Collingwood CEO Craig Kelly has stated that the club will look to bring in two players from the draft every year in a bid to rejuvenate its list.
The Pies have been famous for wanting to hold onto their experience, with the likes of Scott Pendlebury, Steele Sidebottom and Jeremy Howe remaining at the club for 2026.
But the Victorian powerhouse has begun shifting away from coach Craig McRae's words of: "We want players, not picks" said at the end of 2024.
Premiership duo Mason Cox and Brody Mihocek found new homes over the summer, while they welcomed four draftees, which is the equal most since 2020.
"We've got a great plan," Kelly said on SEN.
"Don't underestimate the importance of experience. We're getting so much longer out of our athletes.
"Our plan is to continue to go to the draft and get two draft picks every year. We've been struggling, in previous years before the current group were there, we gave up our first-round draft picks a little bit too easily.
"We want to retain those and keep those. We want to get to the draft this year, but we also want to trade in and bring in quality individual players.
"I think we've done a pretty good job with Houston and Perryman, Dan McStay, that gives us the ability to bring in free agents.
"We are a destination club. We know we'll attract players. And what's why we know we can hang onto our players.
"The legends we've got, they got to make the decisions. Our coach has always said, and as a club, let's make them make the right decision. We'll work with them when they should leave.
"This draft is a pretty good draft. Talking to Leppa, Shane O'Bree, Richard Little, we've got a terrific team. We're doing a lot more analytics and data. There's a lot more stuff being done I think, to make sure we bring in the right people.
"What I will say, the people and the players that we've brought in in the last season draft, they've been good, because we've actually seen games in Oscar Steene, Angus Anderson playing some good footy, and we've got some other kids starting to play."
The Pies have unearthed Steene and Anderson this year to good effect, while Will Hayes has featured in the last four games.
However, Collingwood hasn't shied away from making plays at rival guns such as Ben King and Zak Butters.
