Collingwood coach Nathan Buckley says previous form won’t influence Chris Mayne’s chances of being selected to play in the senior team this year.
Collingwood paid big bucks to sign the former Fremantle forward, but he was bitterly disappointing in his first season at the Pies and played most of the year in the VFL.
Mayne has showed more promising signs this year after notching up 35 possessions in a VFL practice match and Buckley has suggested that he could return to the senior side if his form permits it.
“He’s on our list, and if he’s playing great footy, and if he’s playing football that is going to help us win, (then you pick him),” Buckley said this morning on SEN’s Whateley.
“More so for the integrity of selection, if he’s the best VFL player at that time, and there’s the opportunity in his role to come up in the senior side and you don’t pick him, what does it say to the rest of the playing group about form at VFL level, or attitude in your training?
“Chris has been first class this pre-season and has really bounced back from what he would and we would say was a disappointing year last year.”
While Collingwood are in a development stage and fans are calling for the youth at the club to get more game time, Buckley will only play them if they are ready.
“These young blokes will come through when they’re ready, and you’ll see them when they’re ready, and not before,” he added.
“We’re not going to throw them to the wolves beforehand.”
Collingwood’s forward line struggled to fire against the Hawks on Saturday night and with Darcy Moore looking comfortable in the backline, an in-form Chris Mayne could be the answer.
Tim Broomhead and Jarryd Blair are also in the mix for selection this week to fill the small forward role in the absence of Alex Fasolo and Jamie Elliott.
