Collingwood slide will be big gain for GWS Giants after Adam Treloar trade

A COLLINGWOOD fall down the ladder this season will inflate the premium price the Magpies are yet to pay for recruits Adam Treloar and James Aish.

AFL: Round 4 Collingwood v Melbourne

A COLLINGWOOD fall down the ladder this season will inflate the premium price the Magpies are yet to pay for recruits Adam Treloar and James Aish.

While Treloar is becoming a bona fide star — and has been the shining light on a miserable start to the season — the Magpies agreed to forgo their top selection last year and this year to secure him from Greater Western Sydney.

As the ladder stands that would deliver the Giants this year’s No.4 pick in addition to last year’s No. 7 selection for Treloar and No.28.

If the Pies were to spiral to the wooden spoon they would go unrewarded, with the Giants to seize the coveted No. 1 pick.

While that appears unlikely, Collingwood expected to play finals this year after landing Treloar, Aish, Jeremy Howe and the growth of their kids.

If the Pies can surge into September they will only surrender a selection in the 11-18 range but they have now lost 12 of their past 15 matches and enter Anzac Day’s clash against Essendon under siege.

Last year there were only two changes to the top eight after Round 4.

The Magpies also handed over St Kilda’s second-round selection for Aish, currently No.25, which was acquired as part of the Nathan Freeman trade.

The Magpies traded two first round draft picks for Adam Treloar. Picture: Wayne Ludbey

Conversely, the current order would see GWS pillage yet another draft with picks four, 10, 15, 28 and 30.

The Magpies would select at No.22 and 40 after entering last year’s draft at pick 32 (Brayden Sier).

They’ve paid a premium (for Treloar), but on that transaction you’d still be confident it will be worth it.

- club recruiter

The AFL introduced the trading of future picks last year with Geelong and Melbourne also offloading their first selections amid public declarations they expected to rise.

Recruiting experts said the Giants boasted about 10 quality prospects from their talent academy, and they are already armed with plenty of valuable draft points.

That means they will not be forced to trade out players for picks and appear certain to land academy guns Harrison Macreadie and Will Setterfield.

A chief recruiter said while the Pies’ plight was a concern, the Treloar trade would stand a winner.

“It’s early days. They’ve paid a premium, but on that transaction you’d still be confident it will be worth it,” he said.

“He’s a genuine A-grader that you’ve given up two picks for.”

But the expert said it was the ghosts of the past which would haunt the Pies, given the flops of trade targets including Patrick Karnezis and Jesse White.

The jury is also out on Aish after a disappointing second season at the Lions and a slow start to 2016.

But clubs aren’t overly bullish about this year’s draft crop, which appears thin for top-end talent early in the year.

The Magpies also traded for former Lion James Aish. Picture: AAP

The Magpies have been thrilled with Treloar’s output since the day he arrived. The ball magnet is the club’s No. 1 ranked player and averaging 30.5 disposals.

Magpies chief recruiter Derek Hine said after last year’s successful trade period the club was following a strategic plan.

“We were just really fortunate to be able to execute a plan that’s been probably in place for up to 18 months,” he said.

Coach Nathan Buckley said when he was re-signed last month: “Clearly there are expectations around this year”.

“It’s going to be a great ride. We all have strong ambitions for where we can go,” he said.

Under AFL rules clubs must activate two first-round picks in every four-year block and can only trade 12 months into the future.

Originally published as Collingwood slide will be big gain for GWS Giants after Adam Treloar trade