In the lead up to the 2014 National Draft on Thursday 27 November, collingwoodfc.com.au will be examining the drafts that helped shape a brighter future for the Black and White.

Collingwood featured in eight consecutive finals series between 2006 and 2013. It is the sort of record that indicates the core of the team came through the ranks together and flourished simultaneously.

For the most part, that statement holds true.

But a large part of that core arrived at the club’s headquarters on 25 November 2006, while those who led the charge to the 2006 and 2007 finals series, players such as Nathan Buckley, Scott Burns, James Clement, Paul Licuria and Anthony Rocca, were in the twilight of their careers.

That Collingwood’s recruiting and coaching staff has been able to blend the battle-hardened team that reached the 2002 and 2003 Grand Finals with a fresh influx of young talent in the mid-2000s often flies under the radar, but without massaging the transition from one era to the next, the club’s run of eight consecutive finals campaigns would not have been possible.

The background
An exciting albeit inconsistent 2006 season ended in a disastrous Elimination Final loss to the Western Bulldogs and prompted the Magpies to invest in youth to speed up the team’s regeneration.

Club favourite Chris Tarrant had been unable to get any traction in his game for three years and ended up trading in his Black and White jumper for the purple, white, green and red of Fremantle.

By virtue of a three-way deal that saw Docker Graham Polak cross to Richmond, the Magpies received the eighth and 63rd selections in the National Draft as well as the talented but inconsistent Fremantle small forward Paul Medhurst.

Although it shipped Tarrant off to one of the beaten Preliminary Finalists, Collingwood was able to invest in both the present and the future.

On one hand, Medhurst, who was touted as the ‘steak knives’ in the Tarrant deal, went on to become an All-Australian forward pocket and finish runner-up in a Copeland Trophy in 69 games for the Magpies between 2007 and 2010.

On the other, the draft picks the Pies collected in return hold down key roles in the club’s plans for 2015. You may have heard of Ben Reid and Tyson Goldsack?

In late November, Collingwood made five selections in the National Draft including two inside the top 10 for the second year running.

Twelve months prior, it had won the services of Dale Thomas (157 games) and Scott Pendlebury (192 games). This time, the Pies added Reid (99 games) and Nathan Brown (93 games) to their list.

In most drafts, a pair of gun key defenders alone would represent a big win, but in 2006, with Derek Hine steering the ship, the Magpies were able to then add Chris Dawes (71 games), Brad Dick (27 games) and Goldsack (124 games) to their swag.

Not content with that, Hine’s team managed to pluck Sharrod Wellingham (92 games) and Brent Macaffer (73 games) in the December Rookie Draft. Teenaged Irishman Marty Clarke (73 games) was wooed during the same pre-season.

What they said at the time
Paul Medhurst (exchanged for Chris Tarrant): “We were always determined if Chris was to move (that) we'd get a good pick and a player and that's what we've got. Obviously we think he can (play both in the forward line and in the midfield), that's why we're happy to take him. Time will tell but he's really happy to come, he's excited about the opportunity and hopefully it all goes well for us,” – Collingwood CEO Greg Swan on the recruitment of Paul Medhurst, The Age, 14 October 2006.

Ben Reid (selection No. 8): “He’s a left-footer whose versatility means he can pretty much play anywhere. Ben’s the youngest kid in the league, only scraping in to the draft age by two days, but his terrific speed and ability at ground level, and the fact that he’s filling out, mean we’re pretty excited by him,” – Recruiting Manager Derek Hine, In Black and White Magazine Issue No. 33, April 2007.

Nathan Brown (selection No. 10): “Nathan was an elite country basketballer but has concentrated more on football for the last two or three years, so his potential improvement from here is significant. He made his mark in the backline but can go forward, too; he’s another versatile kid with excellent speed,” – Recruiting Manager Derek Hine, In Black and White Magazine Issue No. 33, April 2007.

Chris Dawes (selection No. 28): “Very highly rated for his strength and aggression, and his recovery from the contest. The knee rehab is coming along well, but whether we see him at all this year will just depend on how that progresses. He’s a big kid, already 96kg, and he’ll be worth the wait,” – Recruiting Manager Derek Hine, In Black and White Magazine Issue No. 33, April 2007.

Brad Dick (selection No. 44): He’s slight but aggressive, and he loves body contact, which for the sort of role he plays is ideal. Brad’s vision and awareness make him stand out – he’s evasive and a good user of the footy, and has some Michael Long qualities in that respect,” – Recruiting Manager Derek Hine, In Black and White Magazine Issue No. 33, April 2007.

Tyson Goldsack (selection No. 63): “Tyson was a small forward for much of his junior career but a growth spurt has given him much more range. He played everywhere for Gippsland and brings a lot to the table. We’d probably target a wing or half back role for him as he develops his football,” – Recruiting Manager Derek Hine, In Black and White Magazine Issue No. 33, April 2007.

Sharrod Wellingham (rookie selection No. 10): “A very good all-round player who uses it well. Sharrod played on the wing in Perth and showed us he has some useful tools, especially speed and recovery. He’ll get his chance to develop with Williamstown this year,” – Recruiting Manager Derek Hine, In Black and White Magazine Issue No. 33, April 2007.

Brent Macaffer (rookie selection No. 26): “Brent started his year in the backline and went forward for the last 13 games, when he kicked 70.40. He’s a leadout sort of forward like (Ryan) O’Keefe at Sydney, with good hands. He played midfield and half back as a junior – as his endurance builds up he’ll be tried there,” – Recruiting Manager Derek Hine, In Black and White Magazine Issue No. 33, April 2007.

Marty Clarke (international rookie selection No. 40): “You could see within minutes he was an elite athlete, with his endurance – he’s already top two in the club – his decision-making and his ability to move in traffic. He’ll be a small defender with the potential to head to the midfield once he better understands the game,” – Recruiting Manager Derek Hine, In Black and White Magazine Issue No. 33, April 2007.

“He (Derek Hine) told us that not all of them were at their best yet, but that now was the time to strike for talls as the chance to do so in the next two years would be limited. So we did. Six of those boys played in our premiership team last year. Dick was unlucky to miss out and Clarke is now excelling back in his home country, Ireland,” – then-Collingwood coach Mick Malthouse on the foresight of recruiting chief Derek Hine at the draft table in 2006 in The Australian on 27 August 2011.

How strong was the draft?
The hype in the lead up to 25 November had the 2006 National Draft rivalling the famous 2001 ‘Superdraft’ for talent and depth. Seven years on, 12 of the first 13 selections are still involved at league level. The standout pick of the draft was undoubtedly Joel Selwood who joined Geelong with pick seven. He finished second in the 2013 Brownlow Medal and has been involved in three premiership teams. A handful of clubs stumbled across some diamonds later in the draft – Robbie Gray went to Port Adelaide at pick No. 55, Josh Hill became a Bulldog with pick No. 61 and the Swans pounced on Queenslander Jesse White with pick No. 79. White became a Magpie during the league's trade period in October 2013.

Postscript
Paul Medhurst (2007-2010; 69 games, 108 goals): Started his stint at Collingwood slowly but ended 2007 with a rush, kicking 13 goals in the last seven games of the season including three in the Preliminary Final against Geelong. Finished runner up in the Copeland Trophy owing to his 50 goals the following year and was rewarded with selection in the All-Australian team. Injuries bit into his next two years and he retired after missing the boat during the 2010 finals series.
Standout performance: Winning the ANZAC Day Medal with six goals and 17 possessions against Essendon in round six, 2008.

Ben Reid (2007-2014; 99 games, 31 goals): Made steady progress in the VFL during his first three years on the list before blossoming as a centre half back early in 2010. Began his career as a key forward and appeared destined to combine with Travis Cloke for years to come but his overhead marking and pinpoint left boot saw him named in the 2011 All-Australian team. Belatedly joined Cloke in attack midway through 2013 and kicked 25 goals in his last 13 games. Is one of the best one-on-one players in the game, winning 38 per cent of his one-on-one battles in defence (ranked tenth in the league) and 47 per cent in attack (ranked first) in 2013 (stats courtesy of @fantasyfreako).
Standout performance: 31 disposals, 11 marks, six rebounds and a goal against Hawthorn in round 15, 2011.
Named at centre half back in the 2010 premiership team.

Nathan Brown (2007-2014; 93 games, 7 goals): Broke into the team in the first round of the 2008 season and has been an important player at full back in the years since. Helped smooth over the loss of Shane Wakelin and Simon Prestigiacomo with some assured performances on the opposition’s key forwards, none more memorable than his quelling of St Kilda star Nick Riewoldt in the two 2010 Grand Finals. Not a high possession winner but a stable figure on the last line of defence.
Standout performance: Eight disposals, four marks and 15 one percenters while keeping Nick Riewoldt to one behind in the 2010 Grand Final Replay against St Kilda.
Named at full back in the 2010 premiership team.

Chris Dawes (2007-2012; 71 games, 83 goals): Injuries forced him to wait until August 2008 before debuting but he made himself a regular in the early rounds of 2010 and spent the three years that followed as Travis Cloke’s right-hand man at full forward. Kicked a career-high 30 goals across 20 games in 2010 and bagged two goals in the premiership victory. Enjoyed a strong start to 2011 but struggled for touch in 2012 and departed for Melbourne in exchange for selection No. 18 at season’s end.
Standout performance: 20 disposals, six marks, five tackles, four goals and three behinds against Port Adelaide in round one, 2011.
Named at full forward in the 2010 premiership team.

Brad Dick (2007-2011): Livened up Collingwood’s forward line in his six games in early 2007 but a knee reconstruction meant he would only bob up again two years later. Enjoyed a terrific 2009 campaign, kicking 22 goals in 16 games including five against Melbourne on the Queen’s Birthday and two third quarter goals against Adelaide in the memorable Semi-Final. Injuries cruelled his last two years as a Magpie but he was still able to contribute when his body allowed him, such as on the Queen’s Birthday in 2010 when he kicked four goals in a draw barely a day after he had played in the VFL. Returned to Perth at the end of 2011 but could not crack a senior game for West Coast and retired at the end of 2013.
Standout performance: 12 disposals, eight tackles, four inside 50s and four goals against Melbourne in round 12, 2010.

Tyson Goldsack (2007-2014; 124 games, 47 goals): Was the last Magpie picked in the National Draft but played more games (17) than any other during his first season when he was a key part of the side’s run to the Preliminary Final. Settled as a defender in 2007 but injuries and illness kept him off the park more often than he’d have liked between 2009 and 2011. Still managed to have a say in the 2010 premiership side when he slipped into the 22 in place of Leon Davis and rewarded the match committee by kicking the first goal of the afternoon. Strung 22 games together in 2012 playing mostly as a forward, kicking a career-high 24 goals. Injuries again had their say in 2013 but he was a steadying influence in defence when he returned later in the season.
Standout performance: 25 possessions, eight marks, four tackles and three inside 50s while keeping Michael O’Loughlin to one goal against Sydney in round 21, 2007.
Named on the interchange bench in the 2010 premiership side.

Sharrod Wellingham (2007-2012; 92 games, 55 goals): Bounced off the rookie list and into the senior team on ANZAC Day 2008 and rarely looked back, missing only 16 games between 2009 and 2012. His best was outstanding, such as his 37-possession performance against Melbourne on the Queen’s Birthday in 2011 in the absence of Dane Swan and Scott Pendlebury, and he was a vital contributor in the run to the flag in 2010. He was one of his side’s best in the Replay victory, kicking two goals and laying eight tackles. He managed 20 games in 2012 but at season's end returned to Perth where he now plays for the Eagles.
Standout performance: 37 possessions, 12 inside 50s, nine clearances and a goal against Melbourne in round 12, 2011.
Named on the wing in the 2010 premiership team.

Brent Macaffer (2007-2013; 73 games, 32 goals): Won promotion onto the senior list after kicking 38 goals in his second year in the VFL in 2008 and debuted on ANZAC Day 2009. Took until 2010 to establish himself in the best 22 but didn’t skip a beat after kicking three goals in consecutive games mid-winter and entrenched himself at half forward as the Magpies headed for premiership glory. His dream run came to a halt in the two years that followed when he was dogged by foot, groin, back and knee injuries that saw him play only four games in 2011 and none in 2012. Rebounded brilliantly in 2013, finishing sixth in the Copeland Trophy after being reinvented as a tagger early in the season.
Standout performance: 19 possessions, five marks, four tackles and three goals against Essendon in round 19, 2010.
Named on the interchange bench in the 2010 premiership team.

Marty Clarke (2007-2009, 2012-2014; 73 games, 19 goals): Was one of the stories of 2007, such was his rise from Gaelic football to starring in front of 98,002 fans at the MCG in the Preliminary Final at the tender age of 19. Kicked three goals in his second senior game only eight days after mopping up 20 touches on debut midway through the year and had 21 possessions in the aforementioned final. Was a consistent contributor in 2008 and performed well against Adelaide in the Elimination Final but tipped out of the side at the halfway mark of 2009 and returned to Ireland. He was welcomed back to the Westpac Centre at the end of 2011 and has played a further 27 games over the three years that followed.
Standout performance: 21 possessions, five rebounds, four marks and three clearances against Geelong in the 2007 Preliminary Final.

And as for Chris Tarrant? The prodigal son returned home at the end of 2010 after four years with the Dockers. With a new position and a new outlook on his career, Tarrant spent his twilight at full back as Collingwood went deep into the 2011 and 2012 finals series without taking home the holy grail.