Woodward signs at Collingwood VFL but hopes to find a new AFL home

After four knee reconstructions, Collingwood VFL’s Alex Woodward had given up on his AFL dream. But now he’s hoping it will be fifth time lucky at the draft.

ALEX Woodward has signed for another season with Collingwood’s VFL team, but the onballer hopes a club intervenes at Friday’s national and rookie drafts and hands him another AFL listing.

The 25-year-old made a rousing return from his fourth knee reconstruction, playing eight games for the Pies this year and polling 16 votes from seven matches in the JJ Liston Trophy.

He was only three behind joint winners Anthony Miles and Michael Gibbons.

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His rollicking run prompted Pies general manager Chris Dixon to urge AFL clubs to keep Woodward in their thoughts.

“If you take into account his character and what he produces, there’s no doubt he could come in and make an impact,’’ Dixon told Leader.

“Because of his history it will be question of clubs taking that risk from a medical point of view, but if they had enough confidence in it, then why not?

“At worst you’d be bringing in someone who would be a great cultural fit for your club, someone so good for your playing group in regards passing on his experience, and certainly he proved in the back half of this year that his football still stacks up.’’

In seven home-and-away VFL games this year Alex Woodward polled 16 JJ Liston Trophy votes.

Beset by knee injuries, Woodward played two games for Hawthorn in 2014 before being delisted at the end of 2016. He joined the VFL Magpies, only to hurt his knee again in his third game. It required a fourth ACL.

Woodward said today he had met one AFL club and spoken to others ahead of the drafts.

He conceded he was a “long shot’’ to be taken.

“I don’t think I’m overly appealing on paper because of my history, but I’ll keep my fingers crossed because I still feel I’ve got a lot to provide to a club,’’ Woodward said.

“It’s more unlikely than anything but who knows. See what happens. I sat down with a club, which was nice. I’m not sure if it’s going to generate anything, but I was happy to at least have the conversation. I’ve come a long way from last year, when I was injured and didn’t really have any chance, to be honest.’’

Woodward said he was pleased with his return to football with Collingwood.

“I really wanted to come in and not only enjoy my footy but have an impact on the game and contribute to the team, not just be another player,’’ he said.

“I wanted to pick up where I left off, VFL-wise, and play to a standard. I feel like I can play even better with another preseason in me.’’

He added: “If it doesn’t happen I’ll keep chasing the dream. I don’t necessarily think it’s over if I don’t get drafted.’’

Woodward said the Magpies had given him tremendous support and he was happy to stay with them if his name wasn’t called.

A running role with the AFL team was part of his rehab but also thrust him into the public eye when he was seen to get in the way of Collingwood forward Jaidyn Stephenson in the third quarter of the grand final.

It was a rough time for him — “I felt part of the journey and was grateful for the opportunity to be part of the team in any capacity’’ — but he’s come to terms with it.

He’d rather be playing and being on the end of messages.

VFL Pie Marty Hore.

Meanwhile Woodward said he expected Collingwood VFL defender Marty Hore to move on to an AFL list on Friday.

The left-footer has won the Pies’ past two best and fairests.

“I think he’s got a fair bit of interest from a few clubs and whoever does pick him up will get an absolute ripper of a player and person,’’ Woodward said.

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