Isaac Quaynor has grown up a Collingwood supporter and in four weeks is likely to become a Magpies player.
The Oakleigh Chargers prospect trained with the club at the end of last year as a member of its Next Generation Academy, which he qualifies for given his father is from Ghana in West Africa.
Quaynor's football started to take shape in 2017, when he was trusted with match-ups against No.1 pick Cameron Rayner and tall forward Noah Balta while playing in the TAC Cup.
He went even better this year, being named in the All Australian side for his performances at the NAB AFL Under-18 Championships as one of the most consistent players in the crop.
At the Draft Combine, Quaynor also won the goalkicking test – he called it a "fluke", but he was the only player to convert all five of his shots at goal to record a perfect score.
Quaynor is powerful, strong half-back who has played on a range of forwards this year and excelled. He's got a mature build that helps him out-body forwards, but he combines that with clean disposal at ground level and an explosiveness out of the defensive 50 (he averaged four rebound-50s for the Chargers).
He managed to play throughout pain for most of the year, wearing a guard on his thumb to protect the injury, and also did some exciting things in the TAC Cup Grand Final when shifted into the midfield. Quaynor looks ready to play and will start his career as an attacking back pocket.
Although Quaynor has played above his size at TAC Cup and under-18 level, he is still on the shorter end and probably won't be able to do that as much when he takes the step up to the AFL.
At 180cm he probably doesn't have the capacity to match up on the taller opponents and use his strength, so looking forward he probably doesn't have the same versatility he has shown as a junior.
Quaynor likes to look at how Western Bulldog playmaker Jason Johannisen rebounds from half-back and take on the game in a similar ilk.
The Pies will be expecting a bid to come for Quaynor somewhere in the second half of the first round on draft night. At that point they should match given his ability and temperament in the back line.
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Collingwood has got a good one in Quaynor. He shapes as a plug-and-play prospect – someone who can come into the senior line-up next year and make a difference. Cool, calm and confident, Quaynor is a well-rounded defender.
