Collingwood and Brisbane stars’ path from juniors to the AFL Grand Final stage
They’re playing on the biggest stage in Australian sport but where did they come from? We chart the rise of Collingwood and Brisbane’s grand final stars.
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It’s the biggest stage in Australian sport.
On Saturday, 23 Collingwood and Brisbane players will take the field for the AFL Grand Final.
But where did they start?
We chart the rise of each player from junior footy to the big time.
Taylor Adams
Came through the ranks at Geelong talent factory St Joseph’s before getting the call up for Geelong Falcons in the NAB League. Captained the Falcons and starred for Vic Country in the 2011 Under-18 National Championships, earning All-Australian selection, averaging 18.8 possessions over four games. Was snapped up by fledgling club Greater Western Sydney with pick 13 in the 2011 draft before making his way to Collingwood in a swap for premiership defender Heath Shaw.
Darcy Cameron
Hails from North Albany in Western Australia and grew up idolising the likes of Dean Cox. His talent saw him invited to WAFL power Claremont where he starred – and kicked the winning goal – in the club’s 2013 Colts premiership, alongside the likes of Tom Barrass and Alec Waterman. However, disappointment would follow as he was overlooked in that years drafts. Despite strong senior WAFL form he missed out again in 2014 and 2015 before Sydney took a chance on him with pick No.48 in 2016. Now Collingwood’s No.1 ruckman, what a journey.
Mason Cox
The Texan only first picked up a footy at a 2014 US International Combine. Much of his early life was spent as a basketballer where he was part of the Oklahoma State team in college. He was also part of his high school’s state championship winning soccer team.
Jack Crisp
It will be hard to displace Gary Ablett Snr as the most famous player to have pulled on the Myrtleford Saints jumper but if Jack Crisp can snare a premiership medal on Saturday, he’ll be in pretty esteemed company. Crisp was born and raised in the North-East before being plucked by Brisbane with pick No.40 in the 2012 rookie draft. Following in the footsteps of Nathan Buckley, he found his way to Collingwood as part of the Dayne Beams trade in 2014 and has become one of the Magpies brightest stars in 207 games, winning two Copeland Trophies.
Josh Daicos
The son of Collingwood great, Peter, the newly crowned All-Australian spent time with two club in the Yarra Junior Football League – Bulleen Templestowe and Greythorn Falcons. Was eventually drafted by the Pies as a father-son selection from the Oakleigh Cannons.
Nick Daicos
Came through the ranks at Yarra Junior club Greythorn from 2010 to 2014 before shifting to Kew Rovers from 2015 to 2018. In 2017, at 14, he was awarded the YJFL Under-15 league best-and-fairest – he kicked 12 goals in one match. Then in 2019, at 16, Daicos was part of Carey’s senior APS premiership, alongside eventual top picks Matt Rowell and Noah Anderson. Much of his underage football was then wiped out by COVID but the talent was always evident. In the shortened 2021 season, Daicos 35.8 disposals for Oakleigh Cannons and was drafted with pick No.4 by Collingwood under the father-son rule, joining brother Josh.
Jordan De Goey
Hails from the Ashburton United talent factory that has also produced the likes of Jack Viney, Toby Greene and teammate Tom Mitchell. Having come through the ranks in the Yarra Juniors, De Goey attended St Kevin’s, won a NAB League premiership with Oakleigh Cannons – captained by Darcy Moore – and represented Vic Metro. One bad game in the under-16s was a bit of a turning point. “As a junior I was fairly soft … that was definitely something which changed with dad,” he told the AFL website in 2014. “I had a shocking practice match for Oakleigh in the under-16s, I was just soft and he told me I was soft. It’s not something you want to be known for as a footballer so we worked together through that and with other junior coaches around my contested ball. I think it’s a strength now.” It’s definitely a strength now, he won the most contested possessions on preliminary final weekend (17), the most clearances (13) and centre clearances (5) to power Collingwood to victory and into the grand final.
Jamie Elliott
Wearing the black and white has been a major part of Elliott’s career. He played a lot of his junior footy at Euroa, in northern Victoria, eventually graduating to the Magpies’ country footy senior side in 2009. He spent time with the Murray Bushrangers in 2010 and 2011.
Billy Frampton
The 200cm ruckman came through the East Fremantle Juniors before graduating to WAFL outfit South Fremantle. He averaged 14 disposals and 23 hitouts a game in 2014 as the Bulldogs’ Colts reached the preliminary final. Was taken by Port Adelaide with pick No.84 in the 2014 national draft and played three games before crossing to Adelaide. Made 21 appearances for the Crows before being traded to Collingwood this season. If selected, the grand final would be Frampton’s 40th AFL game.
Jack Ginnivan
Ginnivan and premierships have never been far apart. As an 11-year-old he kicked 119 goals, including 12 bags of five or more, to guide Newstead to the Maryborough Castlemaine District under-12s flag in 2014. He would move to Bendigo league power Strathfieldsaye and help the Storm to the reserve grade premiership in 2019, kicking three goals. It was no surprise after his junior exploits that he was selected by Bendigo Pioneers, kicking 19 goals in 12 NAB League games and averaging 16 disposals, 3.4 marks and 2.1 tackles. Projected to potentially be a second or third round pick, Collingwood eventually called his name at pick No.13 in the 2021 rookie draft.
Bobby Hill
Hill grew up as a West Coast supporter because of his love for Ben Cousins. Hill first played footy in Western Australia for Federal Football Club in Northam. He was drafted out of WAFL club Perth after completing his high schooling at Wesley College. This is his first season with the Pies after being traded from GWS.
Will Hoskin-Elliott
A product of the North Sunshine Football Club in Melbourne’s western suburbs. He remained with the Roadrunners before earning a TAC Cup chance with the Western Jets before being drafted by GWS.
Jeremy Howe
The biggest thing out of Dodges Ferry by a fair margin. Howe grew up playing for the Sharks in the Southern league. The then apprentice electrician made the Tasmania Under-18 national championships squad but was overlooked in the 2009 draft. Instead, he suited up for Hobart in the Tasmanian State League and caught the eye of recruiters with a series of outstanding performances. It was enough for Melbourne to call his name at pick No.33 in the 2010 draft. Traded to Collingwood in a four-way deal that saw Paul Seedsman move to Adelaide, Ben Kennedy shift to Melbourne and Port Adelaide secure Jimmy Toumpas.
Patrick Lipinski
The 25-year-old played all of his junior footy for Eltham in Melbourne’s northern suburbs before earning his AFL shot with the Western Bulldogs. When he was drafted he sent a thank you text to the Eltham Junior Football Club to thank every Panthers member for their support.
Oleg Markov
Born in Vitebsk, Belarus, before his family moved to Adelaide when he was 10 months old. Started out at North Adelaide District club Gepps Cross before moving to North Adelaide. Markov’s draft year was wrecked by injury but he bounced back the following year, making his senior debut for North Adelaide and representing South Australia in the Under-18 National Championships. It was enough for Richmond to take the leap and select him with pick No.50 in the national draft. Also an accomplished high jumper in his youth, Markov is the son of 2001 pole vault world champion Dmitri Markov.
Brayden Maynard
Grew up a Melbourne supporter as his father, Peter, played eight games for the Demons in the 1980s. He also made 196 appearances for Glenelg, four more and Brayden might have been an Adelaide father-son pick. His grandfather, Graham Campbell played for Fitzroy. A product of the Hampton Rovers in the South Metro juniors, now famously alongside Angus Brayshaw. Maynard played 53 games for the Rovers and was part of the club’s Under-17 Division 1 premiership in 2013. In South Australia he played for Camden Phantoms and represented South Australia at under-12 level. He won the Sandringham Dragons’ best-and-fairest before being drafted by Collingwood with pick No.30 in 2014.
Beau McCreery
The South Australian’s football journey started with Cove in the Southern Football League. The small forward was eventually invited to South Adelaide where he would go onto make his senior debut in 2020, kicking two goals – including the match-winner.
Brody Mihocek
Mihocek took the long road to reach the top. The Burnie product made the move to Victoria in 2013 after he won the Tasmanian State League flag with his hometown club. He would spent the next spend 2013 in the Essendon District FL with Maribyrnong Park before earning a VFL shot with Werribee. Across 2016 and 2017 is when he earned the right to be drafted after starring under Gary Ayres at Port Melbourne.
Tom Mitchell
Started off with the Ashburton United Redbacks, playing alongside Jack Viney and Toby Greene. The trio, along with fellow future AFL draftee Tom Curran, played in a Yarra Juniors Under-15 grand final together but lost to Fitzroy. The son of former AFL player Barry, the family moved to Perth the following year and Mitchell helped Hale win two Public Schools Association Alcock Cups. Also lost a grand final for Claremont Colts in a side that featured Jesse Hogan and Joel Hamling. Joined Sydney as a father-son draftee the following year.
Darcy Moore
The son of Collingwood legend Peter was always bound to be a Magpie. He even started out in black and white, winning an under-11s best-and-fairest at Ivanhoe in 2007. He then crossed to Kew Comets and was coached by Ricky Nixon. In a team that included Marc Pittonet and Billy Gowers, Moore was part of an under-13s premiership in 2009. The Comets didn’t lose a game all season in 2010 but Moore missed the grand final and his team suffered a shock loss. Assistant coach Peter Sist said even at such a young age, Moore was destined for leadership. He played centre half-forward and full forward and was “a smaller version of himself today, marking everything”. He became co-captain of Carey Grammar in 2013 and led Oakleigh Chargers to the NAB League premiership in 2014 before being taken under the father-son rule by Collingwood with pick No.9 in the 2014 draft.
Nathan Murphy
Saturday won’t be the 23-year-old’s first grand final on the MCG. In 2016, Murphy was in whites playing in a Cricket Victoria under-16 pathway final, winning the premiership as an opening batsman. He represented Victoria at under-17 and under-19 level having previously represented Australia at under-16 level. Murphy came through the East Sandringham Zebras, representing the South Metro Juniors at under-15 level and winning the player of the tournament. The breakout performance came in 2017 when playing for Brighton Grammar, he kicked seven goals in a match against Geelong, earning plenty of interest. He would be drafted a few months later by Collingwood with pick No.39.
Scott Pendlebury
Did you know Scott Pendlebury has a basketball background? Famously he left the Australian Institute of Sport and his place in he squad was taken by Patty Mills. The Magpies great hails from Sale, where ironically the local club is also nicknamed the Magpies. Due to representative commitments he only played one senior game for the club in 2005. In fact, he hardly played any footy before returning to Sale from the AIS and getting a shot with Gippsland Power. Pendlebury would go on to be selected with pick No.5 in the 2005 draft and become a Collingwood great.
Isaac Quaynor
The Collingwood Next Generation Academy graduate was in the MCG crowd in 2018 for Collingwood’s last grand final. He’ll be on the ground this time. Quaynor, a Magpies fan growing up came through the Beverley Hills, Templestowe and Bulleen-Templestowe junior clubs before moving to Doncaster East. Quaynor represented the Yarra Junior league in the Under-15 Metro Championships in 2015 and helped the team claim the title. He finished third in the Under-15 Division 3 league best-and-fairest that year with Beverley Hills before helping the club win the Colts Division 2 premiership in 2016. He was drafted with pick No.13 in the 2018 draft.
Steele Sidebottom
The boy from Congupna. The Road, one of the great nicknames in local footy. Sidebottom was part of the club’s Thirds premiership in 2007 and made his senior debut as a 15-year-old. He wouldn’t don the red and white much more as he became a key part of the Murray Bushrangers squad. He famously kicked 10 goals and won the best-on-ground medal in the 2008 TAC Cup Grand Final, which saw Collingwood pounce with pick No.10 in that year’s draft.
BRISBANE LIONS
Harris Andrews
The key defender has remained actively involved in his junior club, the Apsley Hornets, located in Brisbane’s north. Such is the reverence for the 26-year-old at the club, its mascot, ‘Harris the Hornet’ is even named after him (alongside AFLW’s Tayla Harris). From functions to unfurling premiership flags, running junior training clinics and more, Andrews still bleeds for the Hornets where it all began.
Callum Ah Chee
Born in Derby, West Australia, Ah Chee wasn’t as involved in football growing up, with his preference aimed toward basketball. However he joined brother Brendan in following the AFL dream by joining South Fremantle. At South Fremantle, Ah Chee played in the Colts as a 16-year-old and made his senior debut at just 17 before being drafted to the Gold Coast Suns.
Jarrod Berry
Berry is a Horsham boy and was a standout junior, playing local football with the Horsham Saints and with the North Ballarat Rebels. He idolised Essendon goalkicking champion Matthew Lloyd.
Zac Bailey
After growing up in the Northern Territory and playing at Southern Districts, Bailey moved to South Australia to board at Prince Alfred College. It was there where he started to capture the attention of recruiters, playing for Norwood in the SANFL as well as some terrific outings for SA in the under-18 championships.
Charlie Cameron
The Lions livewire was in Brisbane’s Academy as a teenager before turning his focus to rugby league, union and baseball. It was a move to Western Australia that sparked him back into footy, where he played his final days before being drafted from Swan Districts in the WAFL.
Keidean Coleman
Coleman will be the first ever player from the NT cattle town of Katherine to play in an AFL Grand Final after a best-on-ground prelim final. The 23-year-old learned the game on the red and dusty ovals in the Barunga Indigenous community.
Joe Daniher
As a junior, Daniher continued his family’s long involvement with Aberfeldie in Melbourne’s north-west. After his father Anthony played over 200 games of AFL, he returned to the Abers.
Josh Dunkley
The Sydney-born son of former Swans defender Andrew spent his early years in the harbour city before the family shipped back to South Gippsland, where Josh carved out a junior career with Yarram. He’s remained a familiar face around the club along with brother and former Demon Kyle, with the pair getting back for junior clinics and mentoring. Josh was captain of Gippsland Power in the-then TAC Cup in 2015 before finding his way to the Western Bulldogs – featuring in the club’s drought-breaking 2016 flag. He would remain in the red, white and blue until the end of 2022 before heading to the Lions ahead of this season. He hails from quite a sporting family, with sister Lara a member of the Queensland Firebirds netball team.
Jaspa Fletcher
Victorian-born Fletcher moved to Queensland at four and played junior football for Coorparoo in the local Brisbane league before switching to the Sherwood Districts in 2021 when his father, Fremantle best-and-fairest winner Adrian, was appointed head coach of the club.
Darcy Gardiner
Beginning at the Queenscliff Coutas on Victoria’s Bellarine Peninsula, the key defender would go on to play for the Geelong Falcons in the state’s under-18 program – also representing Vic Country – before finding his way to the Lions via pick 22 in the 2013 national draft.
Eric Hipwood
Despite being born in Melbourne’s south, Hipwood moved to Queensland at a young age. He joined Caloundra Football Club and eventually Aspley. The 26-year-old was placed in the Brisbane Lions Academy as a 13-year-old before being drafted in 2015.
Ryan Lester
A product of the Glen Waverley Rovers in Melbourne’s Eastern league – the junior arm of Mulgrave FC – Lester would later go on to represent Mulgrave in several senior matches alongside time spent with the Oakleigh Chargers in the under-18 program, where he would find his way to the Lions via pick 28 in the 2010 draft.
Jarryd Lyons
Hailing from Melbourne bayside suburb Sandringham, Lyons came through the junior ranks in the South Metro Junior Football League with St Peters, winning multiple Best and Fairest awards.
Lincoln McCarthy
McCarthy grew up in Bordertown, on the border of South Australia and Victoria — an hour “down the road” from Lachie Neale. The pair have been mates since playing junior basketball together at age 10. As a teenager, McCarthy moved to Adelaide for school and started to play for SANFL club Glenelg.
Oscar McInerney
McInerney is often spoken about as a feel-good story towards draft time, as the former Montrose junior continued to chase footy through the VFL system. After missing out on selection at the national draft several times, he fronted up for the then Casey Scorpions where he was eventually taken by the Lions as a rookie at age 23.
Conor McKenna
From Northern Ireland to the mecca of Australian sport for the biggest day on the footy calendar, it’s been some journey for the lad from Benburb. Beginning his Gaelic football with Eglish St Patrick’s before playing with County Tyrone where he featured in the All-Ireland Minor Football Championship final in 2012, McKenna soon garnered attention from Aussie Rules scouts. Signed as a Category B rookie for Essendon in late 2014 and would play 79 games for the Bombers. Returned to Ireland and reached helped Tyrone reach the pinnacle, claiming the Sam Maguire Cup as All-Ireland champions in 2021.
Hugh McCluggage
The vice-captain grew up on his family’s dairy farm in the western Victorian town of Allansford, where he would play his junior footy at the local club nicknamed the Cats. Catching the eye of the South Warrnambool coach, senior footy came calling for the-then teen, who would also stand out for the North Ballarat Rebels as a goalkicking midfielder on his way to the Morrish Medal in his draft year of ‘16 – despite only playing 10 games.
Lachie Neale
The two-time Brownlow Medal winner has put the tiny South Australian town of Kybybolite on the map. He played junior footy for the Kybybolite Tigers, and from all reports, Lachie was always the last to leave the training track, staying for an extra hour practising his ground balls, in-tight handballs and agility. It paid off.
Jack Payne
Payne was born and raised on the Sunshine Coast and played junior football for Noosa. At the age of 13, Payne was selected to join the Brisbane Lions Academy after a talent scout caught notice of him playing school football.
Cam Rayner
Before he was lighting up the Gabba, Rayner was dominating in the Essendon District league for Doutta Stars. Ahead of his strong pathway career, the eventual No.1 pick collected accolades like they were stamps. He won the under-16s league medal as well as best-afield in an under-18 grand final, where he booted five goals in the final term to seal victory, in the space of two weeks.
Deven Robertson
The 22-year-old hails from the small country town of Northam in West Australia. The nephew of West Coast Eagles premiership captain Darren Glass grew up as an elite junior talent known for his football smarts and leadership qualities.
Brandon Starcevich
The defender hails from Mt Lawley-Inglewood JFC in Western Australia, where he played his junior footy before earning a colts call-up for WAFL outfit East Perth. Also keen on athletics and cricket during his time at Trinity College, Starcevich made his way to the Lions as pick No.18 in the 2017 national draft. He hasn’t forgotten his roots at the Mt Lawley-Inglewood ‘Roos.
Darcy Wilmot
It’s a grand final in just his second season in the big-time for the Doreen product whose roots cast back to the Northern league. Playing his junior career with Yarrambat, the defender later linked up with top-division power Montmorency where he featured in the seniors under legendary local coach Garry Ramsay, ahead of his draft selection at the end of 2021. Enjoyed three podium finishes at league junior presentation evenings – winning the under-15 medal in 2015. A mad Collingwood supporter growing up (his late father Grant played for the ‘Pies in 1980), Wilmot also took out the Northern Knights’ best player award at under-16 level in 2019.
Dayne Zorko
Zorko was on a footy field shortly after he could walk, playing Auskick at just four. Before he went on to win five Merret-Murray medals, he was running around for Surfers Paradise in the QAFL. He played over 250 combined junior and senior games for the Demons before switching to Broadbeach to increase his chances of being drafted.
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