Who was the player you would have picked claw instead of Banks.
Mate for me it was not just about the ND to correct some list short comings. For me it went all the way back to the 2021 mid season draft. Trade and F/A periods as well. Not saying we get all of them but Sclhensog mssd, Skinner f/a, Finlayson Trade, and Dunstan F/A were all players i would have been into prior to the ND.
Let me make it clear im not disappointed with any of the kids we took but i dont think we addressed our most glaring list short comings
That being an ageing midfield and just two key fwds.
On your question the answer is i probably would not have taken Brown at pick 17 and been happy to take Banks where we did.
If we were taking a mid or even H/B at 17 it would have been Goater or used it on JVR or a big mid type like Johnson.
Whilst im happy with the Gibcus pick i personally would have taken one of Erasmus or Hobbs. The reasons are simple our mids are aging
and with Tarrant, Grimes, Balta, Nyuon, and Miller it was not a serious need with the likelyhood of a tall defender being there at 28.
Going off memory i think on the day with the first 4 i went
9/ Erasmus - 188cm MID with much upside imo. Happy as larry with Gibcus.
17/ JVR. - Arguably the most highly rated KPF. Only his teammate Amiss was rated as high. Brown maybe a gun but the need was for a KEY fwd
28/ Bazzo - Arguably the 3rd best KPD behind only Gibcus and maybe Alleer. Having not taken Gibcus at 9 then this made sense.I had had him around here a long way out.
29/ Sonsie - Highly rated mid with silky skills before injury was rated top 10.
30/ Was Happy with the Clarke pick here even Banks would have been happy Liked the look of Howes and Draper.
Remember this is based on needs or greatest needs. Tall in particular fwds and mids for me was the greatest need and imo continues to be.
As for the kids we took well as stated im not upset with any of them
Gibcus looks a beut long term key defender.
Brown is a rangy 187cm hb with great pace good athletically and good by foot but was it a big need.
Sonsie was the best remaining mid available and the more i find on him the more i like.
Clarke to me made sense because i have little faith in the small fwds we have especially Aarts and Castagna.he looks likely.
Banks again looks to be a good pacy rangy running type with good skills. Just that having taken Brown i thought we could address other needs with this late pick.
Again im not having a go at the kids we took i just dont think we addressed our biggest needs.