Nick's Collingwood Bulletin Board

So with only 1 week to go before the national draft it's time to put your recruiters hat on and make the difficult decision of narrowing your selection down to the one preferred choice.

Unlike last year when it was seemingly down to two preferred players in Scharenberg and Aish as our options at pick 6 by this stage this year seems far more open and anyone of at least 4 players could yet be called out by us if you go by all the media reports.

As the draft draws closer you feel that we might be targeting a taller utility type who has shown a capacity to hit the scoreboard at U18 level and three players in Laverde, Langford and De Goey seem to fit that requirement.

As much as that type of player fulfills a list need and is highly appealing I still can't escape the notion that a good big man is far harder to find come draft time, they generally go within the top 10 if not top 5 and while yes we will be landing one in Moore should that mean we don't double up and take Wright if available a player considered at the start of the year a likely No.1 draft pick, a player that even now someone like Emma Quayle still considers the second best prospect in this draft?

I'm afraid I just can't overlook him and must admit I love the synergy of taking two highly rated Collingwood supporting key forward prospects with our first two picks.

That's an exciting prospect for me as I'm sure it is for them.

If we do overlook Wright which seems likely at present then I'll stick with my first choice in Laverde just ahead of Langford and De Goey.

Bypass Wright then happy to consider Reece McKenzie at 30 if still available though other midfield prospects in Rainbow, Cavka, Maynard and Gore have big appeal.

So who would you select at pick 5?

P.S-I haven't included Petracca, Brayshaw and McCartin in the poll as I fully expect them to go top 4.

I HOPE we pick Wright (hence my vote)

I THINK we pick Laverde (which I can live with comfortably)

Laverde for me.

I'm almost more interested in who we take at 30 as it seems like a very open draft after pick 10 or so, who ever we take in each round please, please!! Make sure they can kick!!

wright for the reasons i've previously given. failing that, laverde.

Definitely Wright if he's still available at pick 5. After hearing Wright speak on the AFL website recently he said he prefers playing forward and that's where he plays his best football and he can also play a ruckman if he needs to. I've seen his highlights reel and there isn't a lot to criticise about, if at all.

If Wright is gone by pick 5, then Laverde is the man to select at pick 5. He's a good midfielder, great outside player, has elite foot skills and he could potentially slot into this team straight away.

If we select either player I'll be happy with that. I also wouldn't be surprised if we were looking at Langford and De Goey very closely as well.

I've been changing my mind from day to day.

I think I've settled back on my initial choice of Laverde.

Maybe I'm expecting too much from some of our recent recruits, but I reckon we've got a great selection of young ruck/KPPs in Witts, Grundy, Keeffe, Reid, Moore, Brown, Frost, Gault and Cox. So while I'm almost won over to the idea of recruiting Wright (he certainly looks the goods in his highlights package), I keep reminding myself that we desperately need another Pendlebury type player. We missed out on Bottempelli last year, so let's hope we secure Laverde this year. Still, as I've said previously, wtfwik?

Voted for Laverde, but I was tempted to go with other.

Other being Tom Lamb.

For ages I've only wanted Laverde based on his highlights reel and our current needs, but am really warming to Wright when I think of how versatile our forward line could be with him in it.

The fact that he could ruck at times must be a real bonus you would think.

So, voted for Laverde, would be stoked if we got Wright, and a penny for the thoughts going through Mr Hine's head!!!

I like Pickett, but trust our guys to make a great call regardless of who it may be.

Pickett - Has the Speed and X-Factor we need

Laverde.

But really, would be happy with any of half a dozen of those guys at 5.

Still, Laverde gets my vote, barring a miracle scenario of one of Petracca/McCartin/Brayshaw still being available...

MagpieBat wrote:Laverde.

But really, would be happy with any of half a dozen of those guys at 5.

Still, Laverde gets my vote, barring a miracle scenario of one of Petracca/McCartin/Brayshaw still being available...

Would be happy with all of that are in the Poll.

Show how Even the Top of the Draft is

While it probably doesn't make a hell of a lot of difference to be honest it's interesting that Wright is seven and a half months younger than Moore and almost 5 months younger than McCartin.

I haven't looked it up, but if we draft Wright we would possibly end up with the most 200cm+ (Give or take a CM or 2) players in the comp.

One thing I've read about Wright is he lacks aggression, that's a big turn off for me.

I was firmly in the wright if available then leverde.
Having read a bit up on De goey I've changed my mind.

Seems like a selwood/beams type but perhaps a better overhead mark.
A tough hard at it ball winning mid. Loves the physical contact.

Leverde is billed as mercurial but can float in and out of games. That can be improved however De goey seems like he has a consistent impact in games.