AFL draft 2015: Your club’s super drafts — and the years they would rather forget
LANDING Buddy, Roughy and Jordan Lewis in one draft set up a premiership dynasty. We name your club’s super — and not so super — draft years.
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LANDING Buddy, Roughy and Jordan Lewis in one draft set up a premiership dynasty.
It helped that the Hawks also nailed draft day a couple of years earlier, grabbing Luke Hodge and Sam Mitchell, with Campbell Brown thrown in for good measure.
It’s clear evidence that one brilliant draft (OK, two) can set up a club for a decade or more.
But one or two disastrous drafts and it takes just as long to recover — just ask Carlton.
Those “clean sweep” drafts where every pick turns out to be a star don’t come along often. But in 29 years of national drafts every club has one they can hang their hat on — and some others they would rather remain in the dustbin of history.
Read on as we nominate your club’s super, and not so super drafts. Did we get it right? Leave a comment below.
ADELAIDE
NAILED IT
There were a few misses in 2007 — anyone remember pick 30 Jarrhan Jacky? — but the two hits are about as big as they get. The Crows incredibly were criticised by some for ignoring famous SA name Brad Ebert and taking Victorian kid Patrick Dangerfield instead. Their final pick was used on a NSW scholarship selection — Broken Hill’s Taylor Walker.
LOOK AWAY NOW
The Crows didn’t cover themselves in glory in 2003, selecting English-born forward Fergus Watts with their first pick — he played just five AFL games before being traded to St Kilda, who handed over their first-round pick for him and got one game in return. But back to Adelaide — the other two picks in ’03 were Josh Krueger (pick 31), who never played an AFL game, and Ben Hudson (pick 58), who played 55 at the Crows before heading to the Bulldogs, Brisbane and Collingwood.
YOUR CLUB’S PICKS: FULL 2015 DRAFT ORDER
BRISBANE
NAILED IT
The 1997 draft was a good one for the Lions, getting pick 5 right (Luke Power) and snaring Simon Black at pick 31, while Beau McDonald (pick 73) is a dual premiership ruckman. Pick 10 Shane O’Bree also gets a tick although he did his best work at Collingwood
LOOK AWAY NOW
The Lions apparently didn’t do enough to make their 2011 draftees feel at home with Billy Longer (pick 8), Sam Docherty (12) and Elliot Yeo (30) all later walking out on the club. Brisbane’s other selection was pick 47 which they used on Kyabram’s Patrick Weardon, who was delisted last year without cracking an AFL game.
CARLTON
NAILED IT
It’s fair to say drafting hasn’t been Carlton’s strong point. They had two top-five picks in 2005 and nailed both with Marc Murphy (pick 1) and Josh Kennedy (4). If only they were still playing on the same team ... alongside Eddie Betts, who arrived that year in the pre-season draft.
LOOK AWAY NOW
The 2009 and 2010 drafts were virtual wipe-outs for the Blues. They took Kane Lucas with pick 12 in ’09 and also selected Marcus Davis and Rohan Kerr. The next year they selected Pat McCarthy (pick 34), Luke Mitchell (42), Andrew McInnes (67) and Nick Duigan (70). None of the above names remain although Duigan did kick four goals in a final.
COLLINGWOOD
NAILED IT
Getting Dale Thomas (pick 2) and Scott Pendlebury (5) in a one-two punch in 2005 was pretty good but there was a better spread of talent in 2006 when Collingwood called out the names of Ben Reid (pick 8), Nathan Brown (10), Chris Dawes (28) and Tyson Goldsack (63) — all premiership players in 2010. The Pies also promoted rookies Heritier Lumumba and Alan Toovey to complete a job well done.
LOOK AWAY NOW
The Pies had three picks in the top 35 in 2003 and struck out with all of them. Billy Morrison (pick 17) played zero games, Brent Hall (35) played one and pick 60 Julian Rowe was gone after 26 games. They had two father-son picks that year and rated Tony Shaw’s son Brayden the pick of them, using pick 32 on him. He never played a game. They had better luck with the other Shaw, Brayden’s cousin Heath (pick 48).
ESSENDON
NAILED IT
The seeds of the dominant 1999-2000 outfit were sown in the 1994 draft when the Bombers picked up Scott Lucas (pick 4), Blake Caracella (10), Gary Moorcroft (45) and Justin Blumfield (62). Ex-Tiger Barry Young was a handy pick-up in the pre-season draft.
LOOK AWAY NOW
The Dons didn’t have great run from 2010-12. Dyson Heppell was a great selection at pick 8 in 2010 but the four picks after him — Ariel Steinberg (31), Alex Browne (48), Luke Davis (64) and Michael Ross (80) — are all gone from the club. The top pick the next year, Elliott Kavanagh (19), has just been delisted and the jury is still out on Jackson Merrett (31) and Nick O’Brien (59).
FREMANTLE
NAILED IT
Tempted to say 2009 just for getting Nat Fyfe at pick 20 but the other selections that year weren’t fantastic (although you can’t blame recruiters for top pick Anthony Morabito’s injury curse). The Dockers had a sensational overall draft in 2008, snaring Stephen Hill (pick 3), Hayden Ballantyne (21), Nick Suban (24), Zac Clarke (37) and bargain Michael Walters (50).
LOOK AWAY NOW
In 2010 Freo’s top pick was Jayden Pitt (20), who’s career was ended on 10 games by a heart condition. He was followed by misses Viv Michie (44) and Josh Mellington (56), but rookie elevations Michael Barlow and Matt de Boer saved the Dockers’ blushes. Historically Fremantle has traded away a lot of its draft picks and when you look at a year like 2006 you can see why. The Dockers’ three picks that year were Clayton Collard (31), Brock O’Brien (52) and Calib Mourish (77) who played one, three and zero games respectively.
GEELONG
NAILED IT
Master recruiter Stephen Wells put the down payment on his statue outside Simonds Stadium in 1999 when Joel Corey (pick 8), Paul Chapman (31), Cameron Ling (38) and Corey Enight (47) arrived at the Cattery, but he remarkably improved on that effort two years later. In 2001 Wells read out the names of Jimmy Bartel (pick 8), James Kelly (17), Steve Johnson (24), Gary Ablett (40, father-son) plus Charlie Gardiner (23) and Henry Playfair (41) who both played 50-plus games for the Cats — and a dynasty was assured.
LOOK AWAY NOW
Clutching at straws to find a bad draft in the modern era — perhaps 2003? Pick 7 Kane Tenace never made it and Cameron Thurley (pick 22) and Matthew Spencer (pick 42) played a combined nine games. But it wasn’t a total bust with Mark Blake playing 99 games including the 2009 premiership after arriving via pick 38 as a father-son selection. If you go way back the Cats took a while to get the hang of this whole draft thing, scoring doughnuts across the board in their first two attempts — the Cats drafted 10 players in 1986 and 87 and none of them played a senior game.
GOLD COAST
Too early to call after just five drafts.
GWS GIANTS
See above.
HAWTHORN
NAILED IT
Toss-up between the blockbuster 2004 draft when the Hawks hoodwinked the Tigers to snare Jarryd Roughead (pick 2), Lance Franklin (5) and Jordan Lewis (7), plus Tom Murphy (21) and Simon Taylor (53) and 2001, when Luke Hodge arrived with pick 1 alongside Campbell Brown (32), Sam Mitchell (36) and a couple of handy rookie elevations Michael Osborne and Robert Campbell.
LOOK AWAY NOW
The spectacular success of 2004 gave the Hawks a free pass for a few years, covering a couple of quiet drafts. In 2006 they used pick 6 to select Tasmanian goalkicker Mitch Thorp who played a grand total of two AFL games, plus Brent Renouf (pick 24), Jarryd Morton (33) and Garry Moss (56). Pick 40 was used on a father-son selection who didn’t get much of a crack at Hawthorn but has done a bit better since being traded to Sydney — Josh Kennedy.
MELBOURNE
NAILED IT
Last year’s Angus Brayshaw/Christian Petracca double might occupy this spot in future but for now we have to look back to 1999 when the Demons were able to grab Brad Green (pick 19), Paul Wheatley (20), Matthew Whelan (50) and Cameron Bruce (64).
LOOK AWAY NOW
Plenty of skeletons in the draft closet but 2009 must be the most painful for Demon fans. After “not tanking” to finish last in 2008 they used their prized first two selections on Tom Scully and Jack Trengove (before Richmond snapped up Dustin Martin at pick 3). More high picks were used to recruit Jordan Gysberts (11) and Luke Tapscott (18), who are both gone from the AFL scene. Max Gawn (pick 34) is trying to salvage the draft’s reputation single-handed although pick 50 Jack Fitzpatrick might have a surprise in store after being delisted then picked up by Hawthorn.
NORTH MELBOURNE
NAILED IT
The Roos have had good picks in most drafts without a knockout year but 2006 stacks up pretty well with Lachie Hansen (pick 3), Todd Goldstein (37) and Lindsay Thomas (53) all huge ticks. Gavid Urquhart (pick 21) and Ben Warren (69) played some good AFL games and Aaron Edwards was good value at pick 82. Getting Adam Simpson (pick 14) and David King (pick 46) makes 1993 a pretty good year, too.
LOOK AWAY NOW
The 2007 draft wasn’t North’s finest with rookie elevation Michael Firrito the only success story. David Trotter (pick 9) disappeared after seven AFL games, Chad Jones (24) and Eddie Sansbury (40) didn’t fare much better and the Roos took the wrong LeCras at pick 56. Brent played six games while his brother Mark was drafted by West Coast the following year.
PORT ADELAIDE
NAILED IT
Hard to go past the 2006 draft which delivered skipper Travis Boak at pick 5 plus Paul Stewart at 23 and two of the great modern draft steals — Robbie Gray (pick 55) and Justin Westhoff (71). Nathan Krakouer, now back at Port after stints at Gold Coast and the SANFL, was originally recruited with pick 39 that year and David Rodan played 111 games for Port after being taken with pick 86. The Power also did very well in 2000 when they picked up Shaun Burgoyne (pick 12), Kane Cornes (20) and Dom Cassisi (50).
LOOK AWAY NOW
Port’s luck wasn’t so good in 2004 when it used its draft ammo on Adam Thomson (pick 11), Ryan Willits (19), James Ezard (34), Fabian Deluca (35) and Ben Eckermann (51). Those five players combined for 54 AFL games.
RICHMOND
NAILED IT
No clean sweeps in the Tigers’ draft file but grabbing Trent Cotchin (pick 2) and Alex Rance (18) in the same year — 2007 — is a huge tick. They also upgraded Jake King from the rookie list that year but it wouldn’t be Richmond without some sort of calamity — they could have had pick 19 (Callan Ward) as well but traded it away for Jordan McMahon. The Tigers set up a brief challenge in the mid-90s in the 1992 draft that netted Matthew Rogers (pick 37), Jamie Tape (28), Paul Bulluss (52) and a father-son pick by the name of Matthew Richardson.
LOOK AWAY NOW
In 2004 the Tigers had five top-20 picks but only one will go down as an unqualified success — No.1 selection Brett Deledio. Taking Richard Tambling at pick 4 when Lance Franklin was still available will haunt the club but in fairness to Danny Meyer (pick 12), Adam Pattinson (16) and Dean Polo (20), it wasn’t the strongest draft. Dean Limbach (pick 52) disappeared without a trace and the Tigers used pick 65 to give ex-Hawk Mark Graham one more year. Selecting Luke McGuane at pick 36 looks OK in hindsight.
ST KILDA
NAILED IT
The Saints were in a perfect position to take maximum advantage of the 2001 super draft after finishing last the year before. Taking Luke Ball (pick 2) ahead of Chris Judd (3) might raise eyebrows but it’s hard to complain about a haul of Xavier Clarke (5), Nick Dal Santo (13), Matt Maguire (21), Leigh Montagna (37) and Stephen Milne (rookie elevation). Brett Voss was a handy addition in the pre-season draft.
LOOK AWAY NOW
The Saints had a draught drought from 2008-10 with precisely zero of the 17 players selected in those drafts still at the club. First-round picks Tom Lynch (2008) and Jamie Cripps (2010) have found success at other clubs but 2009 was a wasteland with top selection Nick Winmar (pick 32) playing just two AFL games and ensuing selections Jesse Smith (60), Adam Pattinson (64) and Will Johnson (77) combining for six in Saints colours. To complete the horror story, St Kilda traded away its top selection that year for Andrew Lovett.
SYDNEY SWANS
NAILED IT
Wind back the clock to 1994 when the Swans had picks 2 and 3 and used them on Anthony Rocca and Shannon Grant. Stuart Mangin (pick 20) didn’t make it but Matthew Nicks (21), Michael O’Loughlin (40) and Troy Luff (74) were all great selections. Under draft rules at the time the Swans were also able to recruit a Deniliquin youngster named Leo Barry with a zone zelection.
LOOK AWAY NOW
The recruiter who took Daniel Currie with the Swans’ second pick in 2006 will follow his progress at fourth club, Gold Coast, with interest. He didn’t play a game for the Swans and neither did top pick that year Daniel O’Keefe or third pick Peter Faulks. The only success of that draft was pick 79 Jesse White, who is now at Collingwood. However, Swans scouts can say they recruited a premiership player that year — Jonathan Simpkin was elevated off the rookie list but, you guessed it, failed to play a game in red and white before being delisted at the end of 2007, returning to Colac then wearing the sub vest in Hawthorn’s 2014 flag.
WEST COAST
NAILED IT
Whichever draft they took Chris Judd in. The Eagles also snared Ashley Sampi at pick 6 in 2001 along with Mark Seaby (22) and Ashley Hansen (38) — that’s four from four by our count. More recently the 2007 draft delivered Nic Naitanui (pick 2), Luke Shuey (18) plus Pat McGinnity in the pre-season draft, which isn’t bad going.
LOOK AWAY NOW
In 1995 the Eagles took full-forward Brendon Fewster with pick 3 and he played 30 games in four years before being traded to Fremantle. If you can remember any of their other picks you’re doing better than us — apologies to Luke Trew (pick 14), Craig Smoker (30), Jason Clifton (44), Paul Whitelaw (57) and Neil Marshall (66). Of that quintet only Marshall cracked it for an AFL game, making four senior appearances. The saving grace for West Coast that year was a father-son pick by the name of Ben Cousins.
WESTERN BULLDOGS
NAILED IT
The Dogs had their own super draft in 1999 when Scott Clayton, in his first year in the job, picked Bob Murphy (pick 13), Daniel Giansiracusa (32), Mitch Hahn (37), Lidsay Gilbee (43), Patrick Bowden (58) and Ryan Hargrave (66). Whack. The 2012 draft is shaping as a possible modern equivalent, delivering Jake Stringer (5), Jack Macrae (6), Nathan Hrovat (21), Lachie Hunter (49 as a father-son) and Josh Prudden (50) plus rookie elevation Jason Johannisen and pre-season pick Fletcher Roberts.
LOOK AWAY NOW
The Dogs took a huge punt in 2009 by using their first selection (15) on unknown youngster Christian Howard. It’s fair to say it didn’t pay off — he was delisted at the end of 2014 after playing 20 senior games. Jason Tutt (pick 31), Lukas Markovic (63) and Shane Thorne (76) rounded out the Bulldogs’ selections that year. Rookie elevation Liam Picken is going OK.
Originally published as AFL draft 2015: Your club’s super drafts — and the years they would rather forget
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