Australian Football

Originally from East Fremantle, Collingwood's Tarkyn Lockyer will be remembered as one of the great products of the AFL's rookie draft, which numbers amongst its ranks such names as Matthew Boyd, Josh Boyd and Lockyer's teammate, Nick Maxwell. Lockyer was taken with pick 39 of the 1998 pre-season rookie draft, and he was the Magpies' third pick, behind George Bakoulas and Mark Matthews.

While neither Bakoulas nor Matthews went on to make a senior appearance, Tarkyn Lockyer went on to forge a fine career at Victoria Park, one which comprised 227 games, 149 goals and four top-five Copeland Trophy finishes.

Lockyer broke into Collingwood's senior side in Round 8 of his first season with the Pies, selected in the back pocket. He picked up only seven touches in that match, which the Magpies won by 40 points against Fremantle, but did enough to retain his place the following week. In fact, Lockyer did not miss another match that season, the standout performance being a 22-possession, one-goal game in a loss to Carlton.

When Mick Malthouse took over the coaching reins from Tony Shaw the following season, Lockyer remained a firm coach's favourite, and he played in all but one of Collingwood's 22 games, averaging 17 possessions. So impressive was his season that he finished second only to Nathan Buckley in the 2000 Copeland Trophy count.

The following season played the first 20 games but missed the last two home-and-away games and the finals as the Magpies came within a whisker of winning a flag. Having spent more time in the midfield, Lockyer added the goal-kicking string to his bow, averaging one per game as well as 19 touches. He again polled well in the club's best-and-fairest award, finishing fifth.

Another fine season followed in 2002. The Magpies made the Grand Final again, albeit a losing one, and Lockyer played all 25 of Collingwood's games, his consistently fine form him earning him another top-five Copeland finish, this time in fourth place.

Still only 22 years old, Tarkyn Lockyer appeared to have the world at his feet early in 2003, but footballing tragedy struck in Collingwood's Round 3 match against Geelong, an ACL injury sustained early in that game requiring a full reconstruction. Lockyer would not make another senior appearance until the middle of the 2004 season.

When he finally made it back into the Magpies' side in Round 10, 2004, Lockyer continued his career as though he hadn't missed a game. He played all remaining games in that season, and did not miss any the following year or in 2006, a year which saw Collingwood return to finals. The Pies were beaten by the Western Bulldogs in the Elimination Final that year, but Lockyer was one of the best in a losing side, collecting 22 touches and kicking a goal.

The Magpies became somewhat of a force from 2007 onwards, and Lockyer was at the forefront of Collingwood's push towards a premiership. The Pies made it to Preliminary Finals in 2007 and 2009, and a Semi-Final in 2008, and during that period Lockyer did not miss a game, his consistent reliability earning him another Copeland Trophy 'podium finish' in 2007, when he finished third.

Sadly for Lockyer, his form wavered in 2010 just as the Magpies were peaking, and he found himself in and out of the team which went on to claim its 15th premiership. Lockyer played 11 games that year, mostly as a small forward, and was overlooked when the Grand Final side was selected. When that match ended in a draw, Lockyer believed he was a good chance to be selected for the Grand Final Replay¹, but he missed again, ultimately being named an emergency for both matches, and he was watching from the sidelines as his teammates triumphed.

Lockyer promptly retired, joining the ranks of great players who probably deserved to taste premiership success but never did so.

Upon hanging up the boots. Lockyer took the reins of the Magpies' VFL side, and since then held a number of coaching roles at the club, including Midfield Development Coach, and his current position, Head Development Coach, in which he oversees the growth of the latest group of new arrivals at Collingwood.

Author - Andrew Gigacz