First year defender Sam Collins has only played three games in his young career, but the mature-age recruit has benefited from his long wait to get to AFL level, according to Lee Spurr and Michael Barlow.
 
Spurr and Barlow are no strangers to coming in as mature age recruits, with both having honed their craft at the state levels before making their Freo debuts at age 24 and 22 respectively.
 
Spurr, who played with Central Districts in the SANFL, said Collins had delivered what has been asked of him since making his debut for Freo.
 
“He’s played some really good footy since coming over from the VFL system with the Box Hill Hawks,” Spurr said.
 
“He’s a mature age player, big bodied, so he’s slotted in and is ready to compete and that’s all we want from him.

No "perfect science" for Barlow revival
 
“We’re seeing that on a week to week basis and you can’t ask for anything more.”
 
Barlow, who was drafted out of Werribee in the VFL, said Collins has reaped the benefits of being able to develop his game against AFL calibre players before coming into the AFL system.
 
“The maturity of your body, and in the SANFL and VFL you’re competing against professional athletes on a weekly basis (which is an advantage).” Barlow said.
 
In addition to the quality opponents you can face at the state level, Barlow said Collins’ transition had been made easier due to his 194cm, 92kg frame that he’d developed over the years.
 
“You see a guy like Sam Collins come in and he’s probably a sports scientist’s dream because he comes in ready made and there’s not many adaptations to diet or strength programs to make him ready,” he said.
 
“From that aspect there’s a big advantage to coming from the state background.”