That's not my point Skyhorse.
My point in a nutshell is that if at the end of the year, Rankine was rated second best player overall at 9.2/10 and King rated best at 9.4/10; just take the need and don't further unbalance our list. Why? Because when I look back at history the number 1 vs the number 2 pick pick which is in effect best available versus second best available in theory shows up the following:
1. Boyd vs 2. Kelly
1. Mcartin vs 2. Petracca
1. Weitering vs 2. Schache
1. Mcgrath vs 2. Taranto
Not much in it so pick who we need. And then as an aside to that, if King (defender) is one, overlook the ****** as we don't need him.
I'd side with this argument in most cases, but there are some other things to take into consideration.
Let's just for the sake of the argument use the Lukosius vs Rankine scenario, given Max King is down.
1. KP Forward vs mid.
So we need mids more than we need forwards given we have CCurnow, McKay, possibly Weitering and then Kerr & TDK?
Fine, but the majority are still largely unproven and Lukosius isn't a stay at home forward. I know, none are, but also not many have the capacity to use the ground the way he can at his height. The right key forward is possibly the toughest player to get right via the draft process, as one can argue that the likes of Boyd, Schache, Patton and McCartin have all be 'relative' failures and if one presents that has all the right traits for a modern forward, it's may be just a little tough to ignore.
2. Character
Would you sooner Nick Riewoldt or Harvey Bennell? Now, that's obviously not meant in any way to be a slight on Rankine, but given that the crude comparisons have popped up elsewhere, let's run with them. It's something we can't gauge from here, but obviously a key piece in the drafting process.
Brayshaw wasn't the second best talent in the land last year, but was the right long-term player for Fremantle, given his character profile.
3. Trade / FA
Not all required players are going to come out of the draft and if SOS has the sound understanding he'll acquire the mids (albeit, mature mids) he wants via other means, it may just suit us better. Then again they may not even be quite so mature if he targets the inured Setterfield, or the like.
Generally speaking and I have put this forward many times before; Somehow the player you deem to be the best player available with your early picks, just happens to be the type you want. That's no quirk but just he way a recruiter is swayed into considering the bigger picture and sometimes also, it just doesn't work out the way you wanted it to.