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Eagles the big winners

29/11/2008 4:21 PM

Adelaide: Rating: 7/10 - The highlight of the Crows' five picks was the snaring of the 18-year-old younger brother of former North Melbourne premiership player and Carlton best and fairest winner Corey McKernan at pick 28. Shaun McKernan is a virtual clone of his older brother and at 196cm and 94kg can play as either a key forward or as a ruckman - two areas where the Crows are struggling. And with their first pick at selection ten the Crows came up with a highly-rated local in 18-year-old, 196cm Phil Davis considered one of the best key defenders on offer in this year's draft.

Brisbane Lions: Rating: 8/10 - Have the Lions pulled off the steal of this year's draft by snaring highly-rated Western Australian midfielder Daniel Rich at the luxury of pick seven? Rich appeared the most ready-made player at this year's under 18 championships and his magnificent left foot kicking is reminiscent of Luke Hodge and he has already has the build to step straight into league football. Could he be like Joel Selwood, who was taken at pick seven in the 2006 national draft but is now clearly the best player to have emerged from that draft. Throw in another classy midfielder in Jack Redden and a promising key forward from Tasmania in Aaron Cornelius - who was ranked in the top five for marks in this year's national under 18 championships - and the Lions have done as well as any club.

Carlton: Rating: 7/10 - A quieter draft than the last couple when the Blues have had the prized first pick, following the club's improved performance this season. But in top pick Chris Yarran the Blues have unearthed a gem. He might be just 17 and stand only 180cm but Yarran not only kicked seven goals on his senior debut in the WAFL this season but went on to top Swan Districts' goalkicking for the season in a year in which it finished runner-up. Add to this the best Tasmanian on offer in this year's draft in midfielder Mitch Robinson plus a dashing defender from South Australia called Rhys O'Keeffe and the Blues have done very well again.

Collingwood: Rating 6/10 - The Pies pulled off the surprise of the draft by giving 26-year-old former Fremantle and Kangaroos' big man Leigh Brown his third opportunity at AFL level. Brown managed just nine games this season for a career total of 181 and was one of just four recycled players taken in this year's draft. There is also a query on the Pies' top draft pick in Steele Sidebottom for pace and size but his stunning performance in this year's TAC Cup under 18 grand final when he kicked an astonishing 10 goals in one of the best performances ever seen in junior ranks elevated him up the pecking order.

Essendon: Rating 6/10: The Bombers got just what it needed - a key defender - following the retirement of Mal Michael with versatile big man Michael Hurley from the Northern Knights at its first pick at selection five. Despite the tempting prize of still-available Subiaco midfielder Daniel Rich dangling in front of them, the Bombers decided that topping up their tall stocks was more of a priority with Matthew Lloyd, Dustin Fletcher and Scott

 
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