CTV > Cameron Wood interview

New Magpie ruckman Cameron Wood spoke to CTV after playing his first game in the black and white stripes last Saturday.

The former Brisbane Lion, who will celebrate his 21st birthday next week, was traded to Collingwood for pick 14 at the end of last season, and was pleased with his first outing as a Magpie in the regional challenge match against the Eagles in Albany, Western Australia.

Wood’s performance was extremely encouraging against the Eagles.

He was able to compete very well in the ruck against the class pairing of Dean Cox and Mark Seaby, and went forward with great effect, booting two goals and taking some strong marks. His mobility was also on show, with one of his goals on the run sailing through from 50-metre range.

“I had my first game for the club the other day over in Albany, it was really good to put the black and white on for the first time and I went ok against big Coxy and Seaby, so hopefully I can continue that,” Wood said at the Lexus Centre after training on Wednesday.

By his own admission, his fitness has improved markedly since coming to the Lexus Centre, while he has bulked up considerably and is now listed at 204 centimetres and 105 kilograms.

“The pre-season’s been good, it was nice and hot for most of it.

“I did a lot more running than I did in previous years and put on a little bit of weight, so I’m getting stronger and fitter.”

Since coming to Collingwood after 16 promising games in three seasons with the Lions, including an AFL Rising Star nomination earned early in 2007, Wood has had the chance to learn off one of his boyhood heroes, Josh Fraser.

“He was one of my favourite players growing up, I had him on my wall, so that was good. I’m in his mentor group at the club, so he’s keeping an eye on me.”

Magpie fans will have the chance to see Wood and his team mates on show in Melbourne for the first time in 2008 when the club takes on Port Adelaide at MC Labour Park at 2pm this Saturday.

After a young side valiantly went down to a far more experienced West Coast line-up, Collingwood will select a more experienced side to take on last year’s runners-up, as preparation for round one against Fremantle intensifies.

“We obviously didn’t win over in Albany last week, but we had a pretty young team, there will probably be a few changes this week, I think we’ll give Port a fair crack this week and hopefully come up with a win.”

Click on the link above to watch the full Cameron Wood interview on CTV, including hgihlights from his performance against West Coast last weekend.