Basketball convert Tom Wilson joins Collingwood as a category B rookie

His skipper Scott Pendlebury and fellow teammate Mason Cox have both done it. Now new Pie Tom Wilson, despite not knowing what position he’ll play, hopes to have a similar impact after ditching hoops for footy.

Collingwood FC has signed up former Australian Boomer Tom Wilson as a category B Rookie at the Holden Centre. Picture: David Caird

Just under three months ago, Tom Wilson was playing for the Australian Boomers in a World Cup qualifier in Tehran.

Yesterday, the 21-year-old from Melbourne’s bayside stepped out as a Collingwood footballer.

The basketball convert — who played for Sydney Kings in the NBL — admits he doesn’t know what position he’s best suited to or what his main strengths are as a footballer.

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But the category B rookie signing said he was confident he could follow in the footsteps of skipper Scott Pendlebury and big man Mason Cox in forging a successful career with the Sherrin after giving up hoops.

“It’s my first day so I’m just trying to figure everything out,” Wilson said.

“I don’t know and I don’t think the club knows how everything is going to go.

“I mean, I don’t even know what position I’m going to play.

Tom Wilson in action for the Sydney Kings. Pic: Getty Images

“There will be some small steps to start off with but I’m confident the club is going to put me in the right position.”

Unlike Cox and many other category B rookies, the 194-centimetre Wilson does have a football background.

He played in the Under-16 championships and has had no shortage of contact from AFL clubs in the time since.

Collingwood beat out the likes of Geelong and Hawthorn for his signature.

“It (AFL) is probably something I’ve thought about for a few years now,” he said.

“When I was 16 I made a decision to go to the AIS and I was very fortunate to have the opportunities that I did playing basketball.

“But it was kind of a long plan for me and I knew around that time if I wasn’t going to be on the cusp of Olympic selection around 2020, which was my goal, then the next opportunity would be 2024.

Wilson has joined the Pies as a category B rookie. Picture: David Caird

“Just with that age demographic if I didn’t make that team it was going to be hard for me to come back and play football at that stage and probably get the career I wanted out of football.”

When asked about his strengths as a footballer, Wilson replied:

“I don’t know at this stage; it will be interesting to see.

“When I played at the under-16 carnival it was my overhead mark and I think hopefully my decision making and disposal.”

Wilson hopes to play this year but admits there is a lot to learn in the coming weeks as he adjusts to his new sport.

“I mean, I haven’t even done a session yet,” he said.