Magpie Riley Mason emerges into AFL mid-season draft hope

Collingwood fan Riley Mason was thrilled when the VFL Magpies offered him a contract. The Seymour forward has made the most of it, pushing into contention for the AFL mid-season draft.

Riley Mason celebrates a goal for Collingwood against Sydney in Round 1. Photo by Rob Lawson/AFL Photos

Riley Mason says it’s all a bit surreal.

In 2023 he sat in a pub with a few mates and watched Collingwood win the AFL premiership.

He’s a lifelong Magpies supporter.

“I was thinking, ‘How good’s this?’,’’ he says.

Now he is playing for Collingwood’s VFL team, well enough to be spoken about as an AFL mid-season draft candidate.

The 193cm forward kicked 17 goals from his first seven matches, starting with four against Sydney in Round 1 and five against Coburg in Round 3.

Burgers great Phil Cleary was watching on at the City Oval and looked up the name of the Collingwood No. 67, impressed by his athleticism and skill.

Mason’s aims when he joined the Magpies were modest, but along the way have amplified.

Riley Mason swoops on the ball against Northern Bullants.

“I was just hoping to play a few games,’’ Mason, 23, says.

“Nothing too big or high. I’d come out of country footy and I wasn’t sure what to expect. The first thing was to play. As it got closer and closer I wanted to play Round 1. Did that. Since then I’ve just been ticking away and trying to play my role for the team.’’

Mason made the move to the VFL after an excellent 2024 season with Seymour in the strong Goulburn Valley league.

Splitting his time between the wing and the forward line, he topped the league goalkicking with 73 and was in the competition team of the year.

VFL clubs came calling.Essendon was keen and so was Collingwood. The Bombers offered him a contract and the Magpies were prepared to do the same before the pre-season began. He went with the club he supported.

Riley Mason takes a kicks for the Goulburn Valley representative team.

In the past few months there have been some pinch-yourself moments for Mason.

Leon Davis was his favourite Collingwood player, then Scott Pendlebury. Now he sometimes trains with the Magpies great at the club.

“You go from being a 12, 13 year-old with his number on your back to training with him … that’s not something you’d expect to happen,’’ he says. “Pretty crazy. I’m very grateful for it … glad I made the decision to come down and play VFL and put myself out there.’’

This is Mason’s second VFL stint. After a 19-year-old season with the Calder Cannons – Covid wiped out his 2020 – the Broadford junior joined Coburg in 2022.

He never played a game, spending the entire season with Seymour.

He says he wasn’t “physically ready’’ for the VFL.

“I wasn’t committed enough to it either,’’ he says.

“I think I was finding my way with footy a little bit. I was underdeveloped.’’

He’s not now; three years with Seymour playing country football against men gave him a strong grounding.

Riley Mason marks for Seymour.

Mason started on the wing for the Lions – “I was still skinny’’ – and began to see his running and his ability to get forward and kick a goal as his strengths.

Last year he combined both, playing up the ground and in the forward line.

“I was half wing, half forward,’’ he says. And yet he still kicked goals by the bag: eight against Benalla, six against Mansfield, 10 against Tatura, eight against Mooroopna.

Jack Murphy was assistant coach of Seymour in 2022 and ’23 and is now co-coach of the senior team.

He believes Mason improved 20 per cent every year with the club.

“When he came here he was this tall, rangy young kid and you could see he just knew how to play football,’’ Murphy says.

“His growth across those three seasons with us was just phenomenal. He’s just matured so much.’’

He says Mason also developed a confidence in his ability.

“It came together for him. I think he thought, ‘I’m mature, I’m skilful and I’m pretty good at this game’.’’

Seymour encouraged him to have another go at the VFL, even if meant the club having to replace his 70-odd goals.

The Lions are thrilled with his progress and think he’s put on 5kg of muscle since joining the Maggies.

Mason is aware of the draft talk, but trying to block it out.

“I don’t want to think about it too much. As I said, I’m just trying to play my role for the team and doing what the coaches ask and keep level-headed.

“Whatever else comes from that is a bonus.’’

His home club is four-square behind him.

When fixtures allow it, Seymour players and supporters are making the trip to town to watch him and they’re taking a keen interest in the mid-season draft, following which clubs have picks.

“There’s crew up here keeping a close eye on it,’’ Murphy says.

“Hopefully he can get his name read out and end up on a list and show people what he’s got. It would be great to see another Seymour fella in the big league.’’

Riley Mason’s progress at Seymour was “phenomenal’’.

MAGPIES VFL COACH ANDY OTTEN ON RILEY MASON

“Ever since he got to us in the pre-season, all he’s wanted to do is learn. In between drills he’s the first one right in front looking at you and listening. He’s got a great attitude. He works so hard. His GPS results are through the roof for a key forward. He reads the play quickly and as soon as we’ve got speed on the ball his ability to get length really quickly and challenge the defenders and get in behind them is a big strength of his. He can also run and jump at the ball.’’

Originally published as Magpie Riley Mason emerges into AFL mid-season draft hope