Pick 27

[Baird]

Just so people know our pick 66 will end up being low 50's, maybe even in the 40's because of the amount of draft picks clubs will have to use to match the bid for their academy draftees.

 

[Baltimore Jack]

Wingard and Rioli were top 10 picks. Walters went later because he was perceived to have off-field issues. Betts went late, but that was a long time ago - it also took him ages to consistently contribute. The likelihood of us jagging a good one with our picks is extremely unlikely. I'd prefer us to back in our rotating mids like Swan, Sidebottom, Broomhead. It'll also give us the added advantage of more midfield run.

Close, he was pick 12

 

[MightyRoar]

Gee I loved watching Andy Krakouer play for us in 2011. Absolute gun. Sold candy like nobody's business! He is exactly what we need!

He was good to watch and is exactly the type of player we need......it was a pitty we got rid of him but unfortunately he just had too many personal and family issues going on!!

 

[partypie]

Second biggest myth is that our team is too short. Only Blair and Elliott on our list are sub 180cm.

It's not a myth - we have consistently gotten shown up by the bigger bodied midfields over the past 3-4 years and we are hopeless at centre clearances a lot of the time because we have been getting muscled out of the way. We have had a lot of guys in the 180-185cm range, not much bigger than that apart from pendles and probably only pendles, swanny and maybe beams could have been considered to be "big bodied").

 

[Apex36]

It's not a myth - we have consistently gotten shown up by the bigger bodied midfields over the past 3-4 years and we are hopeless at centre clearances a lot of the time because we have been getting muscled out of the way. We have had a lot of guys in the 180-185cm range, not much bigger than that apart from pendles and probably only pendles, swanny and maybe beams could have been considered to be "big bodied").

I'm not sure you understand the concept of 'big bodied' versus short. You can try and spin it any way you like, but Collingwood isn't full of short people. 180cm+ is fine if the player develops their core strength well. Adams sits in your 180-185cm range and he is a bull. As is greenwood. In fact, almost our entire core midfield group of Pendlebury, Swan, Adams, Crisp, Greenwood, and Sidebottom could be classed as big bodied, with only Sidey being the exception.

Stop perpetuationg the myth please.

 

[DaVe86]

Dont mind the look of bonner. Probably gone by our pick.

 

[The Prince 29]

Jade Gresham anyone, 178cm, but he can wear long the stops.
"Few have been able to stop Gresham in 2015. The Northern Knights captain, who is Indigenous, was equal runner-up in the TAC Cup's Morrish Medal, won the TAC Cup Coaches Award, the Knights' best and fairest, and Vic Metro's MVP award.
In 13 games for the Northern Knights this year he averaged nearly 30 disposals, which was a strong blend of 12 contested touches and 18 uncontested (and five tackles and five clearances)."

 

[partypie]

I'm not sure you understand the concept of 'big bodied' versus short. You can try and spin it any way you like, but Collingwood isn't full of short people. 180cm+ is fine if the player develops their core strength well. Adams sits in your 180-185cm range and he is a bull. As is greenwood. In fact, almost our entire core midfield group of Pendlebury, Swan, Adams, Crisp, Greenwood, and Sidebottom could be classed as big bodied, with only Sidey being the exception.

Stop perpetuationg the myth please.

The proof has been there for anyone to see that we've had what would be considered to be an undersized midfield for the past 3-4 years and it's has been commented upon regularly that we struggle against the bigger bodied midfields from the better teams. Spin it any way you like but we've been light on for size in the midfield for a while, which is exactly why we've gone for kids like DeGoey and Crisp with a bit of size about them - it's no accident that a bloke like Crispo has been able to do a solid job on bigger opposition midfielders.

Those acquisitions (Adams, Crisp, DeGoey and to a lesser extent Greenwood) have come along in the past couple of years and are a step in the right direction, but the kids still need a couple of years of development in them yet before we'll be considered to be one of the better bigger bodied midfields running around.

The idea of a bigger bodied midfielder has moved on nowadays from your traditional a short squat "collingwood six-footer" bull to the 6'2"+ / 88-90+kg type that runs all day and is still a monster at the stoppages - we've got a couple of those to help Pendles out now so we're in better shape than we have been in recent times.

 

[Scodog10]

The proof has been there for anyone to see that we've had what would be considered to be an undersized midfield for the past 3-4 years and it's has been commented upon regularly that we struggle against the bigger bodied midfields from the better teams. Spin it any way you like but we've been light on for size in the midfield for a while, which is exactly why we've gone for kids like DeGoey and Crisp with a bit of size about them - it's no accident that a bloke like Crispo has been able to do a solid job on bigger opposition midfielders.

Those acquisitions (Adams, Crisp, DeGoey and to a lesser extent Greenwood) have come along in the past couple of years and are a step in the right direction, but the kids still need a couple of years of development in them yet before we'll be considered to be one of the better bigger bodied midfields running around.

The idea of a bigger bodied midfielder has moved on nowadays from your traditional a short squat "collingwood six-footer" bull to the 6'2"+ / 88-90+kg type that runs all day and is still a monster at the stoppages - we've got a couple of those to help Pendles out now so we're in better shape than we have been in recent times.

Nothing to do with size and everything to do with structure.

 

[Apex36]

The proof has been there for anyone to see that we've had what would be considered to be an undersized midfield for the past 3-4 years and it's has been commented upon regularly that we struggle against the bigger bodied midfields from the better teams. Spin it any way you like but we've been light on for size in the midfield for a while, which is exactly why we've gone for kids like DeGoey and Crisp with a bit of size about them - it's no accident that a bloke like Crispo has been able to do a solid job on bigger opposition midfielders.

Those acquisitions (Adams, Crisp, DeGoey and to a lesser extent Greenwood) have come along in the past couple of years and are a step in the right direction, but the kids still need a couple of years of development in them yet before we'll be considered to be one of the better bigger bodied midfields running around.

The idea of a bigger bodied midfielder has moved on nowadays from your traditional a short squat "collingwood six-footer" bull to the 6'2"+ / 88-90+kg type that runs all day and is still a monster at the stoppages - we've got a couple of those to help Pendles out now so we're in better shape than we have been in recent times.

Height literally has nothing to do with any of what you've said. Scodog is on the money when he says our structures are much more of an issue than the size of our players.

 

[Hardas]

We're getting off-topic, I know, but is there anywhere that the public can access footage like centre square stoppages etc? Does Fox provide stuff like that, for example?

 

[wednesdaywarrior]

There is so little time and space in the modern forward 50 that gun ground ball winning small forwards are bloody hard to come by and are basically gun midfielders without a tank. To me the only small forwards who would make a significant difference to our team are: Rioli, Walters, Betts and Wingard. Wingard will become a midfielder, rioli would be a midfielder if it wasn't for his hammies. Betts and Walters probably should have become midfielders, as they have all the attributes.

Our best small forward of recent years was Krakouer, who was recruited whilst playing and starring in WA as an inside midfielder. Before anyone says Davis and Didak - Davis played two good years - the first one when he finally built the tank to play as a midfielder/high half forward, the second one when he had the freedom of playing as a running defender. For the majority of his career, he was a flaky inconsistent forward pocket. Dids was a star playing high half forward/midfield.

The point I'm trying to make is that you don't recruit players to be small forwards, you recruit potential midfielders, you make sure that a lot of them have the scope to play in other positions, rather than being pure mids, because chances are if you are not good enough to play midfield in lower leagues, you probably won't be able to win a ground level ball in the most congested part of the ground - the Collingwood forward line.

Fair post. Do you feel that Broomhead has scope in this regard? I have a hunch Broomhead with confidence and a clean bill of health for a whole season could really evolve into a dangerous forward with scope to play midfield. I really like his goal kicking instincts, he's very quick and instinctive. It would be great to have someone like Daicos or Didak back at the Club mentoring him in this role and trying to add tricks to his reportoire.

 

[wednesdaywarrior]

Gee I loved watching Andy Krakouer play for us in 2011. Absolute gun. Sold candy like nobody's business! He is exactly what we need!

I wish the Club had used some of its considerable funds to try and clone Karakouer. It would be great to have one permanently on the list.

 

[jmac70]

I wish the Club had used some of its considerable funds to try and clone Karakouer. It would be great to have one permanently on the list.

Recruiting more Aboriginal players would be a good place to start.

 

[Apex36]

Recruiting more Aboriginal players would be a good place to start.

I'd rather the club simply recruited the best available player. If said player happens to be Aboriginal, great, but recruiting a specific race to fill a quota isn't the way a club should operate.

(Not that I think that's what you're neccessarily implying).

 

[AmellyPies]

Recruiting more Aboriginal players would be a good place to start.

I'm Indigenous and feel the same but I'd rather we get the best possible players out there.

 

[TradeDraft]

I'd rather the club simply recruited the best available player. If said player happens to be Aboriginal, great, but recruiting a specific race to fill a quota isn't the way a club should operate.

(Not that I think that's what you're neccessarily implying).

Hine almost Always go best Available.

Only time I might did not do that and went Postion. Was when we Drafted Schranberg over Aish

 

[jmac70]

I'm Indigenous and feel the same but I'd rather we get the best possible players out there.

I think it has to be a balance. Most other AFL teams seem to have more Aboriginal players than us and I think it is definitely an area we should be actively addressing.

 

[AmellyPies]

I think it has to be a balance. Most other AFL teams seem to have more Aboriginal players than us and I think it is definitely an area we should be actively addressing.

Oh yeah we should defiantly balance it out for sure, I was excited for getting Travis Varcoe just because I wasn't able to really see any Indigenous talent apart from Tony Armstrong.

 

[AmellyPies]

I think it has to be a balance. Most other AFL teams seem to have more Aboriginal players than us and I think it is definitely an area we should be actively addressing.

Plus thats why I really want Ayiden Johnson in the draft.

 

[jmac70]

Plus thats why I really want Ayiden Johnson in the draft.

He looks like an exciting prospect.

 

[Hardas]

Well, speaking of 'best available', here's the updated, top part of the second round talent according to the highly respected poster Chris25:
***Please note: he hasn't updated the clubs' draft choices yet, so I've deleted them.
Anybody here that you've seen or like?
24. - Aidyn Johnson (184cm, 75kg midfielder from Bendigo Pioneers)
Outside the first round, Johnson is another one of my favourite players. He is yet another player to struggle through injury this season, his quad kept him out of the Championships which is a shame. What I like, is that he really offers something that not many others do in the draft. He is quick on the outside and a threat around goals. Probably more of a half forward than midfielder, but he could push up on a wing once he builds his strength and his fitness.

25. - Nick Coughlan (195cm, 83kg defender from Murray Bushrangers)
Evidently I like Coughlan more than others, I've had him around my top 30 all season while he initially only received an invite to the State Screening this year. Overlooked as an 18 year old forward last year, he has really impressed as a tall defender in 2015 - having made his debut and not looked out of place in the Footscray VFL side. He was always agile for a player his size, he just looks more comfortable playing behind the ball. Good level of attack to his game too.

26. - Harrison Himmelberg (192cm, 84kg forward from Eastlake)
One of my favourite players all year, I've been talking him up since the very early rounds of 2015. And I'll continue to do so. He's had a good year as a 19 year old, he's inconsistent but his best is as good as anyones. Gets compared to McCarthy because of the hair, but they do share some similarities. Himmelberg is more your third tall forward though, if he can improve his goal kicking he'll be a serious threat because he moves and marks well.

27. - Sam Skinner (197cm, 96kg forward/defender from Gippsland Power)
Skinner missed a chunk of the season through injury, and missed the all important second half of the season. But he ticks a lot of boxes as a tall prospect. He has the size to compete with the biggest opposition forwards, and can move and rebound nicely. Still the third best tall defender despite his injury for me. But, for Fremantle I'd be drafting him as a tall forward. I like his strength and aggression in the forward half.

28. - James Parsons (189cm, 79kg midfielder from Eastern Ranges)
A 189cm player who is versatile and can kick a ball will always get drafted. And that's what Parsons is. A half forward/wing, Parsons has probably only flashed his potential so far as opposed to truly dominating. He'd be one of the best kicks in the draft though, and hits up well on the lead from half forward. He just really needs to get involved in the play more often, but his good is very good.

29. - Dylan Smith (198cm, 81kg defender/forward from Swan Districts)
I'm imagining Smith to go anywhere from around 25 to 50, will have to wait and see for now. He didn't have the best Championships and he has been playing injured, but there's a lot of positives for a big man. His athleticism is arguably better than some of the other higher rated talls, and he'd have a better ability of pinch hitting in the ruck. I think he is developed into a tall defender at the next level.

30. - Daniel Rioli (179cm, 65kg forward/midfielder from St Marys)
Cousin of Cyril, Daniel has shown a few promising signs this year both at the Championships and at TAC Cup level. He's looking like more than just a name. Kicked three goals in his TAC Cup debut, he can also play as a small defender. Very strong in terms of defensive pressure, he has the usual football smarts and tricks you'd expect of a Rioli.

31. - Harry McKay (200cm, 85kg forward from Gippsland Power)
Lots of recruiters put extra value on players who improve in their draft years, and McKay is one of those. In a draft that's thin on key position players, he will absolutely go higher than this. He's not your classic big marking forward, but he has a good leap and marks at the highest point. Plus he's surprisingly agile for a guy who is ruckman height. I just think he lacks a dominant factor.

32. - Brandon White (188cm, 78kg defender from Dandenong Stingrays)
Underrated player, he just isn't as eye catching as others. But he's a solid player who is well worth a shot, even in the second round. Primarily a defender, White can either play as a shut down or rebounding option. And he can also play either tall or small. He's got good speed and a long kick for a 'solid' half back, as well as some midfield potential thrown in too. Maybe not quite as good an intercept mark, but he's a little Ibbotson like in his versatility.

 

[Soups]

I like Chris' players around our picks. Like the way he rated Marsh highly a few years ago. So I'll always value his opinion.

 

[Vass]

can anyone tell me if Rioli fast?

 

[Soups]

can anyone tell me if Rioli fast?

Runs like the wind.