Collingwood head into this month’s National Draft with three picks inside the first two rounds.
As a contending team, the Magpies will hope that their draftees can make an impact quickly as they chase a 16th premiership in 2023.
Having struggled with opposition tall forwards in 2022, AFL Media’s Cal Twomey expects key defensive prospects to feature near the top of Collingwood's draft board.
“There’s a couple of key backs that would be in that mix,” Twomey said on SEN Sportsday.
“Jedd Busslinger if he got there and Lewis Hayes - who is the younger brother of Sam at Port Adelaide - he’s 200cm and could be around there.
“Josh Weddle is the other key position defender, he’s about 192cm, but he runs the 2km time trial in six minutes and three seconds which we love and then he does the 20m sprint in under three seconds.”
Another player that’s been linked to Collingwood is Dandenong Stingrays midfielder Henry Hustwaite.
Hustwaite has pre-existing links to the club with his older brother, Campbell, captain of Collingwood’s VFL team.
Twomey believes the 195cm on-baller could be on the board when the Magpies go to use their pair of second-round picks.
“He can, I think he’d more a chance at their second or third pick instead of their first one,” Twomey said.
“I think he’s that draft range probably between (picks) 20-30.
“He’s a 195cm midfielder, he’s had a bit of a growth spurt so he’s still a bit gangly but a good user of the footy.”
Collingwood will take picks 16, 25, 27 and 51 into this month’s National Draft.