Using two top 10 selections for the first time since 2006, the Magpies chose South Australian defender Matthew Scharenberg at pick No. 6 and hard-running Sandringham on-baller Nathan Freeman with pick No. 10.
Later in the draft, the Pies swooped on over-age Sandringham utility Tom Langdon at pick No. 65 and nabbed explosive West Australian forward Jonathon Marsh with selection No. 77.
The Magpies also formally promoted rookies Sam Dwyer and Adam Oxley onto their senior list later in the draft.
What the club says:
"(It was) pretty well-documented that Matt Scharenberg or James Aish were going to be there and there was really a feather between both of those players and we went for the taller utility type that can fill a need right away and Nathan Freeman comes into the system with extraordinary power inside and outside. We went into with an open mind that if there were players at the back end of the draft that we had a shine for we would take them." - Derek Hine, General Manager of List Management.
Pick No. 6: Matthew Scharenberg
"We went for the taller utility type who could have an impact straight away. We have no issue with his feet. He may or may not have a late start, but if he turns out like the last player with injury concerns, Joel Selwood, we'll be happy," - Derek Hine
Pick No. 10: Nathan Freeman
"Coming into the system he has shown extraordinary power inside and outside and he helps with our succession plans. He has really strong leadership attributes and is his own man," - Derek Hine
Pick No. 65: Tom Langdon
"He is a utility type player who plays forward and back. He's played very well at VFL level as a 19-year-old," - Derek Hine
Pick No. 77: Jonathon Marsh
"He is a 194-cm forward from Margaret River who played for East Fremantle for one year. He has a lot of work to do but he has extraordinary speed, has really good size and really good power in his game," - Derek Hine
Pick No. 87: Sam Dwyer (promoted rookie)
Pick No. 92: Adam Oxley (promoted rookie)
What the experts say:
Matthew Scharenberg
Selection No. 6
Height: 190cm Weight: 87kg DOB: 18 September 1995 Position: Tall defender
"An elite player. It was unfortunate that he hurt his foot and didn't play a lot of football late in the year after playing a great Under 18s National Carnival. Just finds the footy really well, read the game brilliantly playing as a key defender in the Under 18s and played in the back pocket in the seniors for us. He is elusive, doesn't get caught often and makes great decisions. His skill is improving and he's a long kick but needs to keep working on his short options and hitting those regularly. A great ability to know when to defend and when to attack and is just clever with what he does. He's a great size for his position and he understands where he's at with his footy in terms of not getting ahead of himself. Keen in the gym and keen on the track - he's going to be a beauty. After what he did at the carnival the feeling was he is a top five selection," - Glenelg Football Manager Ken Applegarth, Inside Football Magazine.
Nathan Freeman
Selection No. 10
Height: 182cm Weight: 85kg DOB: 16 June 1995 Position: Midfield
"Like Josh Kelly, he took the combine by storm not only with his testing but with his personality - he was up and about all week. His personality is a bit like the way he plays - it's up and about and sometimes a bit in your face, but in a good way, but I think he's exciting and we are going to be talking about him in the next few years at AFL level taking the game on and doing really well. He's got that electric burst of speed but has also worked very hard on his endurance and firmed right into a possible first round pick chance as he plays football for the current day AFL like a Luke Shuey or even a Daniel Kerr," - Sandringham region manager Ryan O'Connor, Inside Football Magazine
Tom Langdon
Selection No. 65
Height: 189cm Weight: 85kg DOB: 9 June 1994 Position: Medium defender/midfielder
"Tommy came back as a 19-year-old and had an outstanding season after missing out last year as an outside tall midfielder who can really push forward and hit scoreboard. He's grown quite a bit from last year and put on a bit of size so that has helped him enormously against the bodies. He's right in the mix to get his opportunity that he missed out on last year and we couldn't be happier with what he was able to do with us this season," - Sandringham Region Manager Ryan O'Connor, Inside Football Magazine.
Jonathon Marsh
Selection No. 77
Height: 192cm Weight: 87kg DOB: 17 October 1995 Position: Key forward
"Jonathon ran the second fasted 20-metre sprint at the combine history so he's got speed as well as power, explosiveness and agility. Outside of that he's played primarily key position for us up forward at Colts level and there was some debate as to whether we should have played him in the seniors late in the year. He's pretty raw in terms of his game sense so that's a developing area for him but ideally I think he could play as a wingman/high half forward where he could use his chasing and tackling, which is outstanding. His kicking still needs work so that's an area of development...just a classic x-factor sort of player with enormous are talent and the potential to be phenomenal, it's just a matter of harnessing that talent and energy. That'll be the challenge for the club that picks him up. If you had asked me early in the year I would have said he'd be a top 10 pick..." - East Fremantle Football Manager Darren Fry, Inside Football Magazine
