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Magpies sign Michael Hartley, Jarrod WittsCollingwood is pleased to announce it has signed its sixth New South Wales scholarship player, with Campbelltown prospect Adrian Yakimov committing to the Magpies.
Yakimov, a 182-centimetre midfielder from the Western Suburbs Football Club, has chosen the Magpies ahead of a number of other AFL clubs who were pursuing his signature.
He follows Michael Hartley and Jarrod Witts, who committed to the Magpies back in May, with the trio joining Scott Reed, Tom Young and Nick Perry on Collingwood’s New South Wales scholarship list.
In 2006 the AFL introduced the scholarship program aimed at attracting the best athletic talent from New South Wales to the AFL. Clubs provide capped financial assistance towards the players' football development and education, and then have first right to list those players with their final selections in the draft once they become eligible.
Yakimov, who will turn 15 in August, visited the Lexus Centre this week and spoke to collingwoodfc.com.au.
“I was stoked when Collingwood called me to offer me a scholarship, I wasn’t expecting it,” Yakimov said.
“The Lexus Centre is excellent, just so good. The facilities are great, and everyone’s made me feel very welcome.”
Collingwood’s national recruiting manager Derek Hine, who identified Yakimov during the New South Wales state under 15 and 16 championships, was delighted to have brought a talented midfielder into the New South Wales scholarship program, complementing a group comprising plenty of developing height and size.
“We see Adrian actually going through the middle of the ground, and that was at the forefront of our thinking, to bring in a smaller player who could potentially develop as a midfielder,” Hine said.
“We’ve got a base of bigger players, with young Jarrod Witts, Michael Hartley, Nick Perry and Scott Reed, all 191-centimetres plus.”
Hine describes Yakimov as a player possessing the attributes relevant to what is required in the modern game.
“He’s got an elite running capacity, got terrific speed and a great jump,” Hine added.
“Quite often when we’ve seen him play, he’ll be at a contest deep in defence, then be able to get on the end of the ball in the front half of the ground.
“When you look at the way the modern game’s played, and the need for that aerobic and explosive speed, he certainly ticks all those boxes.”
While many of Collingwood’s New South Wales scholarship holders have played at an elite level in another sport, Yakimov’s first-choice is Australian rules football, having spent much of his youth growing up in Geelong, as Hine explained.
“Adrian was born in Geelong, moved up to Sydney, moved back to Victoria, and he’s only been back up in Sydney for just over three years, so in terms of the qualifying period, he just gets in, so we’re pretty fortunate to be able to get him.”
While the Magpies now have six New South Wales scholarship players on their books, including three new signings this year, there is room to expand, and Hine and his team of expert recruiters are always on the lookout.
“We’ve signed three boys this year, and we’ll potentially have a few more announcements within the next few weeks. The rules allow us to sign six per year, so over a three-year period, we can potentially have a pool of 18 to work with. Adrian will enter our development program led by Alan Richardson and Gavin Brown so as with the rest of our scholarship players he is very fortunate to be able to access a proven development pathway.
“With the Gold Coast and Western Sydney clubs entering the competition in the next few years it is very important that we continue to develop our programs, outside the traditional pathways, and our Sydney program is just one of those.”
Collingwood's NSW scholarship list:
Scott Reed
D.O.B: 3 October 1990
Height: 192 cm
Weight: 78 kg
From: Pennant Hills
Tom Young
D.O.B: 24 April 1992
Height: 188 cm
Weight: 72 kg
From: Wollondilly
Nick Perry
D.O.B: 10 June 1992
Height: 191 cm
Weight: 73 kg
From: Penrith Swans
Jarrod Witts
D.O.B: 13 September 1992
Height: 197 cm
Weight: 85 kg
From: Normanhurst/St Ives FC
Michael Hartley
D.O.B: 7 June 1993
Height: 190 cm
Weight: 78 kg
From: Penrith Swans FC
Adrian Yakimov
D.O.B: 20 August 1993
Height: 182 cm
Weight: 63 kg
From: Glen Alpine (Campbelltown)
