Draft-off semi-final: Best of 2005 AFL draft against class of 2007

WHICH AFL draft class was the best of the 2000s? We select a 22-man team from the 2005 and 2007 drafts and pit them against each other. VOTE NOW

Kevin Sheedy with Essendon's No. 1 pick Patrick Ryder (Paddy Ryder). 2005 AFL National Draft at Telstra Dome.

WHICH AFL draft class was the best of the 2000s?

We’ve selected a 22-man team from each national draft between 2001 and 2008 and pitted them against each other.

And you get to decide which is the best draft by casting your vote.

We have hit the semi-finals, following the four draft-off quarter-finals ...

Semi-final 1:‘01 draft (81%) def ‘06 draft (19%)

Semi-final 2: ‘05 draft v ‘07 draft

Quarter-final 1: ’01 draft (98%) def ’03 draft (2%)

Quarter-final 2: ’05 draft (62%) def ’02 draft (38%)

Quarter-final 3: ’07 draft (57%) def ’08 draft (42%)

Quarter-final 4: ’06 draft (74%) def ’04 draft (26%)

The semi-final winners progress through to the Grand Final later this week.

Remember it’s you who decides who should advance to the Grand Final, so make your votes count.

Carlton drafted Josh Kennedy, who was selected at centre half-forward in the Best of ‘05 Draft.

BEST OF ‘05 DRAFT

B: Shannon Hurn (Pick 13) Alipate Carlile (44) Sam Gilbert (33)

HB: Grant Birchall (14) Matt Spangher (34) Garrick Ibbotson (26)

C: Andrew Swallow (43) Nathan Jones (12) Bernie Vince (32)

HF: Dale Thomas (2) Josh Kennedy (4) Richard Douglas (16)

F: Mathew Stokes (61) Mitch Clark (9) Travis Varcoe (15)

R: Paddy Ryder (7) Marc Murphy (1) Scott Pendlebury (5)

I/C: Max Bailey (18) Courtenay Dempsey (19) Xavier Ellis (3) Shaun Higgins (11)

WHEN some players are selected in an All-Australian team, they are selected out of position, particularly midfielders who fill up spots on forward and back flanks.

But one of the great strengths of this team is that every player selected has been put in their ideal — and preferred — positions.

There are genuine pockets and flankers, while Vince plays like a traditional wingman and the spine is genuine.

A star-studded on-ball brigade led by Murphy, Norm Smith Medallist Pendlebury and Nathan Jones, who have won seven club Best and Fairests between them, while Anzac Medallist and Port recruit Paddy Ryder has developed into one of the best ruckmen in the competition.

And all lines are covered on the interchange bench by Bailey (ruck), Dempsey (back), Ellis (midfield) and Higgins (forward).

Trent Cotchin was drafted by Richmond with pick 2 in the 2007 National Draft.

BEST OF ‘07 DRAFT

B: Cale Hooker (Pick 54) Scott Thompson (37) Jack Grimes (14)

HB: Harry Taylor (17) Alex Rance (18) David Myers (6)

C: Jack Steven (42) Callan Ward (19) Levi Greenwood (32)

HF: Brad Ebert (13) Lachie Henderson (8) Chris Mayne (40)

F: Cyril Rioli (12) Taylor Walker (75) Matthew Kreuzer (1)

Foll: Matthew Lobbe (16) Patrick Dangerfield (10) Trent Cotchin (2)

I/C: Ben McEvoy (9) Scott Selwood (22) Chris Masten (3) Craig Bird (59)

COACHES today continuously stress the importance of winning contested possessions and clearances.

Hence why any coach would love to coach this team, filled to the brim with hard nuts.

Animal trio Dangerfield, Cotchin and Ward would lead from the front through the midfield, while Steven and Greenwood wouldn’t hold back when it came to extracting the contested ball. And they could all feed the footy out to the hard-running Ebert all day.

There’s a great balance in the forward line. Small forwards Rioli and Mayne would apply tremendous defensive pressure, but would also be just as dangerous around goal.

Walker and Henderson, two established big forwards, would be excellent marking targets.

However a small knock would be the lack of pace and rebounding options out of defence, with Myers the smallest backman at 191cm.