COLLINGWOOD VFL > Match reports, player profiles, fixture

VFL Round 11
Collingwood v Williamstown
Saturday 21 June 2008
Princes Park, 2pm
Entry for CFC members is FREE
Team listed below

Ultra-consistent midfielder Sam Iles put in another impressive performance for Collingwood's VFL team last weekend in the loss to the Northern Bullants, and will again be on show when the side meets top-of-the-ladder Williamstown at Princes Park on Saturday afternoon.

Iles, who celebrated his 21st birthday on Thursday, has been perhaps the VFL team’s most consistent player this season, and, despite the club’s disappointing win-loss record nearing the halfway point of the season, he believes that the stand alone concept adopted this season is proving a benefit for the club and its players.

“It is different, I suppose it’s too early to judge now, but it is certainly better for the footy club and also better for the younger blokes in terms of their development,” Iles told collingwoodfc.com.au.

“I suppose that there is a lot more pressure on us third-year players and the older boys when we drop back and play, because it means that we're playing with a few first year players.”

“When I first came to Collingwood, all my fellow draftees except for Pendles  (Scott Pendlebury) and Daisy (Dale Thomas) all had a run through the VFL twos and actually had to earn their spot in the senior VFL side (then Williamstown). But so far it’s working well, we’ve just got to obviously keep developing and get a few wins on the board.”

Now into his third season at the club, Iles, who was recruited with the second selection in the 2006 pre-season draft from Tasmania, recognises the fact that he, and players of a similar age, such as Danny Stanley, Ryan Cook and John Anthony, need to begin to step up as leaders when the more senior players are unavailable for the club’s VFL team.

“I think that through the whole year so far, blokes like myself, Danny Stanley, Alan Toovey earlier in the year who came back this week, Chris Egan, Ryan Cook and John Anthony, we’re all third years and especially when Ryan Lonie and Paul Licuria aren’t playing (we do need to step up).

“We had a chat during the week, us third years, leadership wise, but we do also have experienced VFL players like Justin Crow and Nigel Carmody who also help us out as well along the way, so that means that there is a bit more pressure, but it is also going to make us better footy players.”

In terms of his own form, Iles has been one of his side’s best, and, after adding three AFL matches last season to his four in 2006, must surely be close to his eighth senior appearance.

“With the senior side playing fairly well, obviously you’ve got to keep your form up, and if you play better each week then if you put your hand up.

“I’ve been reasonably happy with how I’ve been playing, there are a few things I’ve got to work on.

“I’ve been closely watching my tapes and keeping in constant communication with Alan Richardson and Gavin Brown.”

Iles currently leads the way in the collingwoodfc.com.au VFL MVP Award for season 2008, however should his impressive form continue, there is no doubt that he is likely to make an impact in the senior side sooner rather than later.

He is named on the wing for this week’s clash with Collingwood’s former VFL affiliate club Williamstown, set down for Princes Park on Saturday afternoon at 2pm. Being the Magpies’ home game, ENTRY FOR COLLINGWOOD MEMBERS IS FREE, so why not get down there and support the boys in the lead up to Sunday’s Collingwood-Western Bulldogs clash at Telstra Dome.

Collingwood
B: Kevin Dyas, Simon Prestigiacomo, Alan Toovey*
HB: Tyson Goldsack*, John Anthony, John McCarthy
C: Sharrod Wellingham*, Paul Licuria, Sam Iles
HF: Brent Macaffer, Nathan Brown*, Shannon Cox
F: Chris Egan, Chris Dawes, Daniel Frost
Foll: Justin Crow, Danny Stanley*, Ryan Cook*
Int (from): Ryan Colbert, Nigel Carmody, Daniel Nicholls, Jaxson Barham, Tim Sundberg, Jeremy Mugavin, George Dick, Luke Casey-Leigh, Kris Pendlebury, Toby Thoolen, Tim Walsh, Tilly Yahman

* Denotes named on the extended interchange bench for Collingwood's AFL team.