The man Collingwood hope that Leigh Brown can replace is his AFL inspiration.

Shane Wakelin retired at the end of last season and Brown, 26, is the obvious choice to take over his role as a key defender for the Magpies.

Brown was among only four delisted AFL players who were picked up in Saturday's national draft.

North Melbourne had delisted him after he managed just nine games this year.

Brown started at Fremantle and has a career total of 181 matches.

"(I'm) very excited, I just want the opportunity to play footy - `Wakes' was in the same situation when he came down here, similar age, similar sort of experience," Brown said.

"It will probably be a good opportunity to sit down with him at some stage and talk it through.

"He's a true champion of this club, he did a lot of great things at Collingwood and if I could do half as much as he did, it will be fantastic."

Wakelin had played 94 games at St Kilda before joining Collingwood in 2001.

He excelled in his second AFL home, playing 158 matches for a career total of 252.

Brown had trained at Collingwood for three weeks, but when he went home last Friday he had no idea whether the `Pies would recruit him.

He sat in front of his computer on Saturday morning to watch the draft unfold on the internet and had to wait until pick 73 to have the good news.

"It's very exciting, I feel young and fresh again," he said.

"I probably haven't played key position for a couple of years, but hopefully there's a spot and I can slide in there.

"I'm happy to play wherever Mick (coach Mick Malthouse) wants me to play.

"I was sitting there hoping and praying and it was fantastic to see (on the internet) my name called out."

Brown was among Collingwood's five draftees to be presented on Wednesday to the medal.

The others are No.11 pick Steele Sidebottom, Queenslander Dayne Beams, Jarrad Blight from Perth and Geelong's Luke Rounds.

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