Herald Sun journalist Jon Ralph has reported that Collingwood will face competition in their efforts to draft Next Generation Academy player Reef McInnes following his eye catching combine results.
McInnes recorded the fastest 20m sprint time of any of this season's prospective draftees at a blistering 2.80 seconds.
The 17-year-old is eligible for NGA selection by the Magpies due to both playing in their Oakleigh zone and his mother's Filipino heritage.
Should Collingwood read McInnes' name out on draft night, then he will become the club's third NGA recruit after Isaac Quaynor and Atu Bosenavulagi were both selected in the 2018 draft.
Ralph suggested on Wednesday that the tall inside midfielder is likely to be selected with anywhere between 15-25 in December's draft.
With rival interest reportedly circling, Collingwood will be forced to match a bid for the precocious midfielder on draft night. Although they are not obliged to do so, McInnes' upside suggests that this will become the likely course of action.
McInnes was apart of Oakleigh's 2019 NAB League premiership and played in the Charger's engine room alongside current Suns Matt Rowell and Noah Anderson.
Despite recording a standout time across 20 metres, McInnes' tank will need work, after running last in the combines 2km trial.
When asked about McInnes, veteran talent manager Kevin Sheehan was full of praise about both the teenager's athleticism and versatility.
“He played well last year with Anderson in Rowell in that premiership side. We saw a 190cm kid grow again into a 193cm package who ran the fastest time of anyone in the combine.
“He is a fantastic athlete who is capable of playing as a tall midfielder or at half back or half forward and he has a December birth so he has a lot in his favour.
“We didn't get to see how he unfolded in his 18th year and given his athleticism he is the prototype of the modern player.”
“He needs to work on his stamina but having showed some promise in the AFL futures games last year, everyone wanted to see how he unfolded in 15 games this year but we didn't get to see it.”
Richmond's much touted father-son selection Maurice Rioli Jr is set to begin his combine screening at the back end of this week. The son of a gun will be forced to complete testing by himself after spending a fortnight quarantining in Darwin
Ralph believes Rioli will be tested on Friday or Saturday and is set to nominate the Tigers as his club of choice in spite of his eligibility to join Fremantle.
Rioli Jr was afforded this choice due to his father - Maurice Snr- playing 168 games for South Fremantle between 1975 and 1990.
