Collingwood youngster Paul Seedsman credits a mid-season heart-to-heart with vice-captain Scott Pendlebury as the turning point in his season.

The 20-year-old, who made his debut in round one against Hawthorn, played five games in the first seven rounds before returning to the VFL.

The midfielder remained at that level for eight weeks, where he learned some valuable lessons including one taught in the sunny surroundings of Queensland's Port Douglas during the Pies' bye.

"[Going back to the VFL] re-emphasised that you're not gifted games - you've got to earn them," Seedsman told collingwoodfc.com.au this week.

"I probably got caught not being too happy with myself but not putting in the required work.

"It wasn't until mid-season when we had a break, went up to Port Douglas and had a few meetings with a few different people and that sort of opened my eyes.

"I thought I was doing more than I actually was."

Seedsman sat down with Pendlebury and went through all the little things he was neglecting to do in between games.

They ranged from recovery techniques, preparation ideas and suggestions to "train as you play".

"He's one of the most professional at the club so I tried to take on board things he did and put it into my game," Seedsman said.

"I'm improved massively in recovery - that was one area I really locked down on and asked what he did, watched what he did and I've tried doing that myself.

"Since that break, there's been a real rise in terms of recovery, training standard and all that sort of things, and it's helped with performance and I've played the last four games now."

Being recruited by Collingwood late in the 2010 NAB AFL Draft was a dream come true for Seedsman, and not just because it saw him take his passion for the game to another level.

The majority of his father John's side of the family - and younger brother Mark - support the Pies, and he grew up with his weekends "made or broken from a Collingwood win or loss".

Seedsman was at the Magpies' 2002 Grand Final loss to the Brisbane Lions, was there when then-Pie Jack Anthony kicked the winning goal against Adelaide in the 2009 semi-final, and watched the drawn decider against St Kilda from the stands.

He missed the replay as he was sick, but it didn't matter - he'd be drafted by the club nearly two months later.

Incidentally, his mother Jan barracks for the Saints - "she grew up in Moorabbin and went to games with friends" - which influenced his sisters Michelle and Rachel to follow suit.

Still, the black and white blood flows through his mother's side, with her father's father - Seedsman's great grandfather - holding the position of club president between 1913 and 1924.

James 'Jim' Sharp played 161 games for Fitzroy between 1901 and 1910, and then 18 for Collingwood before he broke his leg in his second season for the Pies in 1912, which ended his career.

He stayed at the club and was elected president in 1913 after holding an administrative role. ?

"I've read a fair bit about him," Seedsman said.

"I know when he first got to the club he was given the captaincy of Collingwood, or vice-captaincy, and he stood down because he'd only just come to the club and he didn't want to take it so he gave it to Jock McHale.

"When he was president, one of the boys missed the train down to Geelong so he chucked the boots on and in the opening 10 minutes, he broke his other leg.

"I'm pretty sure still to this day he's the only president to have played a game."

It's this sense of history that's made Seedsman's recruitment all the more special for him and his family.

"I've always loved the club and always will. I couldn't see myself playing for any other club."

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