Watch Derek Hine's assessment of the draft on CTV in the video above.
Blessed with three successive selections at the end of the top 20, the Magpies added a ruckman (Brodie Grundy, Sturt), a small forward-cum-midfielder (Ben Kennedy Glenelg), a midfielder (Tim Broomhead, Port Adelaide Magpies) and a backman (Jackson Ramsay, East Perth).
National Recruiting Manager Derek Hine was understandably pleased with his night's work.
"Once Adelaide relinquished its pick it gave us the opportunity to look at a package of players. We were hopeful that Brodie would drop down to us. It was that kind of draft and after pick 10 it really started to open up a little bit.
"All three of our top picks have played senior football; they've been exposed at the level so they won't be far off playing senior football for us."
Marley Williams, a rookie who managed six games in his debut season, was formally upgraded to the rookie list with pick No. 94.
Brodie Grundy - Selection No. 18
Position: Ruckman
Height: 202 cm
Weight: 100 kg
DOB: 15/04/94
Recruited from: Sturt/Cabra
About: Ruckman who imposes himself on games with his physical presence. Excels in directing the ball at stoppages and can be a dangerous marking target up forward. Won All Australian Under 18 honours in 2011 and has played senior football with Sturt. Backed it up this year becoming a dual All Australian, averaging 15 disposals and 24.2 hit outs in 2012. Graduate of the AIS-AFL Academy.
Hine says: (AFL Talent Manager) Kevin Sheehan said it right the other day, his form over the last two years has been outstanding and he has been exposed to senior football.
Grundy says: "I couldn't be happier. Playing for the biggest club in the country, at the MCG, it doesn't get better than that.
"We (Grundy and fellow South Australian draftee Ben Kennedy) would occasionally talk about the idea of being drafted to the one club, sort of thinking how good it would be to continue to play together but not really expecting it to happen. And then it turned out that with 'Broomy' (Collingwood's third selection Tim Broomhead, also from South Australia) coming along... we've got friends at the club already.
"I had no real idea that Collingwood was going to take me. I hadn't spoken with them a lot. When I heard my name read out I was ecstatic but a little surprised, too. Right now, I'm thinking about what an opportunity I've got - a great club, a big club. What can you say? It feels surreal."
Ben Kennedy - Selection No. 19
DOB: 03/03/1994
Height: 174cm
Weight: 74kg
Recruited from: Glenelg/South Australia
About: Left-footed small forward/midfielder with explosive pace and rare agility. Prolific ball winner who excels at stoppages and is extremely dangerous around goals with set shots or snaps. In 2011 won All Australian NAB AFL Under-18 Championship honours as a bottom-aged player and debuted at senior level. Backed it up this year with All Australian honours, averaging 26.2 disposals.
Hine says: "Genuine forward-of-the-ball player who can play inside 50. Important for us with Andrew Krakouer probably coming towards the end of his career."
Kennedy says: "I'm over the moon to play for Collingwood. I'm stoked to play for the Pies. I'm good mates with Brodie Grundy and Tim Broomhead so I'm even happier with to go with them. I watched the draft with my dad, mum and my two younger brothers and there was a sense of the unbelievable. My dad went nuts and my mum went nuts.
"A few players called and messaged me. It's just an unbelievable experience. You watch them on TV and then to hear from them is an unbelievable. I spoke to Nathan Buckley and he congratulated me but says the hard work starts now, which is what I expected at the start. Making a name for yourself and training and paying back the faith of the club."
Tim Broomhead - Selection No. 20
Height: 182cm
Weight: 75kg
DOB: 22/03/94
Recruited from: Port Adelaide Magpies
About: A medium midfielder with excellent speed, vision and composure with the ball. Averaged 15.2 disposals at 77% efficiency during the NAB AFL Under-18 Championships playing an important role for SA in their midfield rotations.
Hine says: "He's a similar sort of player to Kennedy. A forward line player and also able to run through the midfield as well."
Broomhead says: "I was watching it at home with my family and a mate and was just hoping for the best and got lucky with Collingwood. Throughout the day I wasn’t too nervous and I kept myself occupied by watching the cricket so I didn’t think about it too much.
"I spoke to 15 clubs prior to the draft and I am very excited that the Pies picked me. I know the two other boys who were picked up before me I actually shared a room with Grundy in Melbourne.
"I have had a few text messages with Scott Pendlebury, Travis Cloke and Nathan Brown all contacting me. Nick Maxwell and Nathan Buckley also called me.
"I am heading down to Melbourne this weekend and will go to America with the rest of the team on December 4 so it is all happening really fast. I know there is a lot more hard work to be done. It’s going to take a lot of hard work to get to where I want to be at."
Jackson Ramsay - Selection No. 38
Height: 181cm
Weight: 71kg
Age: 17
Recruited from: East Perth
About: Courageous and composed defender with pace and an excellent work rate. Has good disposal skills and makes sound decisions with or without the ball. Played three matches for WA at Under-18 level before missing the final two matches with injury. Averaged 24.4 disposals in five matches at Colts level in WAFL.
Hine says: "A utility who missed a fair chunk of the season. A multi-effort player who showed in the second half of the year that he can play forward, mid and back."
Ramsay says: "I was watching the draft with my whole family and I was getting my mindset ready for the worst. I kept thinking I would be playing at East Perth again next year.
"Scott Pendlebury was the first player to text me and then Nick Maxwell called me. Bucks also spoke to me about a few things and mentioned he wanted me going over to Utah which is exciting.
"I have a 9am training session tomorrow morning which will be weights so I won’t change my routine too much before I head to Melbourne. It’s something I do on the side for East Perth but I guess things will change a little bit when I go to Melbourne."
