Collingwood swoop on high-leaping Jack Hutchinson and Wonthaggi teammate Ryan Sparkes for VFL team next year

Leading Wonthaggi players Jack Hutchinson and Ryan Sparkes are making the move to the VFL, linking with Josh Fraser’s Collingwood.

Fraser last night confirmed the Magpies had signed both players and were excited by their potential.

Collingwood premiership player and Wonthaggi Power senior coach Jarryd Blair steered them to the Woods.

Hutchinson’s high marking prompts the nickname “Jumping Jack’’ and in the past two years he has emerged as one of the Gippsland league’s best players.

The forward kicked 34 goals from 14 matches this year, including four in a final against eventual premier Leongatha.

Last year he booted 38 goals.

Wonthaggi football manager and assistant coach Stuart Gilmour said Hutchinson was starting to take his football seriously.

“He’s a, ‘I’d rather go surfing,’ sort of bloke,’’ Gilmour said.

“But Jarryd and ‘Trigger’ (assistant coach and former Collingwood rookie Tristan Francis) have persisted in saying, ‘Go and have a look’. They’ve chipped away at him and he’s gone down (to Collingwood) and he’s buying into it. He’s brought into the next level.

“His athleticism, his run and jump, his vertical leap … he would have ticked all the boxes at the testing if he’d gone through that (Coates Talent League) system. He marks the footy really well. He does everything well. It’s just that no one has noticed him, because he never worried about Gippy Power. He got invited but he was happy to stay home with his mates.’’

Sparkes is among the leading on-ballers in the Gippsland league and is set for his second stint in the VFL: he played seven matches for Casey Demons in 2021.

At under 18 level he was highly regarded at Gippsland Power in 2019.

“He’s matured up physically in the past two years with us,’’ Gilmour said.

“He’s a workhorse, he’s elite by foot, his gut-running is incredible. Superstar.’’

Sparkes gained selection in this year’s Gippsland league team of the year.

Gilmour said Hutchinson and Sparkes were travelling from South Gippsland twice a week to train with the Magpies but after Christmas would relocate to Melbourne.

“They’re going to move down and have a real crack at it,’’ he said.

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Collingwood VFL has also signed delisted Hawthorn midfielder Ned Long.

But the Pies have lost 100-game stalwart Lachie Tardrew, who will play country football for Sandhurst next year.

There are also doubts over Campbell Hustwaite, even as he trains with the AFL squad for a listing via the pre-season supplemental selection period (SSP).