James Hird was a bargain at No.79
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THE NAB AFL Draft, one of the most important days on the football calendar, will celebrate its 22nd instalment on November 24.
In the lead-up to this year's meeting, afl.com.au has chosen the top draft selections of all time. Over the next five days we will nominate the pick which we think was the best selection at that position in the history of the draft.
The key criterion used was: The draftee needed to be the best player for the club that drafted them with that selection. Our pick is not necessarily the best overall AFL player.
For example, Melbourne drafted Darren Jarman at No.55 in the inaugural 1986 AFL Draft, but he never played a match for the Demons. Although he is now a member of the Australian Football Hall of Fame, we haven't chosen Jarman as the best No.55 pick of all-time. Instead, we've gone with Sam Fisher who has forged a fine career for St Kilda.
Even though Jarman is the best AFL player to have ever come through pick No.55, he was a great with Hawthorn and Adelaide - not Melbourne.
Don't forget to check back each day this week on afl.com.au as we count down the best draft selections of all time.
100 - DAVID PITTMAN (ESSENDON)
Recruited from: Norwood (1989)
Of the three players chosen at No.100, only Pittman went on to play any matches, although his 131 appearances and two premierships (1997-97) were all with Adelaide from 1992-99. He never played for Essendon. The other two players taken at this number were David Kupsch (Brisbane - 1988), who was also drafted by Collingwood at No.30 in the 1990 Pre-Season Draft, and Troy Davies (Fitzroy - 1992).
99 - JEFF HILTON (MELBOURNE)
Recruited from: St Kilda (1992)
Originally from Dromana, Hilton played six matches for St Kilda from 1991-92 before he was Melbourne's seventh selection in the 1992 AFL Draft. He debuted for the Demons in 1994 and in three seasons played 43 matches, including 38 in 1994-95, predominantly as a half-forward. Irishman Dermott McNicholl was also taken at this number in 1988, playing three matches for St Kilda in 1990.
98 - ADRIAN McADAM (KANGAROOS)
Recruited from: South Alice Springs (1992)
The younger brother of Greg and Gilbert burst onto the football scene with seven goals on debut against Richmond in round five, 1993. He backed that up with bags of 10 and six majors to have 23 goals in his first three AFL appearances - a phenomenal effort. He played 36 matches and kicked 92 goals from 1993-95. Kym Russell (Collingwood - 1989) was the only other No.98 pick to play in the AFL. He featured in three matches.
97 - JOHN HOWAT (RICHMOND)
Recruited from: Melbourne (1992)
After playing 20 matches with Melbourne from 1989-92, Howat was drafted by Richmond with its eighth selection in the 1992 AFL Draft. He added 40 matches with the Tigers from 1993-96 and spent most of his senior career under coach John Northey. Howat was the only No.97 pick to make an AFL appearance. Irishman Tom Grehan (Melbourne - 1988) was also selected at No.97, but didn't play an AFL match.
96 - MICHAEL JAMES (CARLTON)
Recruited from: St Pats College Ballarat (1988)
James shone on debut for Carlton when he notched up 26 disposals and received a Brownlow Medal vote against Richmond in round nine, 1991. It proved to his only AFL season, which concluded with 33 touches against Richmond in round 24. He finished with 12 AFL matches (averaging 21.41 possessions per game). Gary Stevens (Sydney - 1989), the brother of Anthony, was the only other No.96 pick to play at the highest level.
95 - TONY FRANCIS (COLLINGWOOD)
Recruited from: Norwood (1988)
Three of the four players selected at No.95 featured in AFL matches, but Francis was clearly the best, with Sydney's Scott Direen (52 matches) and Carlton's Jeremy Smith (one game) following. Francis was a first-class rover, playing in the club's drought-breaking 1990 premiership before winning the Copeland Trophy and All-Australian selection in 1991. He played 161 matches, including 19 with St Kilda in 1999.
94 - JADE RAWLINGS (HAWTHORN)
Recruited from: Devonport (1994)
The key defender/forward forged a fine AFL career, playing 116 of his 148 AFL matches with the Hawks before brief stints with the Western Bulldogs and Kangaroos. His final season at Hawthorn in 2003, when he ran third in the club's best-and-fairest, was arguably his best. Another four players have been drafted at No.94 in the AFL Draft, but only Rawlings reached the top echelon.
93 - PAUL HILLS (ESSENDON)
Recruited from: North Ballarat (1988)
Hills had his best season in 1993, playing 20 matches and being part of Essendon's premiership side. In all, he played 63 matches from 1991-96. After being delisted at the end of the 1996 season, he was redrafted later in the year at No.66 in the AFL Draft, but did not play another AFL match. Michael Murphy was the only other No.93 pick to play in the AFL, but he didn't add to his 29 AFL matches when redrafted by Brisbane in 1994.
92 - BRETT HEADY (WEST COAST)
Recruited from: Subiaco (1989)
A first-class half-forward flanker, Heady was an integral member of West Coast's star-studded period in the 1990s, playing in the 1992 and 1994 premiership teams. He played 156 matches for West Coast. Heady got the nod over full-back Jamie Shanahan (St Kilda - 1990), who featured in 125 matches for the Saints before adding a further 37 games with Melbourne, and Daniel Southern (Footscray - 1992), who played 103 AFL games.
91 - GRANT LAWRIE (ST KILDA)
Recruited from: Box Hill (1989)
Three No.91 AFL Draft picks have not been used over the years, but three of the four players selected have been taken by St Kilda. Only Grant Lawrie, who made a one season comeback with St Kilda in 1990 after 151 matches with Fitzroy from 1978-88, played at the highest level. He played 17 matches in 1990. Footscray's Matthew Queen (1988) and St Kilda's Adam Rudd (1990) and Jeremy McVay (1992) were the other No.91 picks.
90 - SCOTT BURNS (COLLINGWOOD)
Recruited from: Norwood (1992)
The standout No.90 selection, Burns has been an outstanding servant for the club since debuting in 1994. He has played 247 AFL matches and remains one of the most respected players among the competition. Shane Clayton (Kangaroos - 1998) is next, having played 99 of his 117 AFL matches with the Roos, followed by Andrew Merrington (Carlton - 1999), who played 18 games. Five No.90 picks did not play an AFL match.
89 - JASON SMITH (RICHMOND)
Recruited from: Lockington (1989)
Paul Dimattina (1991) clearly went on to have the best AFL career of any player picked at No.89, but under our criteria he doesn't get the nod, as he never played a match with Richmond, the team that originally drafted him. Only two of the eight players selected at No.89 played an AFL match - Smith and Collingwood's Dwayne Griffin. They both played one match each, with Smith's six disposals in 1991 edging out Griffin's none in 1997 for the gong.
88 - TROY BOND (CARLTON)
Recruited from: Port Adelaide Magpies (1992)
Eight players have been drafted at No.88, with four selections not used. Bond comes out on top after playing 36 of his 94 AFL matches with Carlton from 1994-95. He then played for Adelaide from 1996-99 and was a member of its inaugural premiership in 1997, booting four goals. He pips Justin Staritski (Kangaroos - 1988), who played 25 of his 26 AFL matches with the Roos from 1991-92.
87 - DAMIEN HARDWICK (ESSENDON)
Recruited from: Springvale (1992)
Originally a Kangaroos under 19s player, Hardwick was the standout pick at No.87. He played 153 matches, including the 2000 premiership, with Essendon from 1994-01, before he was traded to Port Adelaide, where he added 54 appearances and was a member of the Power's inaugural flag in 2004. Simon Arnott (Sydney - 1994) was next best with 30 matches at the Swans, before he added a further 26 appearances with Geelong.
86 - KRIS BARLOW (HAWTHORN)
Recruited from: Hawthorn (1998)
The defender edged out Trent Hotton (Carlton - 1999) and David Rodan (Port Adelaide - 2006) respectively, as Barlow's longevity produced 102 matches from 1999-04, after he spent 1997 on Hawthorn's supplementary list. Should Rodan's top form of 2007 continue, he will seriously challenge Barlow as the best No.86 pick in the coming seasons. Hotton was also handy for the Blues, where he played 61 of his 78 AFL matches.
85 - SHANNON MOTLOP (KANGAROOS)
Recruited from: North Adelaide (1998)
Brad Scott (Hawthorn - 1996) undoubtedly had the best AFL career of any player picked at No.85, but most of his success came with the Brisbane Lions, where he became a dual premiership player in 2001-02. His 22 matches with Hawthorn came in 1997. In the end, Motlop's effort to reach the half-century (54 matches) and play in the 1999 premiership with the Kangaroos, gave him the nod.
84 - DOUG HAWKINS (FITZROY)
Recruited from: Footscray (1994)
Although Damien Gaspar (Melbourne - 1992) played 29 matches - the most straight from pick No.84 - Hawkins gets the nod ahead of him based on his solid final AFL season with the Roys in 1995, where he played 21 matches. It ended a brilliant 350-game career, including 329 with the Bulldogs. Mick Martyn (Carlton - 2002) added 13 games to reach 300 and Josh Mahoney (Collingwood - 1996) played 19 matches in 1997-98.
83 - MATTHEW SHIR (ADELAIDE)
Recruited from: Murray Bushrangers (1999)
Ten players have been chosen at No.83, but a total of just 15 matches have been produced from four players. Aaron James (Western Bulldogs - 2001) had the most successful AFL career of any player chosen at No.83, but he added just one match from this draft spot and therefore didn't get the nod. Shir's 11 matches with Adelaide has been the best effort, with Irishman Brian Stynes' (Melbourne - 1988) two AFL matches next best.
82 - NATHAN THOMPSON (HAWTHORN)
Recruited from: Hawthorn (1997)
Thompson, the standout No.82 pick, spent some time on the supp list before playing 119 of his 164 AFL matches with the Hawks from 1998-04. He then crossed to the Kangaroos. Coincidentally, Aaron Edwards (Kangaroos - 2006), stepped up in Thompson's (knee) absence this year. Troy Lehmann (Collingwood - 1989) pips Edwards at the moment after 31 matches (1991-93) with the Pies, but that should change based on Edwards' 2007.
81 - TROY MAKEPEACE (KANGAROOS)
Recruited from: Kangaroos (1999)
After winning the 1999 Kangaroos reserves best-and-fairest award as a supplementary list player, Makepeace was drafted later that year. He then played 139 matches from 2000-06. The top three players taken at this number have been small defenders/run-with types, with Anthony Franchina (Carlton - 1996) and David Johnson (Geelong - 2001) following Makepeace.
80 - BRODIE ATKINSON (ST KILDA)
Recruited from: North Adelaide (1992)
Just nine AFL matches have been played directly from this pick and although Stephen Newport was the best overall - he appeared in 140 AFL games - he managed just one match in 1993 after being drafted by St Kilda in 1992. Atkinson gets the nod, despite just two matches from No.80, as he won a Rising Star gong on debut in round 11, 1993 for his 25 touches. David Hynes (Carlton - 1997) was next with four matches.
79 - JAMES HIRD (ESSENDON)
Recruited from: Ainslie (1990)
Clearly the finest player to be selected at No.79, Hird became one of the all-time greats of the game, winning just about every major football accolade in his 253 matches for the Bombers from 1992-07. He is widely regarded as one of the greatest “bargain basement” draft choices. Pick No.79 has a genuine ACT/NSW flavour, with Aaron Hamill (Carlton - 1994) the next best, followed by Ray Hall (Richmond - 1998).
78 - RICHIE VANDENBERG (HAWTHORN)
Recruited from: University Blues (1997)
Vandenberg is the standout No.78 pick, having played 145 matches from 1998-07 and captained Hawthorn in his final three years in 2005-06-07. Ty Zantuck (Richmond - 1999) was the next best player chosen at No.78. He made 68 appearances for Richmond from 2000-04, before crossing to Essendon for one season in 2005. This selection was not used in five consecutive AFL Drafts from 2000-04.
77 - BEN DIXON (HAWTHORN)
Recruited from: Assumption College (1994)
Dixon provided great service and leadership from 1997-07, playing 203 matches and booting 282 goals. Next in line is Guy Rigoni (Melbourne - 1997), who was a fine player for the Demons before a crippling back injury struck. Rigoni played 80 matches in his first four seasons with Melbourne, before he was delisted and redrafted by the club. He finished with 107 matches. Adrian Cox (Hawthorn - 1998) played 54 matches.
76 - RUPERT BETHERAS (COLLINGWOOD)
Recruited from: Collingwood (1998)
Betheras played 85 matches, including the 2002 Grand Final, from 1999-03 after being on the club's supp list in 1998. He got the nod ahead of Andrew Raines (Richmond - 2003), who has played fewer matches with 44 of his 51 coming in 2006-07. Jared Poulton (redrafted by Port Adelaide - 2001) added 54 matches and Matt Rendell (Brisbane - 1991) 13 games to his AFL tally of 177, when they were chosen at No.76.
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