.

Broomhead by the numbers
Key 2013 VFL Statistics (13 games; averages in brackets)
Disposals: 274 (21.1) Marks: 66 (5.1) Tackles: 36 (2.8) Inside 50s: 44 (3.4) Contested Possessions: 103 (7.9) Clearances: 30 (2.3) Score Assists: 10 (0.8)

Key 2014 VFL Statistics (five games; averages in brackets)
Disposals: 112 (22.4) Marks: 22 (4.4) Tackles: 21 (4.2) Inside 50s: 22 (4.4) Contested Possessions: 46 (9.2) Clearances: 18 (3.6) Score Assists: 5 (1.0)