A coach who played a role in Brisbane's back-to-back premierships has given a big tick of approval to Collingwood's top 2025 draftee.
Lions Boxing coach Chris Rose, who works with the Lions AFL and AFLW teams and does extra sessions with more than a dozen players who featured in the premiership, has worked with Collingwood draftee Tyan Prindable since mid-2023.
It's given Prindable the chance to rub shoulders with the likes of Cam Rayner - particularly beneficial as his opportunities to train with the AFL squad have been more limited than most academy players as he was only added in September 2024.
Rose has been part of the Lions setup since 2017 and highlighted the Coorparoo junior's ability to respond to adversity as a trait that will hold him in good stead.
“We do a lot of repetition - it's a lot of things were you want to take a shortcut because you're tired but he would be very detailed and if he ever stumbled, he would start again, that's why he's so clean with his hands,” Rose told Zero Hanger.
“If he got told an area to improve, he would stay and do it until it's fixed.”
Prindable has impressed those around Olympic Park with his work ethic in his first month on an AFL list.
Draftees get eased into training during their early time at the club, but Prindable's high performance mindset has already caught the eye, while track watchers have noted his classy ball use and clean hands.
Having worked with Ben Keays, noted for his professionalism and leadership, before he moved to Adelaide, Rose sees Prindable in a similar vein.
“Ben and Ty always want to do more,” Rose said. “Ty never complained, he would've been banged up this year but he never complained and gave me everything.
“You'd give him brutal work and he'd go away and do it. He's got his relentless competitiveness.”
Prindable averaged 21 disposals for the Lions Academy and 19 disposals for the Allies in 2025, with his defensive application standing out in a talent pathway system designed to showcase players' offensive weapons.
Rose highlighted the intensive focus which allowed Prindable to find his way onto a list after starting the year as an anonymous prospect in the pathway.
“By the Wednesday before his game, he would be able to tell you who he's likely to play on and the strengths and weaknesses of who he's likely to play on,” Rose said.
“It wasn't that he had to do it, but it's that he wants to do it. He's huge on getting his eight and a half hours of sleep and watches what he eats.
“If someone did a week in his shoes and saw the routine he has and the bits and pieces he does to make sure he's right to go for every session, they would be astounded.”
The Pies were closely linked to Prindable in the lead-up to the AFL National Draft, pouncing with their first selection at Pick 32 - higher than he was forecast to go - with Brisbane not matching a bid on their Academy product.
"We really like his clearance work. His contested work. He's very clean (with) his hands,” recruiting manager Shane O'Bree said.
“He's played against men for a few years now, so we feel that time, getting him in the program now, he'll adapt pretty quickly and might be able to complement our midfield group.”
Prindable was consistently overlooked for representative squads as a junior, with his addition to Brisbane's Academy in September 2024 the first time his footy talent was recognised above club level.
Described as ready-made, Prindable's work with Rose has improved his skill execution under fatigue throughout 2025, which shone through with his ability to run out games at all levels in 2025.
Mindset and fitness were other elements Rose tried to embed in the naturally talented Prindable through their bi-weekly sessions.
Prindable is part of a trio of midfielders Collingwood brought in through the National Draft, alongside Sam Swadling and Angus Anderson, after a period of stability for the club's engine room.
Of the 16 players to have arrived at Collingwood across 2023 and 2024 via trade, draft and free agency, only Ned Long and potentially Harry DeMattia are midfielders, underscoring the need to evolve that area of its list.
The demographic of Collingwood's midfield group epitomises its ageing list, with Nick Daicos and Long the only players aged 30 and under who attended more than 100 centre bounces in 2025.
Beau McCreery and Josh Daicos are two players who capitalised on increased midfield opportunities in 2025.
In between injuries, McCreery's pace and physicality stood out, while Josh Daicos nearly dragged Collingwood to an inspired comeback victory over Gold Coast late in the year, earning midfield minutes in seven of his eight games thereafter, having done so just once in the first 17 rounds.
O'Bree spoke of that new Magpies trio's AFL readiness, with Ed Allan and DeMattia being others who could push for on-ball opportunity.
“Definitely,” he said when asked whether the 2025 draftees' AFL-readiness played a role in selection.
“I think that mixture of midfielders will complement each other and push each other and in time will push for selection.”
Prindable played five games of VFL in 2025 after a strong campaign for Brisbane's Academy and the Allies, while Swadling also has senior experience for West Perth and is viewed as one of the most ready-made in the crop, while Anderson is a mature-aged pickup from Sturt.
While none landed, Clayton Oliver, Jy Simpkin and James Rowbottom being targeted in the AFL Trade Period further highlights their desire to strengthen a midfield group that was heavily reliant on veterans Scott Pendlebury and Steele Sidebottom this year.
