The ruckman made his first senior start of 2009 in the round eight loss to Carlton and proceeded to play 12 more matches for the year.
Similar to last season, Cameron Wood was elevated to the AFL side after Josh Fraser went down with a knee injury.
The former Brisbane Lion looked comfortable in his fifth season in the system and second with Collingwood as he went on to average a career-high 15.7 hitouts (10.9 in 2008).
Wood showed that he was capable of having an influence around the ground while serving as the number one ruckman, averaging career-highs in disposals (13.2) and marks (4.3).
With new recruit Darren Jolly expected to have a strong hand in the ruck combination in 2010, Wood will be battling several of his teammates for a place in the senior side against the Western Bulldogs in round one.
2009 highlights
Round 19 v Adelaide: In his best game of his young career, Wood played a vital role in securing an important away win for the club. The 204-centimetre big man had a career-best match collecting 24 possessions and booting two goals while also adding 19 hitouts and eight marks.
Round 20 v Richmond: Wood worked off Richmond’s Angus Graham and Tyrone Vickery for most of the afternoon which led to an 11 disposal discrepancy in the Magpie’s favour. The Magpie ruckman collected 20 possessions, 19 hitouts and assisted in two goals.
Mark Neeld: A developing ruckman who's good in the hit-outs and showed on occasions that when he goes forward he can actually take a mark and kick a goal. I'm sure he will continue to develop. I think more size comes naturally, with time, with the big fellas. He's only 21, 22. I think in a couple of years he'll be a very, very solid man.
2009 AFL statistics
| G | K | H | D | M | G | B | T | C |
| 13 | 6.5/70.2% | 6.7/87.4% | 13.2/78.4% | 4.3 | 0.3 | 0.2 | 2.2 | 1.9 |
2009 VFL statistics
| G | K | H | D | M | T |
| 10 | 8.2 | 7.5 | 15.7 | 5.2 | 2.2 |
CTV
