- Nov 17, 2000
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I think sometimes we are too hard on the Eagles on drafting. Every year there are around 6 to 10 top rookies in the draft and the rest are a real gamble. 10 seasons in the finals has left poor crumbs. Dont forget that the bottom eight plus priority picks snap up those top ten first unless you trade. Good example is Freo boasting about drafting Pavlich and Haselby, but they got those two first with an extra pick for only five wins. Who wouldn't recruit well with those picks. Look at the two guys St Kilda got after last year, top recruits. On draft day there is always a list of the top players available, the best are well known and have been specially tested with results well known. No matter how clever your draft manager may be those top six will go to the clubs with the first picks. A decade ago we wasted choices on Brennan etc but in recent years we have got Cuz, Gardy, Glass, Morrison, Wirra,Kerr, Braun and some good looking players coming through from the WAFL. Take the gifts of Pavlich and Haselby out of Freo's recruiting and what's left to compare with the Eagles. Not a lot I would say.