• The 2016 NAB AFL Draft kicks off from 7pm AEDT
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THE BEST 20 players of this year's NAB AFL Draft shape as the strongest top group ever, Collingwood recruiter Matt Rendell says.

"It is a deep draft. I've thought so from day one," Rendell said on AFL.com.au's NAB AFL Draft Countdown show.

"The best 20 is probably best 20 I've ever seen. I think they'll all play a lot of footy, the top 20.

"Some clubs are going to get some good players at No. 40, even No. 50. I think we'll look back in three or four years time and say this was a cracker."

Collingwood's first selection sits at No. 28, although bids on father-son and academy players are likely to push that down the order.

The Pies have Callum Brown (son of Gavin) and Josh Daicos (son of Peter) as potential father-son picks.

Rendell said the Magpies had crossed out 18 names that were unlikely to reach the club's first selection.

"We've basically written of 18 players that we haven't spent much time on and narrowed it down to 10 players at pick 28," he said.

Rendell said Collingwood would recruit players based on what the list required, since it was placed later in the order.

However, he wasn't prepared to reveal what those needs were.

"At pick 28, you've got to throw some needs into it," he said.