Collingwood recruit Brodie Grundy after the AFL National Draft. Picture: Wayne Ludbey Source: Herald Sun
BRODIE Grundy would have walked into the Gold Coast Convention Centre expecting a sign saying 'mind your head'.
For reasons that delighted Collingwood, the golden giant of the draft slid all the way to the Pies first pick, at No.18.
It confirmed that ruckmen, and other tall players, are on the nose in draft terms.
Draft tracker - every pick, player profiles and club reaction
Clubs these days clearly prefer to poach ready-made big blokes in the prime of their careers, rather than take the risk of drafting them with prized early choices.
But Grundy, a combative 202cm ruckman-forward at that pick is like getting a cashmere coat in a two dollar Dimmeys bin.
In a draft which didn't throw up a heap of curve balls, the Pies come away winners with its highest pick in four years was the story.
The other major talking point was the increasing emphasis on character, as "bad boy" Dayle Garlett went undrafted only because of his off-field woes.
Another exciting indigenous forward, Shannon Taylor, also went through to the 'keeper', adding more fuel to the discussion surrounding indigenous recruitment.
One talent expert said he felt Gundy, a basketball convert who has been playing footy for only three years, was capable of "kicking 50-60 goals after his first three seasons" in the AFL system.
Blues get a steal in Menzel
Derek Hine, the Pies recruiting master, is low key at the best of times but the smile which crept out the corner of his mouth was a good sign for Pies fans.
"He's played senior footy at Sturt, he's a two-time a All-Australian, I mean, geez, what do you say?" Hine said.
"I see him as a player who will play forward and will go into the ruck.
"You see the size of him now. He's a man. He's 202cm and he's only played the game for three years.
"He's a ferocious competitor, pretty handy ingredients for a key forward - ruck."
North Melbourne thought long and hard about Gundy at pick No.15 and Geelong, despite having five ruckmen on its list, was tempted too.
Western Bulldogs will anxiously watch the development of their pick No.5 Jake Stringer and evasive forward Troy Menzel, who went to Carlton.
The Dogs agonised until Wednesday night over the two, eventually settling on the big body of the powerhouse utility.
Moneyball Demons strike again
While his broken leg from 18 months ago may still affect his running style, the risk will be worth it for a man whose versatility and goalkicking has been likened to Matthew Pavlich.
A crucial night for the Dogs list management, the club also again opted for another stoppage work-horse in Nathan Hrovat, building its band of hard-nuts at pick No.21.
Carlton could have a genuine superstar on its hands in Menzel, if his knees aren't ticking time bombs, as some believe.
Intrigue also surrounds the Saints first pick key forward Spencer White, whose dynamic gamestyle has drawn comparisons to Lance Franklin.
He'll need time, but St Kilda recruiting manager Chris Pelchen may have put together a high-octane forward line with Rhys Stanley, Tom Lee, Ahmed Saad and Tim Milera in attack.
Pic gallery: AFL 2012 national draft
"He's raw, but Rhys Stanley was in a very similar position coming into the system three years ago and we all saw what he did this year," Pelchen said.
"We understand that a core group of our players are ageing, so we need to look beyond Justin Koschitzke and Nick Riewoldt."
North Melbourne's move to snare Ben Jacobs at pick No 38, even after two average years at Port, looks a steal. The Roos will shift him from defence into the midfield, confident his penetrating kick will hit their big forwards on the chest.
Former Swans ruckman Daniel Currie was insurance for the Roos' only established big man Todd Goldstein.
Clubs with lots of choices found this year's lot a challenge settling on players at the back end of the draft, thought to be the most shallow talent pool in five years by some wise judges.
As they often say, next year is 'the bottler', filled with some quality big forwards at the top-end in particular.
Until then, the Pies will be smiling, happy the move to trade Chris Dawes and Sharrod Wellingnam has delivered Nathan Buckley a beauty.
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