CTV> Jaryd Blair speaks with CTV after his preseason training on Wednesday.

At 172 centimetres, Jaryd Blair has taken over as the shortest player on Collingwood’s list, but the tough nut from Wonthaggi has become accustomed to maximising his short but robust frame.

After winning the Morrish Medal with the Gippsland Power in 2008, Blair was drafted by the Magpies with pick 27 in the 2008 AFL Rookie Draft.

 “The worst part about being short is that is your tag that you carry,” Blair told CTV after his Wednesday training session.

“But on the ground it doesn’t really worry you.  You just have to back yourself in and you think you can do whatever and take anyone on.”

Blair’s resemblance to former Collingwood premiership player, Tony Francis, is uncanny.  The 18-year-old’s ability to pluck the ball from the centre of a pack and burst away from the opposition has been on show during the club’s preseason training sessions.

“You sort of have to be an in and under player at 172.  I like to think I can play tall but no one else does.”

Blair is the seventh former Gippsland Power player on the club’s list.  He joins teammate’s Tyson Goldsack, Brent Macaffer, Scott Pendlebury, Dale Thomas, Leigh Brown and Tristan Francis.

“They were thinking about moving the club down to Morwell but it costs a bit of money I reckon. 

“Everyone sort of knows where you come from.  There are eight blokes down here, well seven players and Hudo (assistant coach Paul Hudson).”

The Wonthaggi native has enjoyed finding his feet in his new home in Melbourne.

“We have probably got lost the most times we have gone out but it’s alright.  I am still getting home a little bit which is good.”