A DESCRIPTION of Elijah Edwards as a young Cyril Rioli could easily be dismissed as a stereotype of a small indigenous forward.

However, when it comes from a man who has coached both players it is wise to sit up and take notice.

Edwards, 17, could also become a Collingwood player next year for virtually nothing under the now defunct New South Wales Scholarship program (it was abolished in June, 2010, and replaced by zoning that gives the Sydney Swans and Greater Western Sydney first access to up-and-coming NSW players).

He plays on the wing and half-forward flank for Melbourne's Scotch College - the same school Rioli attended before being drafted by Hawthorn in 2007 - and this year he has been nothing short of eye-catching.

He played all 10 games for Scotch, where he has boarded since the start of 2010, and won the first XVIII's best and fairest as a year 11 student.

It's a feat that coach Robert Smith says has only been achieved twice before in his time at the school - by former Hawk and now Gold Coast player Campbell Brown and Sydney Swans' premiership player Nick Smith.

"We saw glimpses [of his best] last year but he was very consistent this year," Smith told AFL.com.au.

"We had a couple of really wet days and even then he stood out in the heavy going, which is something he's not really used to.

"He's very small but he's got a good leap for a small player and he's not bad overhead but he just reads the play so well and his reflexes are very sharp.

"He gets himself out of trouble and he's a beautiful kick as well…There's a touch of 'Junior' Rioli in him, who came here as well, in that there's not a lot that fazes him. He's coped with boarding really well [too]."

After moving from Kalgoorlie to Batemans Bay with his family seven years ago, Edwards was discovered by the Magpies and signed at the start of 2010.

This year during the football season, Edwards would get on his bike after school and ride the six or so kilometres along the track next to the Monash Freeway between Scotch and the Westpac Centre twice a week.

And his next step is to spend a day a week at Collingwood in January and train with the squad.

He also plans to play with TAC Cup club Oakleigh Chargers next year when he's not playing for Scotch, and will start pre-season with them next month.

The Pies also signed key-position prospect John Haggerty under the same NSW Scholarship program and he is also eligible to be picked up as a category two rookie in December, 2013.

The Magpies plan to bring Haggerty down from Sydney once he's finished year 12 at the end of this year.

Collingwood recruiting manager Derek Hine said: "We can potentially give [Haggerty] a sustained period of time down here so we'll certainly look at that after Christmas.
 
"[NSW] is a market we thought was beneficial so we just had a go at it. Nothing ventured, nothing gained."

While Edwards has impressed greatly this year with his explosive burst speed and consistency across the APS season, Haggerty has achieved his own feats.

The 195cm 17-year-old grabbed the Pies' attention in a state carnival in Albury in 2009, despite picking up the game as an 11-year-old.

Haggerty started playing for the Western Suburbs Magpies as a ruckman - after two years at Newtown before he was signed by the Pies - but has evolved into a key-position prospect.

He played for Sydney University in the NEAFL this year and was named in the NSW/ACT squad for the NAB AFL Under 18 Championships.

He's also working closely with former Fremantle utility Daniel Gilmore, who is Sydney University's assistant senior coach and high performance manager.

"He's got a lot of areas he needs to work on but he's a hard worker so he's a chance," Hine said.

Gilmore said Haggerty had shown plenty of promise in his first season of senior football, and outlined 2013 as a big year for him.

"I was really impressed with how he stuck it out for us in the NEAFL this year. It wasn't an overly successful year; we were on the end of some pretty big losses," Gilmore said.

"He's very level headed and he's got a good temperament.

"He played key forward, key back, and it was a good opportunity for him, with lots of learning curves.

"He certainly improved as the year went on. As is the case with young players, there were some ups and downs but in general the learning curve was definitely on the improve.

"He's got a lot of growth to come, and he'll continue to develop within his own body, but there's a fair bit to work with. "

Haggerty will combine Sydney University pre-season with training blocks at Collingwood across summer.  

He is expected to again push for selection within the NSW/ACT squad for the under-18 championships next year.

The Pies have previous NSW Scholarship holders Jarrod Witts and Tom Young on their senior list, and Michael Hartley is a rookie-listed player.

Adelaide's Taylor Walker and Sydney Swans premiership player Craig Bird are others to have come through the NSW Scholarship program in the past.

In 2014, the Pies will also have access to impressive key forward Darcy Moore, who will be eligible to be recruited under the father-son rule.

Jennifer Witham is a reporter for AFL Media. Follow her on Twitter @AFL_JenWitham.