Collingwood's list lead Justin Leppitsch is satisfied with the Magpies' selections at the 2024 AFL Draft, noting the club's ability to address critical positional needs despite their late draft position.
Speaking after the draft, Leppitsch detailed the strategy behind the Pies' choices and the qualities of their newest recruits.
“It was a really important draft for us for positional needs,” Leppitsch said.
“A key defender to start, a key forward, and we were able to add a little bit of pace and excitement with our last pick. I think we've got what we wanted out of the draft. It's never easy for our recruiters when we're picking so late.”
The Magpies began their night by selecting key defender Joel Cochran with pick 47. A standout from the Sydney Swans Academy and the winner of the AFL Draft Combine 2km time trial, Cochran was a player Collingwood had their eyes on.
Leppitsch acknowledged the uncertainty around whether Sydney would match their bid but was thrilled with the outcome.
“We had word that they may not match that particular bid. It's a really tricky part of the draft,” he said.
“We're so rapt to have Joel there. He's got the mobility we've been missing since Nathan Murphy—a second mobile key defender that's good in the air. We only hope to give them the opportunity to become those players, but at least the traits we see in them we like.”
Cochran, known for his intercepting ability and endurance, is seen as a versatile defender capable of fitting seamlessly into Collingwood's backline.
Three picks later, at 50, the Magpies secured Charlie West, a key forward from Woodville-West Torrens in the SANFL. Standing at 194cm, West's strength, bulk and contested marking ability made him an attractive prospect.
“One thing with Charlie is that he's got that strength and bulk which is really important with the way we play our game,” Leppitsch noted.
Rounding out the night, the Pies added speedster William Hayes at Pick 56. The Claremont product's agility and ground-level ability caught the eye of Collingwood's recruiters, and Leppitsch believes fans will enjoy watching the dynamic winger develop.
“Will Hayes is exciting - watch a minute of his highlights, and I think the fans are going to get excited about his ground-level ability and ball use,” he said.
“Sometimes the hardest part of the game is keeping up with the game, and we feel like he can do that really well.”
Leppitsch also reflected on the evolving trends in the AFL, suggesting Collingwood's draft strategy aligned with the league's shift toward athletic and pressure-based gameplay.
“You know what tends to happen—you look at the premiership team and then copy it,” he said.
“Good pressure teams, athletic teams are always going to be somewhere near the top.”
Collingwood's draft haul addressed their need for both key-position players and added depth to their list, potentially setting the 2023 premiers up for continued success in 2025 and beyond.