Nick's Collingwood Bulletin Board

I like the looks of Ekerman. But he will probably want to return to Addelaide. You have to be warey of those SA players.

Didak is from SA, and wants to stick around. I don't think you can make generalisations like that. But, yes, I guess it is a concern.

Burns is also from SA and has been at the club for years. Also lets not forget Bucks and Tarks.

thats if we still have the pick, they might trade them of

I like the sound of these kids, particularly Eckerman.

Ben has very good pace and loves to carry the football, creating a real impact with his speed and long kicking. Like all good midfielders he just knows how to find the footy, but unlike many in the draft pool can really damage sides with his speed and good skills. Has clean hands and good evasion.

The bit I really like here is that he can get the ball but, unlike MCG, the kid can kick properly as well. IMO, a terrific prospect. Whilst we won't know until we actually get our hands on him and see him play, which will not be until 2006, as he'll need to put on some weight, I'd far, far rather draft a kid like this who might spend 10, 12 years with us, than use that pick (7) as part of a trade. Another Bucks? Another Burns? That pretty much says it all.

Take everything on that site with a grain of salt because the guy that has put the page together really lacks a clue. Its almost a given that Eckerman or Monfries are to be the Pies pick, especially if Tambling is gone.

However, I get the impression the site has just poached its information from other sites and has no real clue. Doubt that Collingwood would draft three kids from Calder this year and the three mentioned haven't even spoken with the Pies, yet the one who has isn't even mentioned in the program at all.

Who is the player they have talked to?

From Calder. The kid that the Pies have spoken to is Jackson Barling and the one that they are thinking of placing in a rookie listed position is Adam Iacobucci.

There has been no talks between Collingwood and Dale May or Dean Limbach.

I just hope we get two players with pace and skill. Trading or drafting. Ekerman sounds good.

Nath, where did you hear that? Sorry if I'm a pain, I just like to know if what I'm hearing is true, and where it came from.

An immediate family member of mine works for Calder

Clubs must have a minimum of three picks in the draft. Beyond that it becomes speculative - it depends on how many picks clubs want, how many players they are prepared to delist to acquire picks, depth in the draft, etc.

The AFL's mock draft is damn accurate but doesn't come out until just before the draft itself, when the kids have been through the draft camp, etc., and all information is to hand, so is useless to us right now.

I think it would be wise to focus on just the first three rounds only at this stage.

Dale May is a projected fourth round pick, Barling isn't even mentioned (that's not saying he won't go in the draft - I don't know anything about the kid and what might be interesting Collingwood, so am in no position to comment) and that means we don't know if any other club might be interested in any of them as well.

Couldn't agree more Cannibal, the best guide to the draft is the mock draft that www.afl.com.au d, which is only posted a couple of days before the draft itself.

With regard to players, those that are invited to the National Draft Camp have more interest than those requested to attend the Draft Screenings by State. In order to make the National Camp, at least 4 clubs must have listed you in the top 30 kids that they are interested in seeing, as far as I know, Dale May has only been asked to the State Screening.

The guy who did the mock draft on big footy seems to have just listened to the twits that post on that forum and picked players for the team on the basis of posts such as 'Who is the best CHF in the TAC', threads of which have little bearing as they are based on our opinions and not those of scouts. For instance, I'd be completely surprised, almost falling off the chair if a player like Stefan Garrubba is still around at pick 60, and a bottom age player like Matthew Bate, despite his win in the Morrish Medal is taken in the first round.

Regardless, the only thing is fair to assume is that Tambling, Franklin, Deledio, Griffin and Roughead are gone by pick 7, look for us to take someone like Monfries, Eckerman or Lewis.

Cheers Nath, thanks for the info.