After playing nine senior matches in 2008, Ryan Cook was only able to manage two in his fourth season at the club.
The midfielder excelled in the VFL and capped off a brilliant year by winning the Joseph Wren Trophy (best VFL player).
Cook played in the opening five matches in the VFL before a 32-disposal and one goal effort in a win over Box Hill caught the eyes of the senior coaching staff and earned the young midfielder a spot in the senior side for consecutive weeks.
Contributing (20 disposals, seven marks) in the 22-point win over West Coast, Cook returned to the VFL where he saw out the rest of the year.
With Collingwood’s VFL side securing its first finals berth in just its second year as a standalone team, Cook helped ensure the September campaign would not be cut short.
His elimination final match against the Casey Scorpions typified the 21-year-old's 2009 workmanlike year, 34 disposals and two goals aided the Magpies in a 115-point demolishing.
It wouldn’t surprise many to see Cook become a permanent fixture in the Magpie midfield in 2010.
Gavin Brown: Played a consistent brand of footy all year and that's why he won the best and fairest. Unlucky not to play more senior games.
2009 highlights
Round 19 v Frankston: Cook played the majority of the match up forward and was terrific in the win which set up a finals berth for the young side. He had 28 possessions, 11 marks (season high) and one goal in an important match for the club.
Elimination final v Casey Scorpions: Was praised by development manager Luke Beveridge for his ability to use the ball on both sides of his body in the 115-point finals win. Cook racked up 34 possessions and kicked two majors.
2009 AFL statistics
| G | K | H | D | M | G | B | T | C |
| 2 | 7.0/50.0% | 10.0/90.0% | 17.0/73.5% | 5.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 2.5 | 2.0 |
2009 VFL statistics
| G | K | H | D | M | T |
| 19 | 13.3 | 13.9 | 27.2 | 6.1 | 4.1 |
