Queenslander Adam Oxley will make his debut for Collingwood this afternoon in the club’s Queen’ birthday clash against Melbourne at the MCG.
Oxley, who was rookie listed by Collingwood in 2012, was called up after Jamie Elliott was ruled out with hamstring tightness.
Rookie listed by Collingwood in 2012, Oxley started playing Aussie rules in Ainslie as a six year old before joining Redland juniors when the family moved to Queensland.
A member of the Bushrangers from Under 14’s through to Under 18’s, Oxley’s commitment paid off in 2011 when he was included in the Under 18 Queensland Scorpions leadership group as an over-age representative.
A great 2012 NEAFL season saw Oxley finish third in the NEAFL Rising Star and gain selection in the Under 21 Queensland/Northern Territory State team.
Collingwood Coach Nathan Buckley said Oxley had been playing well through the wing and half back in the VFL.
“He’s come on in leaps and bounds in the last 18 months,” Buckley said. “He’s still a light-framed player. He’s probably a Nick Maxwell type that can win the ball in the air and has really good defensive intensity and other attributes.
“He’s got the capacity to lock himself into that back six or seven.
“His competitiveness, his ability to win the ball in the air and his kicking are his main attributes,’’ he said
