AFL: Tasmania Devils Derek Hine’s top draftees, trades at Collingwood

Former Collingwood recruiting guru Derek Hine has landed at the Tasmania Devils as the new head of recruiting. We look back on his big draft and trade hits at the Pies to see why the AFL’s 19th club should be excited.

Derek Hine is considered a recruiting genius in the AFL world.

During a 20-year association with competition powerhouse Collingwood, he helped to unearth future stars and hidden gems.

He built premiership lists in 2010 and 2023.

Now as the Tasmania Devils’ head of recruiting, we’ve taken a look at some of the big hits of Hine’s career to showcase what the club has in their corner.

DRAFT HITS

2004 rookie draft – Pick 21 – Heritier Lumumba (199 games)

A 2010 premiership player, he was instrumental in Collingwood’s win over St Kilda in the grand final replay. Was also named in the 2010 All-Australian team.

2005 Draft – Pick 5 – Scott Pendlebury (411 games)

Pendlebury, arguably Hine’s best draft pick, is still playing at 37 in his 20th AFL season. He’s a two-time premiership player, Norm Smith Medallist, former Collingwood captain, AFLCA Champion Player, six-time All Australian, five-time Copeland Trophy winner, and has numerous other accolades.

2005 Rookie Draft – Pick 2 – Alan Toovey (159 games)

A speedy left-footed defender from WA, Toovey was a 2010 premiership player, playing every game and being a crucial part of the Magpie backline.

2006 Draft – Pick 63 – Tyson Goldsack (165 games)

A premiership player in 2010 for the Magpies, Goldsack replaced Leon Davis in the grand final replay. In his first year, Goldsack won the Harry Collier Trophy as Collingwood’s best first year player, to go with an international jumper in 2010.

2006 Rookie Draft – Pick 40 – Marty Clarke (73 games)

Will go down as one of the top overseas recruits under Hine. Clarke was recruited from Northern Ireland as an outstanding underage Gaelic Football talent. After returning home at the end of the 2009 season, Clarke returned to Australia and was traded from GWS to Collingwood in the 2011 Draft before retiring in 2014.

Steele Sidebottom was part of a major haul. Picture: Michael Klein

2008 – Steele Sidebottom – Pick 11, Leigh Brown – Pick 73, Rookie Draft – Pick 27 Jarryd Blair (157 games)

A major haul for the Pies, a trio who played important parts in the 2010 flag. Sidebottom soared into contention with 10 goals in the TAC Cup grand final. Brown became a vital cog as the back up ruckman at his third AFL club. Blair debuted in 2010 after being promoted to the senior list.

2009 Draft – Pick 30 – Luke Ball (81 games)

After 142 games at the Saints, Ball nominated for the Draft in 2009 and was picked up by the Magpies where he became a premiership player in 2010, fittingly against his former club.

2013 Draft – Pick 65 – Tom Langdon (89 games)

Played 89 games in his career but was a reliable defender, who unfortunately was limited by injuries. A chronic knee injury forced him to retire in 2020.

2014 Draft – Brayden Maynard (217 games) — Pick 30, Mason Cox — Rookie Draft, Pick 60

Maynard has become one of the game’s most reliable small defenders and is loved by Collingwood for his toughness. Hine led the Collingwood push to sign American Cox who has carved out over 130 career games.

Brody Mihocek has been a bargain selection. Picture: Michael Klein

2017 Rookie Draft – Pick 22 – Brody Mihocek (144 games)

Plucked from Port Melbourne VFL as a mature age recruit, Mihocek is a five-time leading goalkicker for the Pies.

2019 Mid Season Draft – Pick 14 – John Noble (112 games)

Now at the Suns, once Noble got into the Collingwood line-up he became a key figure at halfback with his dash out of defence.

2020 Draft – Pick 44 – Beau McCreery (85 games)

The small forward has become a consistent on the Pies’ teamsheet with his pace and toughness key abilities.

TOP TRADE HITS

2009 – Darren Jolly for Pick 14 (Lewis Jetta, Sydney) and Pick 46 (on traded to Hawthorn who picked Ben Stratton)

Jolly’s arrival marked a major milestone moment in the Pies’ 2010 premiership success as he became the Pies’ number one ruckman as they also reached the decider a year later.

2011 – Pick 25 for Marty Clarke, Jamie Elliott, Pick 67 (Jarrod Witts)

Clarke and Elliott had been pre-listed by the GWS Giants before Hine swooped in to land the duo with the former returning to the Pies for a second stint. Elliott has gone onto be one of the leading forwards in the game over the last 15 years. Witts played 40 games with the Pies before joining the Suns where he has become an elite big man.

2013 – Taylor Adams for Heath Shaw

The perfect example of a win-win trade. Adams played 175 games for the black and white army while Shae played 152 for the Giants before retiring. Adams was an All-Australian in 2020

Taylor Adams was a win-win deal. Photo: Getty Images.

2014 – Jack Crisp, pick 5 (Jordan De Goey) and pick 25 (on traded to North Melbourne) for Dayne Beams and pick 67

Crisp was considered the “steak knives” in the deal but over the weekend played his 245th consecutive game, an AFL record. De Goey is a matchwinner and still remains one of the Pies’ most important players. In the same trade period, the Pies landed Travis Varcoe which sent Mitch Clark to Geelong and Heritier Lumumba to Melbourne.

2015 – Jeremy Howe in a four-team deal for Paul Seedsman (Adelaide), Ben Kennedy and picks (Melbourne)

Howe arrived as part of a complex four-team trade. He came as a high flying forward but injuries in 2016 saw Howe sent to defence and soon found his new home. He remains a leading intercept player.

Originally published as AFL: Tasmania Devils Derek Hine’s top draftees, trades at Collingwood