Like the Crows, the Magpies were busy in trade week last month and picked up Marty Clarke, Jamie Elliot and Peter Yagmoor, while Irishman Caolan Mooney is set to start his international rookie contract next year and giant teenager Jarrod Witts has been upgraded to the senior list from the NSW scholarship program. With an influx of smaller types, the Pies targeted height in the draft and got it, with two 191cm-plus teenagers who will be up against it to push into the senior side next season but have the ability to put pressure on their more experienced new teammates.
What the recruiter said
"I think in a sense, a lot of our work had already been done before we got here and we really had an eye on the taller players without being silly about it. We were delighted to be able to bring both players in. In a sense, it really tops us off nicely for our draft and once we've finished with the rookie draft, we will be bringing in another 10 new players to the club, which will take a total to 23 new players in two years." Collingwood national recruiting manager Derek Hine.
Pick 50: Jackson Paine
Hine says: "He's a player who attacks the ball in the air, is a very strong bodied player and he's not dissimilar to a Chris Dawes/Travis Cloke mould. We see a little bit of succession there. He's got couple of handy players in front of him but both boys are high-end competitors so I wouldn't dismiss anything with them next season."
Pick 65: Corey Gault
Hine says: "He's a utility player; plays forward, goes through the ruck, and has the ability to play down back. He's played senior footy in the WAFL with Swan Districts, which is a plus. We'll get him to the club as soon as we can from Perth and hopefully have him in on Monday."
Pick 67: Jarrod Witts, NSW scholarship program
