It was an impressive season and Mahoney is hopeful he has done enough to get another chance at AFL level. He will again nominate for the draft. The possibility remains that he could even earn himself a place on the Bombers' senior list. ""I was happy with the season. One of my goals was to make the State team and I did that,"" Mahoney said. ""I also wanted to work on a couple of aspects of my game that I needed to improve on. I did some work with John Quinn to improve my pace and Dean Bailey and David Flood worked on my skills so that I now use the ball more effectively.""
Mahoney played most of the season across half forward for the Bombers but showed his versatility by moving into the midfield when the likes of Cory McGrath were called on to play senior football. ""I just have to hope that someone is prepared to give me another chance. I want to play AFL football and that is why I stayed in the system after the Bulldogs delisted me. I was thinking of heading interstate but thought playing at Essendon would give me a better chance.""
Mahoney spent most of his time at Collingwood playing in a back pocket. ""Collingwood picked me up from Williamstown at number 84 in the draft. I played in defence and after my second year they traded me to the Western Bulldogs in exchange for Tyson Lane,"" Mahoney said. ""Collingwood was looking for a goal-kicking forward and the Bulldogs wanted someone to replace Brad Wira who had returned to Perth.""
""My last game for the Bulldogs was in a final against Brisbane and I went okay in that game so it was pretty disappointing when they told me that I was to be de-listed,"" Mahoney said. ""They told me they had too many medium-sized mid-fielders and that was the reason they were letting me go. It was the same reason they let Jim Plunkett go."" Plunkett was promoted to Carlton's senior list late in 2001 and played superb football.
Mahoney grew up just around the corner from Windy Hill and had always followed the Bombers. ""After I was de-listed I really wasn't sure what to do. I rang up Terry Daniher and had a chat to him and he told me to come down and train over the summer. I did that and decided to stay,"" Mahoney said.
A broken jaw against Geelong slowed Mahoney's progress. He required surgery and now has a pin and a couple of screws in his jaw. But it won't detract from what was a very impressive season. At 23, Mahoney is in the prime of his football career. It won't surprise anyone at Windy Hill if his name is read out on draft day 2001.
