Cannot complain about the clubs record of 1st round picks since 2006
06- Reiwoldt
07- Cotchin
08- Vickery
09- Martin
10- Conca
11- Ellis
12- Vlastuin
They all look like going on to have at least solid+ careers.
Something that is starting to concern me though is the lack of 2nd,3rd and 4th rounders coming through in the same period. I know its a bit hit and miss but we seem to miss a hell of a lot after our first pick. There are usually still a fair few hidden gems that other clubs nail and we don't.
Titch
Rance
Batchelor
Dea
Griffiths
Helbig
Elton
Astbury
Arnott
McIntosh*
McBean*
McDonough*
Rance is the pick of them, been very good. Titch is ok, nothing to write home about. All the others are still not near it, * indicates too early to call.
We have another list of late picks and players weve picked up from other clubs in that same timeframe who are all in our best 22 or close to it.
Chaplin
Houli
Grigg
Maric
Knights
King
Grimes
A.edwards
Petterd
People bag most of the players on the above list, but fact is we'd be pretty crap without them and for me that's the disappointing part. With Hartely and the club doing such a great job of it, if our drafting got better, we'd have a real chance of closing the gap faster. We really need 5 or 6 from the second list of players to step up and become solid B grade players. If they don't, personally, I think visions of going top 4 and realistically being in the mix are not going to happen.
We've improved but I get the feeling we've come to an important juncture in our evolution, develop some more of our own from a reasonable talent pool (2nd list) or seriously risk missing out on becoming a serious contender.
