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KEY DEFENSIVE stocks at the Western Bulldogs have received a surprise boost after a successful night at the NAB AFL draft on Monday.
Bulldogs recruitment manager Simon Dalrymple was shocked when Dandenong Stingrays defender Kieran Collins was still on the draft table at pick No.26, and he jumped at the chance to take him.
Mature-age recruit Marcus Adams from WAFL club West Perth is also now a Dog, with the club identifying the need to pick up some tall defenders with physical presence at this year's draft.
Dalrymple also added to the club's midfield stocks with Josh Dunkley overlooked by the Sydney Swans under the father/son rule.
South Australian Bailey Williams rounded out the Bulldogs' new crop for 2016, and Dalrymple told AFL.com.au that the night went exactly how he'd hoped as far as his recruiting strategy was concerned.
"Early on we were after the best available talent and then later in the draft we were looking at some needs," Dalrymple told AFL.com.au.
"Obviously one of our needs is a key defender, so with Kieran (Collins) also meeting the best player criteria, that really was a bonus, and Marcus (Adams) fitted that strategy as well.
"We achieved both our goals."
Selection No. 25 – Josh Dunkley (father/son - Sydney Swans did not match bid)
"To get Josh, who we felt with his leadership, ability to win the ball at ground level, a good mark, and his leadership, was crucial for us. That was a good result that Sydney didn't match that bid." - Simon Dalrymple
Selection No. 26 – Kieran Collins
"That was probably the biggest surprise of the night that he got through. As a key defender he was in our mix at pick 11, which we had ahead of the trade period, so he's a bonus for sure." - Simon Dalrymple
Selection No. 35 – Marcus Adams
"He's a big man, 'The Specimen' as our coach calls him, a powerful key defender who can play straight away we think. He's athletic and powerful and a really good young fellow." - Simon Dalrymple
Selection No. 48 - Bailey Williams
"He's a midfielder/half back from Glenelg, a good decision maker, a late developer and he's really grown in height during the year and his performances have improved." - Simon Dalrymple
