Collingwood's fifth debutant of 2011 - Tom Young - is a success story of the New South Wales scholarship program.

The 19-year-old from Bowral, about 90 minutes south of Sydney, has been named for the round 22 clash with Brisbane at the MCG. 

He will become the 1092nd player to represent Collingwood since the inception of the VFL in 1897.

He follows Alex Fasolo (round 12), Luke Rounds (round 15), Lachlan Keeffe (round 16) and Ben Sinclair (round 19) as players to make their AFL debuts for Collingwood so far in 2011*.

The 191-centimetre utility was originally signed as a NSW scholarship holder in 2008.

He played his junior football for the Wollondilly Football Club and Sydney University.

After relocating to Melbourne in 2010, Young had an outstanding year for the Magpies’ VFL side, winning the Joseph Wren Trophy as the club’s best VFL player as an 18-year-old.

He played in the early rounds of the Magpies’ successful NAB Cup campaign this year, and has had another excellent season at VFL level, playing mainly across half back.

His senior selection is reward for excellent form displayed over a long period.

CLICK HERE for the full round 22 selection story.

About the NSW Scholarship program
The NSW scholarship program commenced in 2005 and gave AFL clubs the opportunity sign and develop promising NSW athletes, before having first rights to drafting them when the players became draft eligible.

Clubs were unable to sign players beyond 2010 with the introduction of the Sydney Swans and GWS academies.

Collingwood still has seven players on its NSW scholarship list - CLICK HERE for player profiles.

Scott Reed is another graduate of the club’s NSW scholarship program, having spent the past two seasons on the Magpies’ rookie list.

*Andrew Krakouer and Simon Buckley both debuted for the Magpies in round 1 after previously representing Richmond and Melbourne respectively.