Shepparton United product Riley Onley reflects on his week at Collingwood as part of AFL Academy training program

The Shepparton United product and Murray Bushranger soaked up a wealth of footy knowledge in the heart of AFL clubland, spending a week and change at Collingwood Football Club during January.

Walking into a $30 million complex everyday as 17-year-old approaching his draft year had its fair share of pinch-me moments, but Onley made sure his hands were never far from the footy when it came time for business.

“We were doing a clearance drill and I had Daicos on my team, and you get a clearance and give a handball to Daicos, it’s pretty unreal,” he said.

“Normally it’s a grown AFL player dominating a clearance and you’re getting them instead of him.

“Pendles drove me around everywhere which was very nice because I don’t have a license, so he drove me to all the activities we had off-site and that was pretty cool.

“One of the most prestigious players of all time driving you around and acting like a normal person was unreal.”

Onley was granted the opportunity to train at Collingwood through the AFL Academy program, giving the nation’s top draft prospects a taste of what the fruits of their labour might one day produce.

Sharing a car with one of the greatest midfielders the AFL has seen wasn’t the worst way for Onley, a big-bodied mid-operator, to acclimatise to his dream.

For some, it might even be a shade overwhelming.

Taking liberties isn’t in Onley’s vocabulary, though.

Reporting to the ground at 6:30am each day, this hungry young bull took Pendlebury’s sage words of advice as gospel and made his best attempt to impress during his time at the Pies.

“Pendles’ advice; he gave me two pieces and one was just to give one hundred per cent effort, one hundred per cent of the time otherwise you’re the odd one out,” he said.

“If you’re not going at a hundred per cent, you’re not at the level you should be.

“The other one was no matter how sore or tired you are, just keep smiling and running - basically just keep showing up, which is unreal.

“That’s why I showed up so early, trying to beat everyone there to show that you’re for real and not just joking around for the week.”

An appetite to excel bodes well in any profession.

Now, Onley has rubbed shoulders with AFL talent whose satiation for success is never satisfied.

During his short time at Collingwood, the teenage sensation forged a bond with Pendlebury, fellow Goulburn Valley product Steele Sidebottom as well as another key Magpie who he made sure to not to cross upon first meeting.

“Off-field, Brayden Maynard is the nicest guy you’d ever meet but on the field he’s so intimidating,” Onley said.

“At the start you’re so scared to talk to him and then he speaks to you and he’s genuinely the nicest guy - he said to message him whenever I want.

“Same with ‘Sidey’, I’m messaging now which is unreal.”

Sidebottom, Maynard; Onley’s text line is growing greater by the day, but among the more cherished contacts are those closer to his own age.

Twin phenoms Matt and Jack Whitlock have provided Onley with a fresh burst of belief, and after sharing a table with the Shepparton brothers during a successful draft night, Onley only has eyes for the AFL after his Collingwood junket.

“Going to draft night with them - I know it didn’t work out as planned for Jack on the first night - (but) it makes you want to do it even more,” he said.

“They come home and tell you about all the experiences and fun times, it just makes you want to be there with them and get to that level.

“And then being with Collingwood, I feel like it’s given me, not the upper hand, but it’s shown me how I have to train and play if I want to be at that level.

“It’s really given me confidence that I can produce something special this year to go really high and become a strong player in this year’s draft, which is pretty cool I reckon.”

Becoming a “strong player” is precisely the path Onley is on.

Countless hours in the gym and on the running track is transforming the 194cm beast into a potential top 10 draft pick, and scarily, the 17-year-old is only going to get better in 2025.

So to opposition mids he may face and AFL scouts alike, Onley has one parting message.

Watch out.

“I’m super keen to see what I can do this year,” he said.

“My pre-season has been unreal. I had a big focus on getting fit and strong, so I feel like it’s going to be a good year.”