Footy21: Collingwood young gun Isaac Quaynor reveals special bond with Heritier Lumumba
Heritier Lumumba’s relationship with the Pies might be frayed over the systemic racism at the club, but it hasn’t stopped from reaching out to Isaac Quaynor.
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Collingwood rising star Isaac Quaynor has revealed how he has forged an unlikely bond with 2010 premiership defender Heritier Lumumba as he looks to take his AFL career to the next level.
Lumumba has been disconnected from the Magpies since first raising allegations of racism directed at him during his time at the club.
That proved the catalyst for an independent review late last year which found Collingwood had a history of “systematic racism”, leading to significant change at the club.
While Lumumba is still estranged from the club, it hasn’t stopped him from reaching out from his Los Angeles base to Quaynor in an effort to provide him with a sounding board for the future.
“I have actually had a little bit of contact with (Lumumba) in the last six months,” Quaynor told the Herald Sun’s Footy 2021 magazine.
“He has been really positive and has been saying ‘you are doing well’.
“To have him staying somewhat connected to my journey, I am grateful for.
“Every now and again, I get a little Instagram message just in terms of him tapping into my football, and I think that’s pretty cool.”
Quaynor stressed his own experience at Collingwood has differed markedly from Lumumba’s, but he is grateful for the advice he has received from one of the childhood heroes.
Their shared stories and pride in their African heritage have connected Quaynor and Lumumba from half a world away.
Lumumba, born to a Brazilian mother and a Congolese-Angolan father in Rio de Janeiro, moved to Australia when he was only three.
Quaynor was born in Melbourne to an Australian mother and a father who followed his heart from a small town in Ghana to this country.
Quaynor vividly remembers being at Collingwood games as a young fan and hearing people saying ‘There’s Harry O’Brien (the name Lumumba took before returning to his birth name) … that looks like Harry O’Brien’.
“That was something that really stuck with me.
“It was the first connection with me that he (Lumumba) just looked similar. I had the ‘fro. I had the same skin colour, I played the same position (defence).
“It was a no-brainer for me as a kid.”
Quaynor, 21, is considering one of Collingwood’s brightest young prospects.
He played 11 of his 15 AFL games last year, won a weekly Rising Star nomination in Round 17, and provided outstanding run off halfback.
He has a big future heading into his third AFL season, but could play an equally important role off the field as well.
Who knows, Quaynor might one day even prove a conduit in a reconciliation between Lumumba and his former club?
For more on Collingwood’s hopes in 2021 – get Footy 2021 magazine from Saturday
MILERA EXCITED FOR ADELAIDE’S YOUNG MURDER
Adelaide speedster Wayne Milera says the injection of talented youngsters at West Lakes has given the Crows a renewed sense of optimism after a tough 2020.
The Crows “won” their first ever wooden spoon in 2020, and as a result of the bottom of the ladder finish – and some pick swaps – the club was able to bring in some top draft picks.
Milera said No.2 pick Riley Thilthorpe and No.11 Luke Pedlar both impressed at the Crows intraclub match on the weekend — as did rookie Tariek Newchurch.
No.25 pick Brayden Cook is recovering from shoulder surgery but has coaches are raving about his talent, and Milera told the Footy21 magazine that this in addition, and the emergence of Lachlan Sholl and Harry Schoenberg, last year, was exciting for the Crows.
“We’ve got big Riley Thilthorpe from westies he looks very good and can move really well for a big boy so he is exciting,” Milera said.
Lukey pedlar is another exciting one and then boys who have been in the system for a year or two like Lachie Sholl and Harry Schoenberg they have shown a bit out there.
“He has a bit of nip about him (Tariek), he will probably be pushing Benny Davis for the quickest player on the list. He is an exciting player.
“I’m pretty excited to get out there and play with them because I haven’t played a whole lot of footy with these younger boys yet.”
— For more on Adelaide’s hopes in 2021 – get Footy 2021 magazine from Saturday)
GREENE SAYS GIANTS CAN BOUNCE BACK, DESPITE DEPARTURES
He’s the player opposition fans love to hate, but Toby Greene is much revered at the GWS Giants.
One of just eight players remaining from their formative days, Greene had to say goodbye at the end of last year to teammates including Jeremy Cameron, Zac Williams and Aidan Corr.
But rather than mope around after their departure to rival clubs, Greene is focused on what he can do to help the Giants return to finals action after they fell from grand finalists in 2019 to 10th last season.
Entering his 10th season with the club Greene, 27, tells the Footy 2021 magazine that he is “determined and dedicated to making sure the Giants achieve success”.
He admits to watching Richmond win the 2020 Grand Final, feeling a little jealous.
His aim this year is to find some consistency and avoid those niggling injuries that had interrupted his season.
And as Greene’s club changes and grows around him, his own ambition remains.
“I just want to be remembered as a premiership player with the Giants, and someone who helped build the club,” Greene said.
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Originally published as Footy21: Collingwood young gun Isaac Quaynor reveals special bond with Heritier Lumumba
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