KAYLE Kirby could become Collingwood Magpie number 1062 in 2017 after he was drafted by the club on Friday night.
After a nervous wait, Swan Hill’s Kirby heard 49 names called out before the 17-year-old finally got the nod from the black and whites.
His sensational rise was led by a superstar performance in the VFL for Richmond Tigers, kicking six and five goals in the final two matches.
The forward could slot into a position the Magpies have struggled with in recent years, but for now, his journey is only just beginning.
Kirby officially joins the ranks of Josh Jenkins (Adelaide) and Jesse Palmer (Port Adelaide) in the AFL with CMFNL alumni slowly filling professional rosters.
Kirby is the second Mallee player to be drafted this year, after Kerang’s Bella Ayre was picked up by Carlton for the AFLW.
For more on this story, check out Monday (November 28) and Wednesday’s (November 30) The Guardian.
