PLAYERS who are largely capable of making an immediate impact and driving standards at the Pies were the underlying factor between most of Collingwood’s half a dozen draftees. Filling several needs along the way, the bottom four side brought in a new group of fresh faces who hope to turn the club’s fortunes around.

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DRAFT HAUL

Pick 8. Imogen Trengove
Pick 23. Amy Smith
Pick 28. Mischa Barwin
Pick 29. Josephine Bamford
Pick 41. Matilda Argus
Pick 48. Zara Neuwirth

>> CLICK each player’s names for full profiles & highlights

Collingwood welcomed the most players of any club other than Gold Coast, bringing in half a dozen prospects during the AFLW Draft. All six players are top-age prospects, covering positions from back, forward, ruck and midfield to cover a lot of holes in the Magpies’ side. They had a theme with most of their selections being heavily contested, competitive players with a deep hunger.

After picking up South Australian skipper Violet Patterson last year, the Magpies went back-to-back with Croweater captains, selection the hard-running Trengove. Having already relocated from the Yorke Peninsula for her football, moving to Victoria will hold no fears. She has elite speed and endurance, and her contest-to-contest work is arguably the best of any player in the draft. She can play on all three lines which is handy too.

The Magpies went for a huge draft bolter at Pick 23 in the form of the skilful Smith. She is more outside compared to the rest of the draft haul, but has great footy IQ and reads the play well. Smith can slot in across all three lines, and showed her versatility for both Sandringham Dragons and Vic Metro this season.

After going the bolter, the Magpies picked up back-to-back semi-sliders with Barwin and Bamford both touted as potential first-rounders. Barwin is a tenacious forward/midfielder who oozes X-factor and brings plenty of tricks around goals. She is one who adds a real point of difference to Collingwood’s front half.

Bamford is already the best ruck on the Magpies’ list purely because Sabrina Frederick and Imogen Barnett are really forwards who have been taking up the role since Sharni Layton retired. Fans will love her follow-up work and defensive pressure, but her explosive speed for a ruck is just incredibly rare. A huge get and massive need for the club.

At Pick 41, the Magpies picked up one of the best State Draft Combine invitees in Dandenong Stingrays Best and Fairest winner, Argus. She plays with aggression and loves to take the game on with a damaging left-foot kick. A really underrated player who could well have been a National Draft Combine invite, she will force her way into the side early as well.

Wrapping up the Magpies’ draft haul is a vital need for the black and white in the form of a key defender. Collingwood has made do with undersized talents, but finally have a genuine key tall in Neuwirth. She is competitive, great one-on-one and while she is not necessarily a huge accumulator, the Pies do not need that, and instead need a lockdown type who can play on a variety of opponents.

GRADE: A

Collingwood was always going to have plenty. of positives to come out of the draft, and met a number of needs in the form of a ruck, key defender and some skilful types, while also ramping up the defensive pressure. Sam Wright loves the idea of a team defence, and this haul buys into that, while also adding some X-factor and spark across the field.