A memorable 2025 AFL draft period for the Pies was headlined by the confirmation of two graduates from the Club’s Next Generation Academy (NGA), signalling the program’s success in its most material form.

The Club’s Future Magpies program, which was launched almost 12 months ago to the day after years of iterations, began 2025 with a clear vision.

Encompassing the NGA, the Peter Daicos Academy, School Holiday Programs, and a soon to be launched Diversity Scholarship, the program’s aim is to connect and engage the community and develop the future of the Club’s fans, members and talent.

At the heart of that talent generation, has been the NGA – a program identified for youth of multicultural and First Nations backgrounds that reside within the Pies’ geographic zones.

Already boasting two currently listed graduates from the NGA in defenders Isaac Quaynor (2018) and Reef McInnes (2020), that number was doubled last month when the Magpies selected Zac McCarthy and Jai Saxena.

Both have been in the program since they were young teenagers, finding their way to the Pies through south-Asian heritage, with McCarthy’s mother Vietnamese and Saxena’s parents both Indian.

NGA Manager Steve Grace, who was at the Saxena household to present the small forward with his first black and white jumper a fortnight ago, was full of praise for the way the pair have gone about their journeys in the program.

“Zac has made an impact in all formats of Under 18 and school football this year and developed his game to a level that has him an official Collingwood player. His versatility and genuine ability to cover the ground as a big man are positive attributes that should hold him in good stead,” he said.

“Jai has continued to work hard on his physical presence and game craft throughout the year. This has been evident in his journey this year in and his game intelligence combined with smart forward craft makes him an exciting prospect for the Club.

“Both boys have been Collingwood NGA attendees since Under 13s and have consistently applied themselves to improve their games over the years. We are proud to have them following in the footsteps of Isaac and Reef as Collingwood NGA grown players.”

Saxena, who in 2026 will aim to become the first person with dual-Indian heritage to play AFL, said being involved in a Club like the Pies already was helpful in easing the nerves that can come throughout a draft year.

“It was really good to have Gracey and Dunny (Lynden Dunn) to help us through vision and how to build week on week and put ourselves in the best position to get drafted at the end of the year,” he said.

“That’s a really good benefit of an NGA program that you’re in a Club and you can just focus on what that club’s telling you.

“Rather than the unknown of all 18 clubs in the draft, you just know what you need to do to get here at the end of the year.

McCarthy reflected on his entire journey, saying both he and Saxena have come a long way, and paid tribute to the way it has helped him evolve throughout his teenage years.

“Neither of us were very good when we were 11 or 12 and even until we were about 16 but it was just small academy sessions back then and then in 2022, because during Covid there was a hiatus, every Monday we were in at the Club doing training, recovery and reviews,” McCarthy recalled.

“A bit of VFL and AFL opportunity popped up this year which was cool.

“Harmit Singh had a good program running before he left so this year it was quite similar built off that, we just had a lot more reviews and having Dunny and Garcey, you could learn off your games and get tips for improvement much easier.”

And for Quaynor and McInnes, who experienced the program now more than half-a-decade ago, it’s exciting to see players who have enjoyed a similar journey also reach their dream.

“It almost dangles the carrot in front of you to grind and train to eventually get there,” Quaynor said.

“I just remember doing a bunch of session on the floor and getting to use the pools, rubbing shoulders with a few of the boys. As a 16-year-old it’s awesome and definitely a big experience.

“Reef and I did a little bit of coaching stuff with the NGA younger crew as well which was pretty awesome to be able to put a bit of time into those younger lads who are coming up.

“To see these two boys who I’ve seen around the Club a little bit, to be able to see them do their thing and bring their strengths at training is really cool.”