Sam Dwyer has shown, at 26, he's more than ready to make an immediate impact at AFL level. Picture:: Michael Klein Source: Herald Sun
SAM Dwyer worked as a postman to help make ends meet after moving to Melbourne in 2005 to pursue a VFL career.
Now, having finally got his chance to prove himself at footy's top level, Collingwood fans are hoping the 26-year-old will continue to deliver as he did last weekend against Carlton.
Dwyer had long given up on an AFL career when the Magpies made their initial inquiries midway through last year.
He'd been through the Geelong Falcons TAC Cup program in 2003-04, put together some decent seasons for Port Melbourne including a best and fairest winning year in 2009 and still AFL clubs had not come calling on him.
Dwyer was 25 when he was part of Port's march to a record-breaking VFL premiership in 2011 and, after missing out in the draft for an eighth consecutive year, had accepted the likelihood he would never reach footy's highest level.
"Definitely, I got to that point after that 2011 season,'' Dwyer said.
VFL. Williamstown v Port Melbourne. Avalon Airport Oval. Sam Dwyer marks on his knees Picture: Chris Scott Source: Leader
"Especially as a small. I understand as a tall there's probably a greater opportunity for mature-aged players to get picked up, so I thought that my chance of getting a crack had gone.''
In truth, Dwyer was lucky to even get to that point.
After three seasons spent in Port Melbourne's reserves side, former Hawthorn and Carlton midfielder Daniel Harford convinced Dwyer to come down to Eastern Football League club Balwyn for a few training sessions in the summer of 2007-08.
It was Dwyer's very own sliding doors moment.
"Definitely, I was close to leaving ... my confidence was low, I wasn't sure if I was up to the level,'' he said.
"At that stage I was doing an electrical apprenticeship. As any apprentice knows the money when you're starting out isn't great, so the money would have helped.
"But in the end I wasn't playing football for the money, I was playing because I love it.
"It was more about proving to myself and everyone else, from Warrnambool and family and friends, that I could play at that level.''
Dwyer credits Gary Ayres, who was hired as Port Melbourne coach around the same time, for turning his career around and giving him the confidence to play well at senior VFL level.
And it was Ayres who called Dwyer to tell him he'd been recruited to Collingwood in December last year after the then-qualified electrician decided to go to work on the day of the rookie draft rather than tune in on the radio or via the internet.
Dwyer admitted he was forced to think that an AFL career just wasn't meant to be when the Magpies got in touch with him last season.
After meeting with the Pies one Tuesday, Dwyer discovered days later that a knock he copped to his left leg the weekend before had fractured his fibula.
It forced him out of the next six games.
Luckily, it didn't deter the Magpies from recruiting him.
Dwyer said he had "no idea'' why now, after all this time, he had been given a chance.
But after being elevated off the rookie list as a long-term injury replacement for Tim Broomhead (glandular fever) before Round 1 he is taking his chance and running with it.
Even if he is, admittedly, turning mistakes into golden moments along the way - just like his first goal against the Blues last week.
"`I had no idea he was there,'' Dwyer said of Carlton's Kane Lucas, who missed a tackle on the Magpie as he ran in to goal from 50m out.
"Thankfully, I shrugged him off,'' he said.
"It was probably a mistake to play on, but maybe it wasn't in the end.''
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