AFL Draft Analysis: Collingwood Magpies
Collingwood, one of the more exhausted draft picks, is not expected to participate in the AFL Draft this year until the latter stages of the process.
The Magpies have the latest opening pick of any club in this year’s draft order, with their first pick not coming until the middle of the third round due to an aggressive trade period that saw them left with no first-round selections across the 2024 and 2025 drafts.
The depth of this year’s draft class hopefully means the Magpies don’t miss out on a promising teenager or two, while matched Academy and father-son bids could see their opening pick slide forward as multiple picks ahead of them are swallowed up.
With clear list needs hopefully addressed at the draft, the Magpies will hope certain ducks align once they’re on the clock.
The Magpies, who have prioritized players over picks in their off-season list strategy, will not make a decision until halfway through the third round of the November count. At that stage of the draft, they will have three picks within seven positions, and they plan to bundle two of their selections in an effort to move up the board, hoping that certain names will still be available that late in the count.
Without a first-round selection for next year, it’s unlikely we’ll see Collingwood enter the first two rounds of the draft via live trading.
Enumerate necessities Height in defense: The Magpies are still short on a crucial backman in both their depth chart and best team. This season, they are saying goodbye to Nathan Murphy, Joshua Eyre, and possibly Charlie Dean, who is not signed for 2025. It’s a problem that will need to be solved throughout the course of the upcoming season, and Collingwood may be able to identify a crucial defender for the future this year through the draft.
Midfield depth: Whether it be now or soon, the Magpies will look to transition their midfield group away from the likes of Scott Pendlebury, Steele Sidebottom, Tom Mitchell and Jordan De Goey, stressing a need for more midfield depth options at hand. Ed Allan had a nice finish to 2024, but Craig McRae needs more than just the Western Australian to step up in the coming
years.
Key forward options: Tall attackers are often an area of need at Olympic Park, and while they’ll add to their key position with the acquisition of Saint Tim Membrey, future options who are coming through the ranks are also needed. Reef McInnes’ future is up in the air, while Nathan Kreuger was cut from the club at the end of the season. Ash Johnson doesn’t look to be the answer anymore either.