SSP gives you the opportunity to just recruit a player you like.
MSD, being a draft, is different. And if we're serious about pushing up the ladder then we're gonna be picking somewhere between 6 and 10 depending on how many clubs have a spot open by then. Decent chance any standout immediate-impact types get taken before us.
Also - good chance we have an LTI in the first half of the year, freeing up a spot anyway. Take the SSP pick now to get a player into the system earlier, and the MSD is still likely an option later.
Interesting in the two mid-season drafts to date, if you look at the players who have played most from each of these drafts so far and what picks they were taken:
2019
Noble 44 games taken by Collingwood who were 12th in line
Snelling 41 games Bombers were 7th
Pickett 38 games Richmond were 13th
Gardner 21 games Dogs were 6th
2021
Newcombe 7 game Hawks were 2nd
Durham 7 games Bombers were 9th
Parker 6 games Tigers 8th
Sharman 5 games Saints were 20th
West 5 games Eagles were 21st
I think a lot of clubs with higher picks are going for more long term prospects. The small amount of history so far seems to indicate if you want a player for immediate impact then overwhelmingly most of those guys are going in the 7-21 range. Noble Snelling Pickett Gardner Durham Sharman have all looked pretty decent and none of those went in the first 6 picks.