Hawthorn’s 2004 draft haul is one of the best in history, Jon Anderson writes
The national draft is far from an exact science as clubs try and predict how teenagers will develop in an AFL system. But sometimes clubs nail their picks and set up a period of sustained success. Jon Anderson reveals how Hawthorn did that in 2004.
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It’s been running for 32 years, but the very nature of teenage footballers ensures the AFL national draft remains far from an exact science.
Against that there have been occasions when a club’s recruiting staff have nailed the draft, selections that created an era of success for clubs such as Port Adelaide in 2000 (Shaun Burgoyne, Kane Cornes and Dom Cassisi).
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So which are the best five club hauls since Martin Leslie’s name was called out by the Brisbane Bears as pick No.1 in 1986?
A subjective exercise indeed, but one where total games played and team success were vital components in final selections.
We begin today with Hawthorn at No.5.
HOW THE HAWKS NAILED IT
Hawthorn’s 2004 AFL national draft coincided with the arrival of a debutant coach in Alastair Clarkson who was specific in his requirements once it was known the Hawks would have picks 2, 5 and 7.
Then recruiting manager Gary Buckenara reflected on a year that ultimately became pivotal in the Hawks winning four premierships.
“‘Clarko’ requested two key position players and one midfielder if they were available,” Buckenara said.
“During the year Vic Metro played WA in an under-18 championships game at Geelong where Tom Murphy played on Buddy Franklin and kept him really quiet. We ended up drafting both and I used to say to Buddy we had to bring Tom to the same club because he had his number. Buddy found that quite funny.
“In the same year Richard Tambling stood on heads a few times and kicked goals from outside 50m at Carlton so we were very aware of him and certainly considered him for the midfield spot we wanted.
“But that was probably going to be pick seven and we thought he would be gone by then. So we thought that Jordan Lewis might be that pick seven midfielder selection.
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“We initially had pick 10 but did a deal with Collingwood to get their seven to help them get Chad Morrison from the Eagles. We knew Brett Deledio was going to Richmond with pick one and knew that Scotty Clayton wanted Ryan Griffen at the Bulldogs with pick three.
“We had worked out that Richmond was going to take Jarryd Roughead with pick four which would have meant we couldn’t get he and Buddy at two and five. So we went Roughead at two because our intel had suggested Richmond had gone cold on Franklin because they felt he might struggle with the AFL environment.
“We were keen on Tambling and he had spent a weekend at my place, but my gut feel was we wouldn’t get him and as it turned out Richmond took him with four. We really liked Tambling as a player, but I was very excited when I knew we were going to get Lance Franklin.”
THE REASONING
Gary Buckenara on Hawthorn’s 2004 draft haul
Pick No.2: Jarryd Roughead (275 games for Hawthorn; 563 goals; 2008, ‘13, ‘14 and ‘15 premiership sides; current captain) — “Just such a wonderful young man who you couldn’t help but fall in love with. You wanted him to be your son and he actually did live with us for 18 months. He is just a relaxed, country ripper. He had that ability to spring off one step with his natural athleticism. Plus he was a nice kick for his size. He looked like he would turn into what he became, a really versatile key position player. Had Richmond taken Franklin, then we were more than comfortable taking Tom Williams, who ended up going to the Bulldogs.”
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Pick 5: Lance Franklin (182 games; 580 goals; 2008 and ‘13 premiership sides; 2008 B & F) — “I had watched enough to see his freakish ability, the first time being in Perth when the under-18s played a trial match against WA Country and he kicked six goals from centre half-forward in the first quarter and a half. They had to move him to centre half-back because he was ruining the game. And there were a couple on the run from outside 50m. There was just something special about him.”
Pick 7: Jordan Lewis (264 games; 145 goals; 2008, ‘13, ‘14 and ‘15 premiership sides; 2014 B & F) — “He was always a beautiful kick and that was one thing Clarko wanted with most of our draft picks because his game plan required that. But he just carried so much fat meaning there was huge improvement in his body. He wasn’t super quick, but he was smart and really tough and super competitive. So he got fit and played in four premiership sides.”
Pick 21: Tom Murphy (95 games) — “We thought he would be what he became, a solid defender who could do a job. He played back and forward with the Sandringham Dragons and made his name by playing well in the under-18 championships, particularly in that game against Buddy at Geelong.”
Pick 26: Matt Little (1 game) — “Had a bit of James Morrissey about him, a freakish player with so much talent and upside who could do things not many others could, especially around goals. He needed to get fitter but had uncanny marking ability. Sadly the poor kid never got a run at it due to injuries.”
Pick 53: Simon Taylor (85 games) — “We needed a ruckman and Simon was playing really well at Box Hill, and they were really happy with him. So we gave him a chance and he ended up being unlucky to not play in the 2008 premiership side.”
ANDO’S VERDICT: You could argue the Hawks went in with bases loaded given they had three picks in the top seven, but it all came down to the strategies employed by Buckenara and his team to gather intelligence and then act on it. Plus, Murphy and Taylor were good servants and who knows what Little might have been.
Originally published as Hawthorn’s 2004 draft haul is one of the best in history, Jon Anderson writes
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