Young defender Adam Oxley has been rewarded for a promising first season at AFL level with promotion onto Collingwood’s senior list for 2014.

The 21-year-old was added to the club’s senior list following the AFL’s first list lodgement deadline.

Collingwood coach Nathan Buckley said Oxley’s promotion is a just reward for the way he performed in his first 12 months at the Westpac Centre.

“In his first season here he’s shown us a real competitive belief in his ability,” Buckley told collingwoodfc.com.au.

“He’s very strong in the air, very efficient with the ball and seems to have a lot of time and space when he possesses it.

“He bought into the way that we want to play the game really well and has shown that with consistent application through this pre-season he could be ready to go as soon as next year if he continues his upward trend.”

Oxley joined Collingwood with selection No. 35 in last year’s Rookie Draft after starring for Redland in the NEAFL competition in 2012.

He impressed greatly at half back in the VFL, averaging 21.1 possessions, 6.7 marks and 4.3 rebound 50s across his 16 games. He broke through for two senior games as a substitute after he was elevated onto the senior list mid-season and ended the year as runner up in the VFL team’s best-and-fairest.

The move of Heath Shaw to Greater Western Sydney leaves a vacancy on the half back flank, but Buckley said Oxley was one of several players pressing for a regular senior berth next year.

“We potentially may need a little bit more coverage,” Buckley said.

“There’s a lot of competition for spots. Playing 40 players last year, clearly we don’t have a fear of going to young players to play roles for us. We’ll add to that through the draft and our rookie picks this year.

“Just because you make a senior list doesn’t make it all happen. But it’s a reward for Ox’s first 12 months and it’s also a challenge to him to continue that improvement and to force his way into the senior side to build on the two games he got last year.”

Two list lodgements remain (scheduled for Thursday 14 November and Monday 25 November) before the National Draft on 21 November. The selection order of the National Draft will not be finalised until the second list lodgement period is concluded.