AFL draft: 2007 class reselected, Patrick Dangerfield No. 1 pick
CARLTON had pick No. 1, but overlooked an on-baller who would develop into a superstar. We reselect the top 20 picks of the 2007 draft.
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IN THE lead-up to the 2015 AFL national draft, Fox Footy is taking a look back at previous years to see what the clubs got right and what they got really, really wrong.
The last few years are a bit too recent to judge fairly, so we’re starting in 2005 and counting down a draft a day until this year’s crop is up to be picked on Tuesday 24 November.
Today, we’re revisiting the 2007 draft — a class which has produced a handful of superstars.
2005 REVISITED: PENDLES LEAPFROGS MURPH
2006 REVISITED: JOEL TOPS THE CLASS
Carlton selected Matthew Kreuzer with pick No. 1 — but a Crow turned Cat has arguably emerged as the premier player from the draft class.
With the benefit of hindsight, here’s how the top 20 picks of the 2007 draft should have gone.
PICK 1 — CARLTON (PRIORITY SELECTION)
ORIGINAL SELECTION: Matthew Kreuzer
NEW SELECTION: Patrick Dangerfield
Not only is Dangerfield the best player of the ’07 draft class, he’s arguably in the top three players in the competition at the moment. Outside or inside, the star midfielder can do it all, hence why he’s already been rewarded with three All-Australian jumpers in the past four years. No wonder Geelong fans are still pinching themselves at their recent trade steal.
PICK 2 — RICHMOND
ORIGINAL SELECTION: Trent Cotchin
NEW SELECTION: Alex Rance
The Tigers took Cotchin with pick No. 2 — but Rance has arguably emerged as the club’s most important player and the best full-back in the game. With or without the ball, loose or one-on-one, Rance is the complete defensive package, hence why they offered him such an attractive, long-term deal earlier this year.
PICK 3 — WEST COAST EAGLES
ORIGINAL SELECTION: Chris Masten
NEW SELECTION: Harry Taylor
It’s hard to believe Taylor has only been in the AFL system for eight years, such has been the impact he’s made since joining the Cats. One of the best intercept players in the game, Taylor has won two flags and two All-Australian jumpers in his time in Geelong. A mature-age recruit from the WAFL, Taylor wouldn’t have had to move far if the Eagles had snared him.
PICK 4 — MELBOURNE
ORIGINAL SELECTION: Cale Morton
NEW SELECTION: Trent Cotchin
The ultimate professional both on and off the field, Cotchin can be incredibly damaging when he’s at his best. The hard-working Tigers captain combines classy ball use with an incredible knack for finding the contested ball to tear games apart. Boy the Dees would’ve liked Cotchin instead of Morton in that midfield brigade.
PICK 5 — WESTERN BULLDOGS
ORIGINAL SELECTION: Jarrad Grant
NEW SELECTION: Cyril Rioli
Love him or hate him, the bottom line is Rioli is a once in a generation footballer, whose been an invaluable member of the Hawks’ four premiership sides. With or without the footy, opponents fear him, as he applies tremendous defensive pressure then does things with ball in hand that few can do — or have ever been able to do.
PICK 6 — ESSENDON
ORIGINAL SELECTION: David Myers
NEW SELECTION: Taylor Walker
Walker accepted an NSW scholarship contract with Adelaide when he was 16-years-old, so the Crows were able to nab him with the last pick of the 2007 draft. If he hadn’t have accepted the scholarship, in hindsight, he undoubtedly would’ve been worthy of a top-10 pick, as he’s clearly emerged as the best key forward of the draft class. And the Bombers would’ve loved him in their forward line.
PICK 7 — FREMANTLE
ORIGINAL SELECTION: Rhys Palmer
NEW SELECTION: Callan Ward
Ward was a bargain pick at No. 19 and he’s almost still a bargain at No. 7, such is his prolific ball-winning ability — both in contested and uncontested situations. A tough, uncompromising captain who leads by example, Ward has been a brilliant acquisition for the Giants after departing the Dogs.
PICK 8 — BRISBANE LIONS
ORIGINAL SELECTION: Lachie Henderson
NEW SELECTION: Cale Hooker
An athletic key-position player, Hooker continues to improve with each season. After a stellar season at full-back in 2014 — a season that earned him All-Australian honours — Hooker was swung forward in 2015 and adapted to the position with aplomb, booting 21 goals from 22 games.
PICK 9 — ST KILDA
ORIGINAL SELECTION: Ben McEvoy
NEW SELECTION: Matthew Kreuzer
Injuries are the major reason behind Kreuzer’s slide down the re-draft order, with the big Blue managing 18 games or more in just one of his past six AFL seasons. The knock on him is that he doesn’t win enough hit-outs or disposals for a ruckman yet doesn’t kick enough goals as a forward. When fit, though, Kreuzer impacts game, as his big tank allows him to cover ample ground and attend as many contests as possible.
PICK 10 — ADELAIDE
ORIGINAL SELECTION: Patrick Dangerfield
NEW SELECTION: Jack Steven
The Crows might’ve missed out on Dangerfield in the re-draft — and seen him go to Geelong in reality — but they replaced him with a gun midfielder in Steven, who’s an emerging star of the league. Steven’s 2013 and 2015 campaigns were outstanding, averaging 27 disposals per game in each year, while he was ranked first for inside 50s and fifth for tackles in 2015.
PICK 11 — SYDNEY SWANS
ORIGINAL SELECTION: Patrick Veszpremi
NEW SELECTION: Chris Masten
The Swans missed big time when they chose Veszpremi, but would’ve struck gold if they had picked Masten, who’s turned into a solid wingman at the Eagles. While he’s slid down eight spots from where he was originally taken, Masten has averaged 22 disposals per game or more for the past four straight seasons.
PICK 12 — HAWTHORN
ORIGINAL SELECTION: Cyril Rioli
NEW SELECTION: Scott D Thompson
One of the biggest bargains of the ’07 draft, Thompson has been a gem for the Kangaroos, who originally selected him with pick No. 37. After finding his feet during his first year on the list, Thompson has been one of North’s first-picked players since, playing 154 games from the past seven seasons. A versatile defender who can play on both tall and small opponents, Thompson won the club’s best and fairest, as well as All-Australian honours, in 2013.
PICK 13 — WEST COAST EAGLES
ORIGINAL SELECTION: Brad Ebert
NEW SELECTION: Easton Wood
Plucked out of the Hampden Football League by the Dogs at pick No. 43, Wood’s past two seasons have helped him shoot into top-20 re-draft contention. Wood’s 2015 campaign, in particular, was outstanding, ranking second in the AFL for intercept marks and intercept possessions.
PICK 14 — MELBOURNE
ORIGINAL SELECTION: Jack Grimes
NEW SELECTION: Brad Ebert
Ebert was taken by the Eagles a selection earlier in 2007, but slips back one pick after the Eagles overlooked him in the re-draft. Since joining Port Adelaide, the hard-working Ebert hasn’t missed a game and averaged 23 disposals per outing. He’s developed into one of the best genuine wingmen in the league.
PICK 15 — NORTH MELBOURNE
ORIGINAL SELECTION: Robbie Tarrant
NEW SELECTION: Ben McEvoy
“Big Boy” might’ve slipped six places in the re-draft, but he’s considered a valuable big man for the Hawks. A big, bullocking ruckman, McEvoy has developed into a permanent member of the Hawks’ side, rewarded with two premiership medallions.
PICK 16 — PORT ADELAIDE
ORIGINAL SELECTION: Matthew Lobbe
NEW SELECTION: Matthew Lobbe
Port keeps the faith here. Some would say Lobbe doesn’t deserve to be this high in the re-draft after his 2015 season. Yet when he wasn’t contending with Paddy Ryder for the No. 1 ruck spot in 2013 and 2014, Lobbe was one of the top rucks in the league, averaging over 100 SuperCoach points per game in 2014. He can play, but he’s a pure ruckman, not a ruck-forward.
PICK 17 — GEELONG
ORIGINAL SELECTION: Harry Taylor
NEW SELECTION: Lachie Henderson
Henderson gets his Geelong wish after all, slipping to pick No. 17 in the hindsight draft. After showing glimpses of his potential at Carlton, Henderson was traded to Geelong during the recent exchange period for a future first-round selection. If Geelong finishes towards the top end of the ladder in 2016, that first-round selection would be somewhere between picks 14 to 18 — about Henderson’s worth.
PICK 18 — RICHMOND
ORIGINAL SELECTION: Alex Rance
NEW SELECTION: Levi Greenwood
Collingwood didn’t throw a four-year deal worth $400,000 a season at Greenwood last year for nothing. After a slow start at the Kangaroos, Greenwood developed into a key member of the midfield brigade, starring in the club’s 2014 campaign by booting 16 goals and averaging 25 disposals per game. With an injury-free pre-season, Greenwood will be a walk-up starter in Collingwood’s midfield in 2016.
PICK 19 — WESTERN BULLDOGS
ORIGINAL SELECTION: Callan Ward
NEW SELECTION: Scott Selwood
Injuries — and the fact his older brother is a superstar — has heaped unwanted weight onto Selwood’s shoulders throughout his career. But when fully fit and at his best, the tenacious midfielder is one of the best tacklers and run-with players in the competition. His move to Geelong could be just the break he needs.
PICK 20 — WEST COAST EAGLES
ORIGINAL SELECTION: Tony Notte
NEW SELECTION: Rhys Palmer
Remember when Palmer averaged 23 disposals per game and pipped Cyril for the rising star in 2008? Feels like forever ago. After a few quiet years in the footy wilderness, Palmer has found his niche as a goalkicking half-forward at the GWS Giants, booting 41 goals from the past two seasons.
Originally published as AFL draft: 2007 class reselected, Patrick Dangerfield No. 1 pick
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