Pick 30

[knightwheelrqr]

*No not all these players will be available at our pick. But assumed they all were you would you select with pick 30?*

Candidates: (Ordered in my view from best to worst prospects at our pick. All players we would consider if available. Players listed here are all the players that could go after pick 20 that we will be looking at.)
Luke Ball (You know what you are getting. Quality, hard inside mid with great leadership qualities.)
Troy Taylor (X-factor with the biggest upside in the draft. Franklin/ Motlop hybrid who could become a great 3rd tall option or medium forward. Could become a Steve Johnson type. Could be a 1st rounder but could very well slip we can only hope.)
Josh Thomas (Very similiar to Dayne Beams. From Southport QLD. Inside mid with nice footskills.)
Ryan Bastinac (Will most likely be gone by 20. Good user of the footy.)
Mitch Duncan (Should go in the 20s. Nice all round utility.)
Allen Christiansen (Can't see him dropping far past 20, inside mid who gets plenty of it)
Jordan Gsyberts (Has a nice disposal, should go mid 20s)
Jesse Critchon (Skinny outside mid, plays with great effort and displays enourmous tackling pressure. Speed and has nice disposal. Expected to go mid 20s but due to lack of weight could drop.)
Jack Fitzpatrick (Athletic ruck prospect. Has been linked with the club several times and has also previously trained with the club. Won the repeat sprint test at draft camp which is quite an achievement for a 202cm ruckman. Has great upside, just needs to put on some more weight. Some have gone off him recently, with pick 14 he was on our radar and not a player we will discount if he drops.)
Matthew Panos (U18 All Australian Full Forward from SA. Could go anywhere in this draft. Is an attractive full forward prospect who can kick straight at goal which might be looked on favourably considering Collingwood's lack of straight kicking key forwards in recent times. Could go anywhere in this draft, 62 we can only hope.)
James Craig (U18 All Australian Ruckman. Won the Vertical leep at draft camp and has the ability to play ruck or key position. Stands at only 195cm, would be a possible Leigh Brown type utility who can fill key positions or ruck when needed. Like Panos could go anywhere in this draft, hopefully 62.)
Travis Colyer (Small who is a mid/ forward pocket. Will probably go mid 20s.)
Daniel Menzel (Running defender. Will probably go mid 20s.)
Ryan Harwood (Mid with plenty of potential. Draft range is from 30 onwards. Interesting prospect. Real inside mid who is great at stoppages. If he drops to 62 would be a great pickup!)
Alex Carey (Inside mid who some like. Will probably be a top 40 pick rather than top 30.)
Benjamin Griffiths (Big key forward. Built and seems AFL ready. A high risk/ reward type. Stands at 198cm and 99kg. Questions on fitness and injury. Range is more mid 20s, but due to injury queries could drop.)
Sam Reid (Brother of Ben Reid. Athletic key defender)
Callum Bartlett (Small forward. Was injured but was considered a possible 1st round pick before this year.)
Roland Ah Che (Hard working small mid from the Northern Territory. Needs to build up his stamina but has promise.)
Nat Fyfe (Medium forward. Natural footballer with good ball reading ability. More a 3rd round pick than 2nd round.)
Jasper McMillan-Pittard (Defender who's draft stocks have increased in recent times.)

 

[Bay Pie]

Luke Ball if available but I think that boat has sailed.

I like the sounds of Jordan Gysberts from reports if he is available

 

[danielnajdek]

Starting to warm to Josh Thomas Like the sound of him. Then Matthew Panos seems to have a good kick at goal. Also isn't Bastinac a bit like Pendles or am I thinking of someone else.

 

[TradeDraft]

Went with Ben Griffiths because he could be the FF like Rocca we need in the side

 

[TradeDraft]

I like the sounds of Jordan Gsyberts from reports if he is available

He would also love to play with the Pies.

His Video:

2008:

[YOUTUBE]tcBOpn44sHM&feature=player_embedded[/YOUTUBE]


2009:

[YOUTUBE]Q37JhxyEy_M&feature=player_embedded[/YOUTUBE]

 

[Quicky]

I'd like to see us pick up Ball if he was available. He would make an immediate impact on our team at a time when we have a serious chance at a flag.

If not I think it's important we go for a KPP if someone of Panos or Griffiths quality was there i'd go for them. I'd go for Panos ahead of Griffiths.

If there isn't a decent KP prospect available it would have to best available - whoever that is.

 

[Dawson]

Went with Ben Griffiths because he could be the FF like Rocca we need in the side

I think Dawes has that position, Griffiths would be behind him

 

[didaka]

I'd be happy with any of them at 30 really other than Panos, Carey and Craig.

 

[Tranquilli37]

The poll is starting to look rather one sided. I think the most obvious and quick fix solution is Luke Ball. He would fit in with our team perfectly, and add experience with abit of 'class' and make an immediate impact.

 

[richo2308]

I actually play footy with Ryan Harwood so i would be happy to take him with pick 30 if still there hes quite quick and also a good user of the ball good in clearances

 

[knightwheelrqr]

The poll is starting to look rather one sided. I think the most obvious and quick fix solution is Luke Ball. He would fit in with our team perfectly, and add experience with abit of 'class' and make an immediate impact.

The comments and feedback is more so the section where people can say who they think other than Ball they would like and who else they hope slips in the draft.

But having it there is interesting to see who else they are interested in anyway.

 

[TradeDraft]

The comments and feedback is more so the section where people can say who they think other than Ball they would like and who else they hope slips in the draft.

But having it there is interesting to see who else they are interested in anyway.

Good to hear what people think

 

[knightwheelrqr]

I'd like to see us pick up Ball if he was available. He would make an immediate impact on our team at a time when we have a serious chance at a flag.

If not I think it's important we go for a KPP if someone of Panos or Griffiths quality was there i'd go for them. I'd go for Panos ahead of Griffiths.

If there isn't a decent KP prospect available it would have to best available - whoever that is.

I agree with Panos ahead of Griffiths. Griffiths is too much of a hit and miss, I see him as more of a miss due to injury. Panos is a nice fit with his accurate set shot.

Still I don't rate Panos over JA, and I don't think we can get a key position player that would be good enough to walk into the 22 at pick 30, and you wouldn't expect to either. I'd be more inclined to go after a quality mid if one is available who might get squeeze his way into the side. Still Panos is not at all a bad pick at 30 and it will depend on who else is available.

 

[knightwheelrqr]

I actually play footy with Ryan Harwood so i would be happy to take him with pick 30 if still there hes quite quick and also a good user of the ball good in clearances

Harwood to me would be a nice needs filler. He looks good as an in and under mid. I like his work in traffic and his stoppage work alot, probably his biggest attributes.

If we had pick 46 still I think Harwood would be high up our list of players to look at. Just at pick 30 it is unlikely.

 

[mattys123]

I'd love Bastinac to drop to 30, but can't see it happening.

He has a little bit of "Didakness" about him, and may well develop into a star with a couple of years of development.

My bet is we will take Josh Thomas if none of the "top draft picks" are still around at 30.

We have almost guaranteed Thomas that we will draft him, and most other phantom drafts dont see him going before 30, so he may be our boy.

Now we have Jolly, I'm fine if we don't pick up a ruck now, we can develop one in the next few years, if Keefe and Wood don't come through in the mean time.

 

[Quicky]

I agree with Panos ahead of Griffiths. Griffiths is too much of a hit and miss, I see him as more of a miss due to injury. Panos is a nice fit with his accurate set shot.

Still I don't rate Panos over JA, and I don't think we can get a key position player that would be good enough to walk into the 22 at pick 30, and you wouldn't expect to either. I'd be more inclined to go after a quality mid if one is available who might get squeeze his way into the side. Still Panos is not at all a bad pick at 30 and it will depend on who else is available.

No key position player, no matter how good, would walk straight in and have an impact at AFL level these days. In fact I doubt we would find a midfielder at pick 30 that would - and if we did you couldn't expect a huge output anyway. Thats why Ball is the most sensible option there. If Ball isn't available which seems likely, from a list management pov we really need a KPP so i'd hope we target one if there is a decent prospect is available. Panos over Griffiths is the safe option given Griffiths injury history. I don't think Panos's height is as big an issue as people make out - look at Anthony, Fevola, Bradshaw, O'loughlin - it didn't hamper them.

 

[knightwheelrqr]

No key position player, no matter how good, would walk straight in and have an impact at AFL level these days. In fact I doubt we would find a midfielder at pick 30 that would - and if we did you couldn't expect a huge output anyway. Thats why Ball is the most sensible option there. If Ball isn't available which seems likely, from a list management pov we really need a KPP so i'd hope we target one if there is a decent prospect is available. Panos over Griffiths is the safe option given Griffiths injury history. I don't think Panos's height is as big an issue as people make out - look at Anthony, Fevola, Bradshaw, O'loughlin - it didn't hamper them.

I'm not worried about the height of Panos at all. I think he will become a reasonably productive full forward over time. Probably a slight notch down from JA, but still productive (40-50 goal a year full forward after 5-6 years in the league)

If Ball is unavailable at pick 30 I would prefer Troy Taylor and Josh Thomas simply because I can see them both having some impact at AFL level next season. Whether that means that they break into the side at round 21, or whether they play 5-10 matches I can see it happening.

Panos would be a good 2 years away from a game and I don't see him reaching the same heights over his career. Griffiths to me would be a downgrade on Dawes, can see him being a likely bust.

Also the reason I prefer a mid over a key position forward is that with Fraser getting more time up forward he will be a roamer along the half forwardline, and still with JA, Trav and possibly Rusling comming back into the side the I see the best bet being a mid because it simply isn't realistic to have so many key position forwards on our list.

It will be interesting to see what the club does anyway.

Just my view on the situation anyway.

 

[Quicky]

I'm not worried about the height of Panos at all. I think he will become a reasonably productive full forward over time. Probably a slight notch down from JA, but still productive (40-50 goal a year full forward after 5-6 years in the league)

If Ball is unavailable at pick 30 I would prefer Troy Taylor and Josh Thomas simply because I can see them both having some impact at AFL level next season. Whether that means that they break into the side at round 21, or whether they play 5-10 matches I can see it happening.

Panos would be a good 2 years away from a game and I don't see him reaching the same heights over his career. Griffiths to me would be a downgrade on Dawes, can see him being a likely bust.

Also the reason I prefer a mid over a key position forward is that with Fraser getting more time up forward he will be a roamer along the half forwardline, and still with JA, Trav and possibly Rusling comming back into the side the I see the best bet being a mid because it simply isn't realistic to have so many key position forwards on our list.

It will be interesting to see what the club does anyway.

Just my view on the situation anyway.

I guess it depends how you view the balance of our list. I feel pretty strongly that the biggest priority on our list is KPP's - especially now we have recruited Jolly and dealt with the ruck. I made a pretty detailed thread on it a few months ago if you want to see my full reasoning:

http://www.bigfooty.com/forum/showthread.php?t=620419

Put simply I see a lack of depth in KPD after Presti retires. I think Reid and Brown are great prospects and will likely make it but behind them there is no depth and that is a necessity in the event of injuries. In regards to the forwards I think we have quite a few options but i'm not confident that Dawes will cut it given the deficiencies in his game; i'm not confident in Ruslings body holding up; Cloke will be ok for us but I have fears he will never be the player we need him to be. Also I don't consider Fraser as a KPF option.

In other words i'm confident in Anthony, Brown and Reid and think Cloke will be servicable but outside of them I think we are very thin. I think we really need to draft a decent KPP in this draft - but given we only have pick 30 that really depends on whether there is someone decent available which there may or may not be. If Panos was there I would be stoked, likewise Griffiths even if he is a risk. I'm not sure there is any other KPP that we would be interested in that would be available at our pick. Hill or Reid maybe.

Also Hine and the recruiters won't pick any draftees based on the impact they think they will have in their first year. At pick 30 I think realistically it will be a case of best available for us given it is a latish pick and a weak draft. Still if a decent KPP was available like Panos at our pick and we didn't take him i'd be dissapointed (unless it was because we picked up Luke Ball).

 

[TradeDraft]

I guess it depends how you view the balance of our list. I feel pretty strongly that the biggest priority on our list is KPP's - especially now we have recruited Jolly and dealt with the ruck. I made a pretty detailed thread on it a few months ago if you want to see my full reasoning:

http://www.bigfooty.com/forum/showthread.php?t=620419

Put simply I see a lack of depth in KPD after Presti retires. I think Reid and Brown are great prospects and will likely make it but behind them there is no depth and that is a necessity in the event of injuries. In regards to the forwards I think we have quite a few options but i'm not confident that Dawes will cut it given the deficiencies in his game; i'm not confident in Ruslings body holding up; Cloke will be ok for us but I have fears he will never be the player we need him to be. Also I don't consider Fraser as a KPF option.

In other words i'm confident in Anthony, Brown and Reid and think Cloke will be servicable but outside of them I think we are very thin. I think we really need to draft a decent KPP in this draft - but given we only have pick 30 that really depends on whether there is someone decent available which there may or may not be. If Panos was there I would be stoked, likewise Griffiths even if he is a risk. I'm not sure there is any other KPP that we would be interested in that would be available at our pick. Hill or Reid maybe.

Also Hine and the recruiters won't pick any draftees based on the impact they think they will have in their first year. At pick 30 I think realistically it will be a case of best available for us given it is a latish pick and a weak draft. Still if a decent KPP was available like Panos at our pick and we didn't take him i'd be dissapointed (unless it was because we picked up Luke Ball).

Agree Quicky we need some KPP espically in Defense because after Presti you only really have N Brown. So we should be looking to get some more KPD in the Draft

 

[knightwheelrqr]

I guess it depends how you view the balance of our list. I feel pretty strongly that the biggest priority on our list is KPP's - especially now we have recruited Jolly and dealt with the ruck. I made a pretty detailed thread on it a few months ago if you want to see my full reasoning:

http://www.bigfooty.com/forum/showthread.php?t=620419

Put simply I see a lack of depth in KPD after Presti retires. I think Reid and Brown are great prospects and will likely make it but behind them there is no depth and that is a necessity in the event of injuries. In regards to the forwards I think we have quite a few options but i'm not confident that Dawes will cut it given the deficiencies in his game; i'm not confident in Ruslings body holding up; Cloke will be ok for us but I have fears he will never be the player we need him to be. Also I don't consider Fraser as a KPF option.

In other words i'm confident in Anthony, Brown and Reid and think Cloke will be servicable but outside of them I think we are very thin. I think we really need to draft a decent KPP in this draft - but given we only have pick 30 that really depends on whether there is someone decent available which there may or may not be. If Panos was there I would be stoked, likewise Griffiths even if he is a risk. I'm not sure there is any other KPP that we would be interested in that would be available at our pick. Hill or Reid maybe.

Also Hine and the recruiters won't pick any draftees based on the impact they think they will have in their first year. At pick 30 I think realistically it will be a case of best available for us given it is a latish pick and a weak draft. Still if a decent KPP was available like Panos at our pick and we didn't take him i'd be dissapointed (unless it was because we picked up Luke Ball).

I guess it depends how you view the balance of our list. I feel pretty strongly that the biggest priority on our list is KPP's - especially now we have recruited Jolly and dealt with the ruck. I made a pretty detailed thread on it a few months ago if you want to see my full reasoning:

http://www.bigfooty.com/forum/showthread.php?t=620419

Put simply I see a lack of depth in KPD after Presti retires. I think Reid and Brown are great prospects and will likely make it but behind them there is no depth and that is a necessity in the event of injuries. In regards to the forwards I think we have quite a few options but i'm not confident that Dawes will cut it given the deficiencies in his game; i'm not confident in Ruslings body holding up; Cloke will be ok for us but I have fears he will never be the player we need him to be. Also I don't consider Fraser as a KPF option.

In other words i'm confident in Anthony, Brown and Reid and think Cloke will be servicable but outside of them I think we are very thin. I think we really need to draft a decent KPP in this draft - but given we only have pick 30 that really depends on whether there is someone decent available which there may or may not be. If Panos was there I would be stoked, likewise Griffiths even if he is a risk. I'm not sure there is any other KPP that we would be interested in that would be available at our pick. Hill or Reid maybe.

Also Hine and the recruiters won't pick any draftees based on the impact they think they will have in their first year. At pick 30 I think realistically it will be a case of best available for us given it is a latish pick and a weak draft. Still if a decent KPP was available like Panos at our pick and we didn't take him i'd be dissapointed (unless it was because we picked up Luke Ball).

Hill I certainly don't rate and Reid isn't worth pick 30. Maybe 35ish. Hill wouldn't rate top 40.

In the backline I rate: Nathan Brown and Ben Reid to take over the key positions. I can see them both playing in the same team now with Reid playing on a half back flank for with Prestigiacomo currently occupying Full Back. Also one player as a key defender who you may discount at first glance is Tyson Goldsack. No he is not a key defender now but at 193cm I can see him becoming a full time one. He will continue to fill out and I think with his long reach and nice closing speed he certainly would be a sound backup for Reid/ Brown in the future. Leigh Brown is also a handy backup for the time being so we will be very good down back in years to come. Probably when both Prestigiacomo and Leigh Brown decide to call it a career only then would I invest in another key position defender.

Our forwardline I have a slightly diffent take. Chris Dawes I don't think he will break into the side. Jack Anthony I think will become a very serviceable full forward and kick around 60 goals next season. Travis Cloke I rate. He has had a down season, but his work rate is high and I can see him having a breakout season next year. In my eyes he will occupy Centre Half Forward for the next 10 years without a doubt. Sean Rusling I should be fine next season, and even if he gets injured again I think Jack Anthony and Travis Cloke are a fine pair. With Josh Fraser along the half forwardline it will give our talls greater flexibility and I think having the 3rd tall in Fraser forward will free up JA and Travis enough for them both to have a greater impact. They are only 21 and 22, and they still have plenty of development ahead of them but I have no doubts that the pair will make it and both step up next season. If we delist move on both Rusling and Dawes at the end of the season only then would I invest in a key position player, so more a wait and see approach I would consider appropriate.

To me the Darren Jolly deal was the one for me that key position wise gives us enough flexibility to not need to draft a key position prospect this season. I would consider next season if Rusling gets injured again, Dawes prooves to be a bust and for JA and Travis to have a down season the time to start looking key position and only then.

To me the real deficiency is our midfield right now since our ruck problem has been solved. In our midfield we have great trouble at stoppages, Jolly will help but I think we need an experienced inside mid. Luke Ball would be perfect, but on a needs first basis I would deem an inside mid to be a priority or the best mid available with Burns, Licuria Buckley gone and O'Bree, Lockyer and Johnson all comming to the end of their careers we need some quality mids.

In this draft at pick 30:
Troy Taylor after Luke Ball would be a 2nd preference in that Leon and Didak both play more midfield and we need someone else to play forward. Taylor would give us the 3rd tall up forward that we missed out on in Steve Johnson and has rediculous upside. He can play Full Forward, Half Forward Flank or Forward Pocket.
Josh Thomas would be 3rd preference because he is a nice inside mid who has nice disposal and could play some games in his first year and become a very good player over his career. He would be the best inside mid available at pick 30 and would be an excellent choice. A bit of a Dayne Beams like pick last year where you are going to get a very good player who is used to playing senior footy.

To me I would consider the gaps on the list to be (after the acquisition of Darren Jolly): *Examples of the mold of that specific type of player I'm referring to*

High Priority: (Need to persue in draft)
Inside mid (Luke Ball/ Josh Thomas.)
- In this draft also Ryan Harwood is appealing as an inside mid, shame we don't have pick 46 anymore to use on him though


Medium Priority: (Probably consider in the draft if a good one is available)
Medium size/ 3rd tall forward (Ryan O'Keefe/ Steve Johnson/ Troy Taylor *Can play tall medium or small which makes him such an incredible prospect*)
Running/ small defender (Jason Gram)
Outside/ fast mid (Lewis Jetta)
Small forward (Daniel Moltop)


Low Priority: (Don't need, but if a good one comes by would be a reasonable addition)
Tagger (Ryan Crowley) *Although more a medium priority concern I think we can make Wellingham and McCarthy into better taggers than anyone we will pick up via the draft*
Key defender (Brian Lake)
Key forward (Matthew Panos)



Just a final comment on Panos. If we do get a key position forward I also hope it is Panos. He is after Butcher my next preferred option. He lacks the physicality of someone like Jack Anthony but is a nice option in that he kicks straight at goal which I think many Collingwood fans would give the to.


Also very well done on your review. Very detailed annalysis.

Have to say I also very much agree with your delistings also. Cook I don't rate as someone who could break into the Collingwood side and same with Corrie.

To me Johnny Bennell was very impressive in that last final against North Ballarat and should definately have been kept on the list. I think West Coast will pick him up in the rookie draft and find themselves a very nice small forward.



As a key forward if Daniel Bradshaw had said that via the pre season draft that he wanted to make Collingwood his home I would definately have been very keen. Otherwise Dan McKenna from Geelong intrigues me with pick 78 as possibilities for you to ponder.

 

[knightwheelrqr]

Agree Quicky we need some KPP espically in Defense because after Presti you only really have N Brown. So we should be looking to get some more KPD in the Draft

As key position defence we have Prestigiacomo, L.Brown, N.Brown, B.Reid. And Tyson Goldsack who will possibly spend some time as a key position defender when he grows out some more. He is 193cm and has great reach and very much Dustin Flecture like.

So I'm increasingly confident that our defence has some stability. Can't say I was 6 months ago, but am now after a solid output from our defencive 6 over the 2nd half of the season. Really looks like a very solid unit, and with N.Brown and B.Reid to come into the side next season I see it being a strength.

Would more more interested in a small like maybe Andrew Hooper (short defender who seems pretty AFL ready) if still available at pick 62. This would allow Harry O'Brien to play on a more medium sized forward rather than a small Daniel Motlop type every week.

 

[TradeDraft]

Is the Hill you are talking about is Tom Hill?


[YOUTUBE]49p1gu2eiNg&feature=player_embedded[/YOUTUBE]

 

[smiddaz123]

As key position defence we have Prestigiacomo, L.Brown, N.Brown, B.Reid. And Tyson Goldsack who will possibly spend some time as a key position defender when he grows out some more. He is 193cm and has great reach and very much Dustin Flecture like.

Not to take the thread off topic, but I think you're pretty spot on there. If Goldsack manages to fill out a bit, I'd like to see how he goes as a full back.

 

[TradeDraft]

Nat Fyfe (Claremont/WA) - Draft Profile


Height: 187cm
Weight: 75kg (very low skinfolds)

Preferred foot: Right
Position: FP/HFF
Potential: 6.5-8/10



Strengths



> Very smooth natural forward player with very good-uncanny goal sense and play reading ability - can play in a pocket as a 3rd tall marking target or in a ball winning, roaming high HFF roaming role - has some flair/X-factor about him, can get ball to boot quickly and capable of slotting them from most angles inside 50m and also capable of bringing teammates into the game

> Good leap - at a couple of cm reach advantage for his height
> Strong OH mark for his size
> Neat field kick over short-medium range
> Good recovery from marking contests – follows up quickly at ground level
> Very good running capacity (didn’t show at U18 championships level due to the roles he was given)



Weaknesses



> Slim build and lacks body on body strength in 1-1 duels – there may be some concerns about his ability to bulk up



Other



> Hands seem somewhat inconsistent at ground level - at times prone to fumbling some he should take with relative ease
> Only OK pace and evasiveness at best – he plays quicker than he is due to his sharp football brain – pace should improve somewhat with added strength
> He can play as a 3rd tall forward deep very effectively and has played very effectively in a roaming high half forward role at colts, but not enough strength/power for midfield and probably not enough pace/penetration in his game for wing or HBF role

> For such a slightly built player he isn't afraid of putting his head over the football
> Capable of providing reasonable defensive pressure, but needs to do so more consistently
> Good championships primarily as a FP/3rd tall after not being selected for the first game - 9 goals from 4 games - excellent post championships form at WAFL colts including finals series and deserved (but didn't get) BOG in the colts GF IMO - WAFL colts TOTY FP




Overall



Fyfe is a very clever 3rd tall forward prospect who has had a very good year and shown rapid improvement throughout. He could potentially be the icing on the cake for an already well structured forward line. He’s worth a mid 2nd round to mid 3rd round pick IMO

He sounds like another Likely Type and Simmlar to Troy Taylor

 

[Quicky]

Hill I certainly don't rate and Reid isn't worth pick 30. Maybe 35ish. Hill wouldn't rate top 40.

In the backline I rate: Nathan Brown and Ben Reid to take over the key positions. I can see them both playing in the same team now with Reid playing on a half back flank for with Prestigiacomo currently occupying Full Back. Also one player as a key defender who you may discount at first glance is Tyson Goldsack. No he is not a key defender now but at 193cm I can see him becoming a full time one. He will continue to fill out and I think with his long reach and nice closing speed he certainly would be a sound backup for Reid/ Brown in the future. Leigh Brown is also a handy backup for the time being so we will be very good down back in years to come. Probably when both Prestigiacomo and Leigh Brown decide to call it a career only then would I invest in another key position defender.

Our forwardline I have a slightly diffent take. Chris Dawes I don't think he will break into the side. Jack Anthony I think will become a very serviceable full forward and kick around 60 goals next season. Travis Cloke I rate. He has had a down season, but his work rate is high and I can see him having a breakout season next year. In my eyes he will occupy Centre Half Forward for the next 10 years without a doubt. Sean Rusling I should be fine next season, and even if he gets injured again I think Jack Anthony and Travis Cloke are a fine pair. With Josh Fraser along the half forwardline it will give our talls greater flexibility and I think having the 3rd tall in Fraser forward will free up JA and Travis enough for them both to have a greater impact. They are only 21 and 22, and they still have plenty of development ahead of them but I have no doubts that the pair will make it and both step up next season. If we delist move on both Rusling and Dawes at the end of the season only then would I invest in a key position player, so more a wait and see approach I would consider appropriate.

To me the Darren Jolly deal was the one for me that key position wise gives us enough flexibility to not need to draft a key position prospect this season. I would consider next season if Rusling gets injured again, Dawes prooves to be a bust and for JA and Travis to have a down season the time to start looking key position and only then.

To me the real deficiency is our midfield right now since our ruck problem has been solved. In our midfield we have great trouble at stoppages, Jolly will help but I think we need an experienced inside mid. Luke Ball would be perfect, but on a needs first basis I would deem an inside mid to be a priority or the best mid available with Burns, Licuria Buckley gone and O'Bree, Lockyer and Johnson all comming to the end of their careers we need some quality mids.

In this draft at pick 30:
Troy Taylor after Luke Ball would be a 2nd preference in that Leon and Didak both play more midfield and we need someone else to play forward. Taylor would give us the 3rd tall up forward that we missed out on in Steve Johnson and has rediculous upside. He can play Full Forward, Half Forward Flank or Forward Pocket.
Josh Thomas would be 3rd preference because he is a nice inside mid who has nice disposal and could play some games in his first year and become a very good player over his career. He would be the best inside mid available at pick 30 and would be an excellent choice. A bit of a Dayne Beams like pick last year where you are going to get a very good player who is used to playing senior footy.

To me I would consider the gaps on the list to be (after the acquisition of Darren Jolly): *Examples of the mold of that specific type of player I'm referring to*

High Priority: (Need to persue in draft)
Inside mid (Luke Ball/ Josh Thomas.)
- In this draft also Ryan Harwood is appealing as an inside mid, shame we don't have pick 46 anymore to use on him though


Medium Priority: (Probably consider in the draft if a good one is available)
Medium size/ 3rd tall forward (Ryan O'Keefe/ Steve Johnson/ Troy Taylor *Can play tall medium or small which makes him such an incredible prospect*)
Running/ small defender (Jason Gram)
Outside/ fast mid (Lewis Jetta)
Small forward (Daniel Moltop)


Low Priority: (Don't need, but if a good one comes by would be a reasonable addition)
Tagger (Ryan Crowley) *Although more a medium priority concern I think we can make Wellingham and McCarthy into better taggers than anyone we will pick up via the draft*
Key defender (Brian Lake)
Key forward (Matthew Panos)



Just a final comment on Panos. If we do get a key position forward I also hope it is Panos. He is after Butcher my next preferred option. He lacks the physicality of someone like Jack Anthony but is a nice option in that he kicks straight at goal which I think many Collingwood fans would give the to.


Also very well done on your review. Very detailed annalysis.

Have to say I also very much agree with your delistings also. Cook I don't rate as someone who could break into the Collingwood side and same with Corrie.

To me Johnny Bennell was very impressive in that last final against North Ballarat and should definately have been kept on the list. I think West Coast will pick him up in the rookie draft and find themselves a very nice small forward.



As a key forward if Daniel Bradshaw had said that via the pre season draft that he wanted to make Collingwood his home I would definately have been very keen. Otherwise Dan McKenna from Geelong intrigues me with pick 78 as possibilities for you to ponder.

I think i'm just a bit more pessimistic on some of our KPP than some people are in here. I never really took into consideration Leigh Brown or Thoolen as I don't believe we will ever be a true contender with players of their quality in a KPD post. Goldsack is an interesting one and a player I had considered but given the fact he was recruited as a mature age recruit and has had 3-4 years in the system at the same build i'm not confident he will ever fill out enough to be a true KPD. Although point taken that he does provide decent depth. The other point about taking KPP is that they take 3-4 years before they are AFL ready. We know Presti will retire in 1-2 years so it makes sense to draft a KPP this year so he can benefit from several years in the system before being needed. This is particularly significant given the upcoming compromised drafts where it will be difficult to recruit these players.

I see your point too about in and under mids but again unless they are established players (Ball/Tuck/Harris etc) then a first year player wont address that issue next year. In the future I am very optimistic about our inside mids with Pendles, Beams, Sidebottom, McCarthy, Wellingham, Macaffer so I don't see the benefit of another inside mid as a top priority - unless of course they are mature/experienced players like Ball. Actually I see a greater need for an outside mid on our list in the future (maybe Harding would be worth a look late in the draft??).