Our 2005 selections - thoughts

[Canberra]

How do you consider Ellis as having the potential to be a Del Santo,Dave?
Have you read Wisbey's thoughts yet?
Del Santo gets his own ball. Ellis thinks he is above that. That may well be the key reason we didn't draft him first pick.
As I said in another post in this forum,we congratulated the recruiting people on last year's draft. So from all the heartburn you are displaying over Ellis,do you think they have lost it after just 12 months.

[collingwoodjoe]

Thats right perthmagpie! we rate Thomas because he can win his own ball, and Pendlebuty wasn't going to slip to 21, hence 2 Thomas 5 Pendlebury!

[favourites 2008]

We didnt pick up a danny roach, he was injured when we got him.... we got all fit players this yr which is always good to see. The Ellis vs Thomas debate could go on forever but until we see whatthey are capable of at AFL level no one can say anything.

[DaVe86]

oh cmon Canberra...i know you dont like me very much but are you telling me you've never heard the Dal Santo = Ellis comparison made. Its been said over and over again.

I just finished saying that THomas strikes me to be a matchwinner, Ellis perhaps not. Potential wise, it sounds like Ellis may be the better player in the long run, but whether he will be as influential as Thomas remains to be seen.

Like it or not....many critics will be licking their chops at the fact we passed on Ellis. They will watch closely now the Ellis vs Thomas battle for a long time to come just waiting to can us for it. Im confident Thomas will be a great player, but it will receive as much hype as Hodge vs Judd in previous years. Hawthorn suprised by not taking Judd, we have suprised by not taking Ellis. HOpefully we get as good a result.


And i have not once criticised our recruiters. Its absolutely ridiculous to do that considering these guys have not played yet. You cant criticise them until mid next year when we start seeing some results, and even then it is too early. I have not even once said we made the wrong move. If you have been reading my posts, all i have pointed out is the pro's and cons of the move.

I am happy with our pick 21...Stanley strikes me to be a bargain as he missed a lot of footy and should be a great future player.

Dont start critiscing everything i say because you disagree with me on Guerra.

[Canberra]

Can't work out the bit about " I know you don't like me very much".
My reason for highlighting your opinions on Ellis relate to the number of posts you have already lodged with Ellis in mind.
I doubt even our resident Peter Whore could keep up with that.

Let's be realistic. Our recruiting staff achieved a very unusual strike rate last year. Very few drafts by ANY club have got that kind of turnaround in one year. It may have been an Indian summer and may never be repeated but Hine seems to be out of left field with his selections and suggestions.
We drafted a lot differently to everyone's expectations last year and it seems we have done more of the same.

[Cannibal]

Being one of the very many who thought we'd go for Ellis with pick 2 and Hurn with pick 5 (although I also said I'd be happy with Thomas at 5 after reading Burgatron V), I also now one of the very many struggling to come to grips with our choices!

Having said that, Hine got the runs on the board last year and I'm willing to give his judgement a go this year.

I also came across an interesting comment on another board, which went, "I have no idea if Collingwood have made the right choice (who does), but I do like Thomas and I do like to see a club with the balls to not go with the recruiting consensus view (which more often than not is wrong). Hopefully for them he'll rewards their faith in spades."

An articulate, well put perspective. Just because the consensus was that we'd take Ellis with pick 2 but we didn't doesn't mean we're wrong. Let's give Hine the time to prove whether he was correct or otherwise.

I also find it amusing that we've got "experts" going head-to-head not long after the bleedin' draft over whether one 17 year old is going to be a better footballer than another 17 year old! We won't know until they are both 23 and, frankly, for the sake of the game, I hope they both turn out to be bloody good footballers.

[scoobydoo]

Magpies: strong in draft
1:37:49 PM Sat 26 November, 2005
Clinton Bown
exclusive to collingwoodfc.com.au
Collingwood have secured gun midfielder Dale Thomas with their first pick, second selection overall, in Saturday’s AFL Draft.

The former Gippsland Power youngster was a standout in the 2005 TAC Grand Final, winning the TAC Medal (best on ground) with a classy display, including four goals as a breaking midfielder, resting forward.

Thomas was vice captain of the all-conquering Falcons team winning All Australian U18 honours, and TAC Team of the Year.

The 182cm hard working midfielder averaged 18 disposals across the 2005 TAC season (18 games), kicking 28 goals.


Surrounded by family and friends, along with Club President Eddie McGuire, the young Thomas was taking his time to let it all soak in.

“It’s a dream come true to be drafted by the Magpies and to be given the opportunity to play footy at such a great club.

“When Collingwood came down (to see me) they talked about rebuilding. That’s exactly what you want in a club. So hopefully I can get amongst it.

“There was a bit of word that Collingwood might take me at pick five, but to be taken at two was amazing.”

Thomas’ Power teammate Scott Pendlebury was Collingwood’s second selection. The hard-working left footed former Gippsland winger has outstanding athleticism and a solid frame at 188cm and 82kg, and averaged 23 disposals in 19 TAC games, winning the 2005 TAC Cup.

At pick 21 the Maggies went in for Danny Stanley. The AIS/ALF Academy player played for the Geelong Falcons in the TAC Cup, and is a ‘Bull of a player’, according to Magpies Coach Mick Malthouse.

Ryan Cook joined the Pies with pick 23. The former Dandenong Stingrays midfielder/half forward is “a quick running player, with enormous endurance who gets forward and kicks goals,” commented Collingwood’s National Recruiting Manager Derek Hine after the Draft.

John Anthony from the Northern Knights was Collingwood final selection at pick 37. Anthony is a key back, “with a lot of Jimmy Clement about him,” according to Hine. “Who uses the ball really well and has enormous speed for someone who is 191cm.”

[loki04]

Not sure about these picks they sound alright and Thomas is exciting when he has the ball though he does go missing in games won't know until 2-3 yrs.

Although it was possible to get this (all rated highly):

#2 Ellis - #3 Hawks
#5 Hurn - #13 Eagles their midfeild is gonna be unstoppable.
#21 Muston - #22 Hawks

ahh well welcome all the new lads and I hope you are as good as the recruiters say.

[Joel]

I will let time be the judge, but I'm happy with picking up Thomas, although he probably would have been available at 5.

[collingwoodjoe]

yeh but Pendlebury wouldn't have been available at 21! we got both, Yay!

[Daniel]

di**s

[Daniel]

dave86.... how many games have u seen Ellis play?

[Harvey]

[pietillidie]

Agree Harvey.

So are we saying we've taken the most consistent high quality midfielder in the draft as well as the most physically gifted athletic midfielder?

If so, no complaints from me.

[vinnie_vegas69]