After being active in the 2010 trade period, the Bulldogs were very quiet this time around and stocked up on a bit of everything in the draft. They got their replacement for Callan Ward in Clay Smith, snared what they believed was a bargain in key back Michael Talia - which is important given the age of defenders Brian Lake, Ryan Hargrave and Dale Morris - a young project player who reminds them of Easton Wood, and a smokey from the Bendigo Bombers who knows how to find the goals and fits the "missing generation" of Dogs at the age of 24.
What the recruiter said
"It was mainly best player for us, and more so boys who fitted into the model of how Brendan McCartney is going to coach, so good people who are strong at the ball and can compete, and having a level of playing ability that's going to make them successful AFL players. It's always a balancing act, but we're very happy." Western Bulldogs recruiting manager Simon Dalrymple.
Pick 17: Clay Smith
Dalrymple says: "I see him as a replacement for Callan Ward. He's a real hard nut who's going to compete and tackle and support Tom Liberatore and Mitch Wallis, and we're going to have a midfield that every week is going to be really getting in there and winning the contested ball."
Pick 39: Michael Talia
Dalrymple says: "He was a bonus for us. He's almost one of those ones you consider to be a 5 per cent chance of getting through. We'd done all our homework on him, interviewed him and we think he's got some things to work on but he's a really good athlete with a strong body, and key defenders are hard to find. We think in a full-time system we can work on his kicking, and we think he's ready to go [into senior football]. He's got a strong body and he's got to adjust to AFL football, but he could surprise."
Pick 49: Daniel Pearce
Dalrymple says: "He's from the Oakleigh Chargers, and he's a player we've really liked since halfway through the year. He's very versatile, can play small, back, inside mid, wing and forward, and he's got a really good vertical leap. He's one that flew under the radar in terms of the other high-profile Oakleigh boys and he's got a bit of rawness but his versatility and leap reminds me of a smaller version of Easton Wood."
Pick 57: Tory Dickson
Dalrymple says: "He kicked 48 goals in the VFL while playing for the Bendigo Bombers and basically trained half an hour a week. Given a good pre-season, he could play early next year. He's got a strong body and is a forward who can go in the midfield. We did our due diligence on him, he tested well and impressed in the interview and we think he's ready to go in an age group we probably need to get more players in. And goal kickers are hard to find."
Pick 70: Luke Dalhaus, rookie upgrade
Pick 73: Matthew Panos, rookie upgrade
