Cook an unsuspecting Pie
1:17:11 PM Thu 19 January, 2006
Matt Burgan
Exclusive to afl.com.au



When Ryan Cook was planning his lot for 2006 towards the end of last year, it didn't include being drafted by Collingwood.

It wasn't that he didn't want to be drafted by Collingwood - or any other club for that matter - it's just that the 17-year-old who turns 18 in February was convinced that he would be lining up for the Dandenong Stingrays in the TAC Cup in 2006.

"I was actually asphalting and was doing a bit of labouring around the place after I finished school, so I was just going to play footy (for Dandenong Stingrays) and just see what happened (this year)," Cook told afl.com.au.

But that all changed when he was the fourth player selected - No.23 overall - by Collingwood in last November's 2005 NAB AFL Draft. From that point his plans quickly altered.

"I was up in Queensland on draft day and I was around all of my mates at the time, and to have your name called out was just a buzz and was really actually pretty surprising," Cook said.

"I was looking forward to playing at Stingrays this year, but to be drafted to the Pies is just amazing. It's awesome."

"I was there for a week and I left on draft day to come back to Melbourne, so I was leaving the apartment and my phone started going berserk and I had (Collingwood president) Eddie McGuire ringing me and (Collingwood skipper) Nathan Buckley and I was just shocked."

But Cook, who will wear No.29, was well aware of Collingwood's interest leading up to the draft.

"The Pies came down to my house and had a chat to me and the family and spoke to us one-on-one, so that gave me a bit of confidence about the Pies," he said.

"I knew they were interested, but I didn't think much about it leading into it," said Cook, who used to barrack for Melbourne although his family supports Collingwood.

Despite not attending last year's NAB AFL Draft Camp, Cook was a member of the Victorian state-based screening - he recorded a best 'beep test' level of 13.7.

He also kicked three goals in the TAC Cup grand final on the MCG last year, an effort he believes got him over the line and subsequently drafted.

"Year-wise, before the grand final, I thought I had a really good year and I was really happy with the way my footy was going, but it (the grand final performance) was the icing on the cake, for sure," Cook said.

"I was pretty rapt with the grand final game, although we lost, but it was great to be out there, but I'd say (that performance) topped it off."

So along with studying for a Sports Certificate this year, Cook's main focus in 2006 will be his football. And he might be a chance to line-up in Collingwood's NAB Cup campaign.

"They (the coaching staff) haven't really said that much, but they've said a bit about the NAB Cup and that they might put us in early and have a look at us then, which is pretty exciting.

"(I'm) just hoping to have a crack early and break through, but I'll probably be playing at Willy (Williamstown) and we'll see what happens from there."

Full article from collingwoodfc.com.au

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