AFL Draft 2014: Your club’s best late-round national draft selections still playing today

WITH the AFL national draft just days away, SuperFooty runs a rule over your club’s best late-round selections.

2012 Grand Final. Hawthorn v Sydney Swans. MCG. Adam Goodes celebrates on the siren

WITH the AFL draft just days away, SuperFooty runs a rule over some of your club’s late-round bargains.

While its expected [read: hoped] first and second round picks go on to become club champions, 200+ game players, it’s the success of those taken later in drafts that can be the difference between winning and losing premierships.

2014 NAB AFL Draft: Live and exclusive on Fox Footy on Thursday November 27 from 6:30pm (AEDT)

Adam Goodes stands out as the pick of the late-round gems currently on AFL lists, while every club must still be kicking itself for allowing Tom Rockliff to slip through to the pre-season draft.

Evergreen Brent Harvey remains the last man standing from the 1995 draft, while Dane Swan’s selection proved a masterstroke for Collingwood.

NOTE: We’ve deliberately left out Gold Coast and Greater Western Sydney due to the high number of early draft picks they’ve received.

Rory Sloane is contracted for next season. Picture: Sarah Reed

ADELAIDE

Rory Sloane — 2008 national draft (pick 44)

Second only to Patrick Dangerfield as the most influential Crow and sure to attract plenty of attention — and money — from rival clubs trying to lure the Victorian back home.

BRISBANE

Tom Rockliff — 2009 pre-season draft

Arguably the poster boy of draft sliders, Rockliff had to wait until the pre-season draft to hear his name and number read out. A proven ball winner, Rockliff was rewarded with his first All-Australian selection in 2014.

CARLTON

Kade Simpson — 2002 national draft (pick 45)

Durable. Consistent. Courageous. Versatile. What more could you ask for a bloke taken with pick 45 in the national draft?

Magpie Dane Swan minus the art work. Picture: Herald Sun

COLLINGWOOD

Dane Swan — 2001 national draft (pick 58)

Despite putting up his worst numbers since 2008, Swan — when fit — remains one of the most damaging midfielders in the competition. What he lacks in speed and at times skills execution, Swan makes up for in stuffing the stats’ sheet and kicking big goals.

ESSENDON

Cale Hooker — 2007 national draft (pick 54)

Has developed into one of the best key defenders in the competition with scalps including Travis Cloke, Kurt Tippett and Drew Petrie.

Fremantle Michael Walters when he arrived at the club. Picture: PerthNow

FREMANTLE

Michael Walters — 2008 national draft (pick 53)

Too fat, too slow, not good enough to make Ross Lyon’s best 22. Son-son took the barbs in his stride to become an electric small forward.

Geelong star Corey Enright in 2001. Picture: Herald Sun

GEELONG

Corey Enright — 1999 national draft (pick 47)

Ultra reliable blue-collar defender often given the job on the opposition’s best and most dangerous small. Huge in Geelong’s premiership years and five-time All Australian.

HAWTHORN

Ben Stratton — 2009 national draft (pick 46)

Rarely beaten, Stratton is one of the main reasons Grant Birchall and Matt Suckling can burst off half back using their penetrating boots to great effect.

MELBOURNE

Colin Garland — 2006 national draft (pick 46)

A consistently high performer despite all sorts of pressure in Melbourne’s back line. The Demons would be a lot worse without the Tasmanian’s efforts.

Brent Harvey during his third season at North Melbourne. Picture: Herald Sun

NORTH MELBOURNE

Brent Harvey — 1995 national draft (pick 47)

At 36 continues to set the benchmark for half forward/midfield types. Elite.

Robbie Gray in full flight early in his career. Picture: News Limited

PORT ADELAIDE

Robbie Gray — 2006 national draft (pick 55)

Injuries held him out early in his career, but Gray has not missed a beat since coming back from a knee reconstruction two years ago. Took the competition by storm last season, averaging 24 disposals and almost two goals a game. Justin Westhoff (pick 71) another savvy 2006 selection.

RICHMOND

Chris Newman — 2000 national draft (pick 55)

An elite reader of the play, Newman feasted on intercept possessions early in his career.

ST KILDA

Jack Steven — 2007 national draft (pick 42)

Future captain of the club, Steven showed signs he was capable of big things before injury hampered his 2014 campaign. A steal at pick 42.

Adam Goodes shared his first Brownlow with Mark Ricciuto and Nathan Buckley. Picture: Michael Dodge

SYDNEY

Adam Goodes — 1997 national draft (pick 43)

The Swans took a punt on Goodes, a raw 17-year-old talent from North Ballarat, and it’s paid off big time. Goodes has amassed an almighty 351-game footy CV includes two premierships, two Brownlows and four All Australian selections.

WEST COAST

Will Schofield — 2006 national draft (pick 50)

Schofield cemented himself as one of the Eagles’ most versatile options in 2010 after three seasons on the list. The 196cm utility can play on talls and smalls at both ends of the ground.

WESTERN BULLDOGS

Easton Wood — 2007 national draft (pick 43)

Speedy half back cruelled by injuries in his career, dangerous when fit.