Last year, the promising 19yearold last year played second fiddle to Essendon's senior gloveman and former skipper Brent Hutchinson. He looked destined to serving a long and frustrating apprenticeship in the seconds until the departure of Panthers keeper Ricky Damiano last season.

Collins' arrival at Shepley Oval appears to have sparked a chain reaction of success. The young keeper led the competition with most dismissals: 11 (10 catches and a stumping) after four rounds. The Panthers won two out of three games after losing their first four last year.

He said he was ``rapt'' to be given the opportunity to fulfil his potential by Dandenong coach Warren Ayres.

``I couldn't crack a permanent spot at Essendon because of Brent who was the senior keeper and captain at the time.

``He was going to be around for a while so I knew how long I would have stuck in the seconds before I got my chance.

I'm rapt to have been given the chance by Dandenong, it's worked out really well so far and I'd love to repay their faith and confidence by becoming a good, solid Premier Cricket keeper, and a long-serving player at Dandenong.''

Collins, who is studying pharmaceutical science at Bundoora RMIT, said keeping to arguably the best pace attack in the competition comprising Bushrangers Darren and James Pattinson, Paul Boraston, and Australian Test bowler Peter Siddle, would help develop his career.

``Keeping to those guys can only help my game.

``I'm looking forward to keeping to James, I've seen him bowl before and he looks really quick.

``I can't wait to take a few from a bloke like Peter Siddle when he's not playing for Victoria or Australia.

``I've kept to Darren and he was able to get a lot of carry and is the quickest I've kept to.

``Playing with guys like Darren Dempsey [Dandenong captain] who is probably the best batsman in the competition, and against guys like Graeme Rummins [dual Jack Ryder Medallist and St Kilda batsman] in my first game, you learn so much from them.