Four players drafted by Geelong in 2001 became triple premiership stars in amazing draft coup

We all know the 2001 super draft is still the best in history but one club profited more than any other from the incredible group of players picked up that year. Four players drafted by Geelong that year all became triple premiership stars.

Geelong’s 2001 draft class: (back) Charlie Gardiner, Gary Ablett Jr, Steve Johnson, Jimmy Bartel, (front) David Johnson and James Kelly.

The 2001 national draft remains the jewel in the crown for any before or since, one that was still giving when Brian Lake’s name was called out by the Western Bulldogs at 71.

Geelong recruiting manager Stephen Wells was coming up to a decade in the role, and had seen enough to realise that it was the time to organise as many early selections as possible.

So when they received picks 17 and 41 for Clint Bizzell from Melbourne, and pick 23 from Carlton for Justin Murphy, it then became a matter of getting it right on draft night, something history suggests Wells and his recruiting crew did with aplomb.

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It was also the draft when Geelong fans were going to see another player named Gary Ablett join the club, just four years after his famous father had last pulled on the hoops.

Unlike today, where rival clubs can bid for father/son selections, it was a free hit. And even better, just prior to the draft the AFL determined that the order for father-sons would drop from a second to third round.

“We still would have taken Gary had he required a second round, and I think we would have taken him earlier if required. His footy brain meant he was just so creative for the Geelong Falcons and he brought other players into the game. He could influence games even as a small player back then,” Wells recalled.

Geelong’s 2001 draft class: (back) Charlie Gardiner, Gary Ablett Jr, Steve Johnson, Jimmy Bartel, (front) David Johnson and James Kelly.

But in the eyes of most recruiters, there was a fair gap between Ablett and the young guns such as Chris Judd, Luke Ball and Luke Hodge, the latter pair having been teammates of Ablett’s six years earlier in the Victorian primary schools under-12 team.

While Geelong gained enormous benefit from the 2001 draft, so did their arch rivals of the time in St Kilda who chose Luke Ball (pick No.2), Xavier Clarke (5), Nick Dal Santo (13), Matt Maguire (21), Leigh Montagna (37) and Stephen Milne (rookie elevation), which was a credit to their recruiting boss John Beveridge.

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THE REASONING

Stephen Wells on Geelong’s 2001 draft haul.

Pick 8: Jimmy Bartel (305 games for Geelong): “There was a bit of conjecture as to whether we should pick Jimmy as there were so many good players in that draft. But he had been All-Australian two years in a row, was a fantastic competitor with a great footy brain. Plus, he was a local boy so it became a logical decision for us. We did consider Nick Dal Santo and spent some time at his house and obviously he would have been a good selection.”

Jimmy Bartel and Steve Johnson were drafted by Geelong together and finished their careers with three premierships in the hoops.

Pick 17: James Kelly (273 games): “That pick had been traded around and in the end we gave up a good player in Clint Bizzel to get that pick. And I think it might have been the first year you could on-trade picks. James became an outstanding player for us in different roles, both midfield and as a defender.”

Pick 23: Charlie Gardiner (51 games): “We got one of the 23-24 picks with Justin Murphy going back to Carlton. Charlie was a really good size with a footy brain and was an outstanding mark. He played some good footy for us, and importantly was of excellent character.”

Pick 24: Steve Johnson (253 games): “He ended up being the brilliant forward/midfielder we all loved watching play. St Kilda picked up Matt Maguire just before at 21 and he was another local boy who was a nephew of ‘Couchy’ (Paul Couch). I can’t say we were surprised that Steve was still there at 24 but I can say we were very happy he was.”

Pick 40: Gary Ablett (207 games): “He came on pretty quickly after his Geelong Falcons years, but the ability was always there. Obviously we were very excited when a week before the draft they changed the father/son criteria from a second round to a third round. It meant we were able to draft an extra player in Steve Johnson or Charlie Gardiner.”

Gary Ablett, like his dad, is a Geelong champion. Picture: Michael Klein

Pick 41: Henry Playfair (52 games): “Henry was a good player for us at both ends of the ground who was a very good mark. And of course he had a fantastic character. He played at a time when it was hard to get a game for Geelong in key positions but did well when he did.”

Pick 69: Matthew McCarthy (22 games): “He was a fantastic mark and a big strong body who like Henry Playfair, was very popular.”

Pick 81: David Johnson (79 games): “We knew he would bring an honest effort in either defence or tagging. He was someone you knew would squeeze everything out of himself when we drafted him.”

JON ANDERSON’S VERDICT: In a boom draft they had to nail pick 8 and so Bartel was a very good selection. But to add Kelly at 17 and Johnson at 24 made it a defining moment for the club, as evidenced by both of them becoming three-time premiership players. Obviously Ablett was the cream on the cake back when you didn’t have to give up as much for a father-son pick. Don’t discount David Johnson at 81 given he still works with the club in player development.

Originally published as Four players drafted by Geelong in 2001 became triple premiership stars in amazing draft coup