COLLINGWOOD recruit Riley Mason has garnered attention after booting four goals on his VFL debut, as the Magpies beat Sydney by 25 points at Victoria Park on Saturday. The 23-year-old earned a state league berth after posting 72 goals in 18 games for Goulburn Valley League side Seymour last year.

Mason is a product of the Calder Cannons program, graduating in 2021 before being listed by Coburg for 2022. Despite not managing a game there, he has come on strongly since and held his own against AFL-listed opposition over the weekend. We put his performance under the Player Focus microscope.

Pretty handy debut for Collingwood VFL newcomer Riley Mason, booting four goals against Sydney. The 195cm forward kicked 72 goals from 18 matches for Seymour last year.

— Paul Amy (@PaulAmy375) March 22, 2025

PLAYER FOCUS

2025 VFL Round 1
Collingwood 13.6 (84) def. Sydney Swans 8.11 (59)

#67 Riley Mason (Collingwood VFL)
Key Forward | 195cm | 15/02/2002

Stats: 10 disposals (100% efficiency), 2 marks, 2 tackles, 1 inside 50, 4 goals

FIRST HALF:

The first half was an arm-wrestle, reading like a soccer scoreline at three goals to two in favour of the Magpies. That translated to Mason’s output, with both defences picking off wasteful forward 50 entries and Swans interceptors Aaron Francis and Will Edwards having a field day.

Perhaps the numbers which best prove that sentiment were Sydney’s 130 disposals and 19 inside 50s before registering a major – five minutes into term two. A lack of clean and concise build-up meant Mason struggled to get involved as a marking target, though he only needed one opportunity to do so.

The debutant benefitted from a more purposeful passage to hit up on a sharp short lead, marking uncontested before slotting his maiden goal in the opening quarter. Presenting at the kicker and making the Swans defenders accountable as they looked to peel off and intercept seemed like his best bet.

SECOND HALF:

The game opened up after half time with both sides having blown out the cobwebs, and Mason came to life as a result. He slotted three goals in the third quarter as Collingwood straightened up to add six straight to its scoreline and set up a game-high lead.

While unable to clunk a couple of overhead marks inside 50, Mason began to thrive off his side’s speedy end-to-end transitions. He showed great dexterity to stay with the play after a marking attempt, recovering the ground ball and snapping his second goal under pressure.

The 23-year-old wasn’t done there, benefitting from a couple of impactful Ed Allan plays. The AFL-listed youngster burst through the corridor to catch Sydney’s defence unawares, resulting in Mason nabbing a joe-the-goose goal over the back from the goalsquare.

Mason made it three for the term after being infringed in the marking contest on Allan’s centring kick. He made good on the chance – his most straightforward set shot conversion – to hammer home Collingwood’s ascendancy.

SUMMARY

Mason showed great promise on his state league debut, impacting the scoreboard in a forwardline consisting of young talls like Charlie West and Liam Hude. While still relatively wiry, he has proven himself in senior competitions and clearly has an eye for goal – both over the mark and in open play.

The mature-ager has now put his name on the map as a potential mid-season draft candidate, though there is a long way to go yet. He still has improvement left in his game, perhaps looking to become more one-touch at ground level and in contested marking situations – particularly up the ground.

Still, Mason’s ability to utilise smart leading lanes and gain separation from his opponent allowed him to produce shots on goal. Doing so in a game where tall defenders – AFL-listed ones at that – filled their boots was impressive. What’s more, he has quite sound skills for a player his size. One to watch.