All-Star rookie team a reminder to AFL recruiters after draft dominated by recycled players

IN the wake of an AFL rookie draft dominated by recycled players, we thought we’d remind recruiters of the superstars that were once diamonds in the rough.

IN the wake of an AFL rookie draft dominated by recycled players, we thought we’d remind recruiters of the superstars that were once diamonds in the rough.

Credit to Collingwood for picking 24-year-old Brody Mihocek out of Port Melbourne and Hawthorn for giving 26-year-old David Mirra a shot.

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However, almost half of Monday’s picks were used on relisting or recycling recently delisted players.

Last year 50 picks were used in the rookie draft and 19 players were re-drafted or recycled.

Matthew Priddis started his career as a rookie. Picture: Tom Huntley

Brett Kirk didn’t play his first game of AFL until 22.

There’s no doubt Stewart Crameri (ironically, first drafted as a rookie by Essendon) deserved a chance after being jettisoned prematurely by the Western Bulldogs while Matt Shaw was at times one of Gold Coast’s most reliable players.

Of course, this isn’t the end for every AFL hopeful, just look at Matthew Boyd - the games record holder for a rookie-drafted player - who was picked up as a 20-year-old or Brett Kirk and Michael Barlow who had to wait until they were 22.

Let’s hope Stefan Giro turns into the next Luke Dahlhaus or Angus Styles becomes the next Kieren Jack.

The rookie draft was introduced 20 years ago in February 1997 and has produced some absolute stars of the game including Dean Cox, Matthew Priddis and Josh Gibson.

Here’s our top team. Who was unlucky to miss the cut?

All-Time Rookie Team

Nick Smith (Syd)	Dale Morris (WB)	Dane Rampe (Syd)
Nick Maxwell (Coll)	Josh Gibson (NM/Haw)	Rory Laird (Adel)
Liam Picken (WB)	Matthew Boyd (WB)	Kieren Jack (Syd)
Luke Dahlhaus (WB)	Jeremy McGovern (WCE)	Anthony McDonald-Tipungwuti (Ess)
Luke Breust (Haw)	Josh Jenkins (Ess/Adel)	Stephen Milne (StK)
Dean Cox (WCE)	Matthew Priddis (WCE)	Brett Kirk (Syd)
Michael Barlow (Frem/GC)	Aaron Sandilands (Frem)	Sam Gibson (NM)	Tadhg Kennelly (Syd)
Stewart Crameri (Ess/WB)	Jeff Garlett (Car/Melb)	Jason Johannisen (WB)

UNLUCKY: Charlie Cameron, Mark Blicavs, Tom Jonas, Ed Curnow, Zach Tuohy, Sam Jacobs, Pearce Hanley, Shane Mumford, Jarrod Harbrow, Jarryn Geary, Danyle Pearce, Heritier Lumumba, Heath Grundy, Brad Sewell, Matthew Suckling, Ben Rutten, Mal Michael, Mark Johnson, Russell Robertson.

Originally published as All-Star rookie team a reminder to AFL recruiters after draft dominated by recycled players