Making his mark

By Melissa Grant and Brad Kingsbury
PAKENHAM teenager Tyson Goldsack will find out tonight (Thursday) if he will make his AFL debut with Collingwood against the Western Bulldogs this Sunday.
The 19-year-old has trained hard since joining Collingwood last November but says he still can’t believe that he could be playing senior football as soon as this weekend.
“When I was drafted I was told not to get my expectations up too high as it would probably take a while,” he said.
Goldsack is among the 25 players in consideration for Sunday’s game against the Western Bulldogs but will discover tonight whether he has made the starting 22.
Last week Goldsack was named an emergency for the Magpies clash against Carlton.
He is a good chance to make his debut against the Western Bulldogs on Sunday after a best afield performance for VFL affiliate Williamstown on Sunday.
Goldsack was a little sheepish when asked if playing for the AFL powerhouse would be a dream come true.
“That’s a bit of an understatement,” he said.
Goldsack joined 18 other Collingwood players for a clinic at Toomuc Reserve oval yesterday afternoon.
Collingwood stars including club captain Nathan Buckley, Anthony Rocca, Dale Thomas, Heath Shaw, Scott Burns, Tarkyn Lockyer, Brodie Holland and Scott Pendlebury treated 540 students from the district to super-clinic.
Players introduced themselves to the grade three to six students, doing signings and posing for photos before some kick to kick action.
Gippsland Power coach and regional development manager for the Latrobe Region Adrian Hickmott said the clinic was part of the AFL’s extension of its product into the area.
Collingwood also held a clinic at Bunyip yesterday and players have visited Cranbourne Secondary College and Berwick Lodge primary school in recent weeks.
Mr Hickmott said most AFL clubs were quite happy to have their best players visit the region.
“Clubs, especially Collingwood, are happy to send out their best players to promote the AFL and their own brand,” he said.