Welcome to Collingwood - Tom Wilson Category B rookie

[robevpau1]

Collingwood have beaten Geelong for the signature of basketballer and former elite junior footballer Tom Wilson, who will join the Magpies on a three-year deal.

[robevpau1]

Wilson is considered capable of playing as a tall midfielder in the AFL or in flanking positions, given his prior experience of playing Australian football with the Victorian under 16s and the Sandringham Dragons.

[watt price tully]

Sounds great. Well done pies

[glasseyevfx]

anybody know when this is happening? mid season draft?
Does anybody expect he would be good depth for this season?

[BazBoy]

Young Tom turns 22 in June this year —his current stats (Wikipedia)

1.94 cm
77 kgs

W.O.S says several clubs wanted his signature but he looked at Pies & Cats

Alledged offered a 3 year deal ($$ not disclosed)

[BazBoy]

Under current rules he can play immediately tho he has not played competitively since a 16 yr old in the Victorian Side —he was veiwed very highly desired prospect

[derkd]

In any sense he will most likely need twelve to twenty-four months to develop his craft.

not a bad pick up for speculative shot.

[BazBoy]

I’d like to think along 12 months to re acclimatise if three years are correct

If he plays some VFL 2019 and a full pre season for 2020 -then see what takes shape

[glasseyevfx]

Still - awesome - we've had some luck with basketballers - even cox has better than average hands and in tight decisions (other than a couple of horrendous clangers)
Will be interesting to see how he goes

[swoop42]

Great news for the club and great we've stopped a major competitor in Geelong gaining another leg up also.

Win win.

[Boogie Knights]

Interesting to see the clubs interested in him... while his choice appeared down to us and Geelong, note that the Dawks made a run with Clarkson making time to meet with him. Both those other clubs have a track record for identifying talent (as do we).

He'd grown up a Collingwood supporter and is apparently pretty close to Pendles and knows Bucks. This has the potential to be an outstanding pick up with reports saying he could play as a tall mid or flanker.

[dillo_09]

Kevin Sheehan said he was rated in the top 10-12 prospects when selected in the squad of 30 for Vic Metro U16 team

[stui magpie]

Not just a junior basketballer, played for the national side this year.

https://www.afl.com.au/news/2019-05-03/former-boomer-bounces-to-pies-as-rookie

Can't play until next year it seems, can join the club full time in November, but I assume he's still allowed to train with us before then

https://www.afl.com.au/news/2019-04-08/from-basketball-to-footy-aussie-boomer-set-to-join-afl-ranks

[BazBoy]

We won’t miss an opportunity on my watch

Could be a motto Mr N.Guy

[masoncox]

Take him down to KFC ..... he is a bit light on.