We are only one day away from the 2024 draft, so I’ve taken it upon myself to write an article that nobody wanted or even cares about.
Often at draft time, we get the same old discussions. Every. Single. Year.
- Who is going number one?
- Who is going to be the biggest steal?
- How does this draft class compare to previous ones?
Well, I want to throw the baby away with the bathwater, and not bother to answer any of those questions.
“Mark, I am intrigued… what will you do?” I hear you ask.
Here’s the pitch:
I’m taking us back to the first season I ever can remember with any real clarity – 1997. Then we are going to look at the next 10 years’ worth of drafts. In each draft, I will select one player. I don’t care if they were good, bad, a steal, a dud… I’m simply going to select the one player in each year whose name flies off the Wikipedia page to smack me in the face, and dump 2 paragraphs of random stuff out of my brain on each one.
Given I’ve known some of you since 1995 (wow), I’m hoping that some of these thoughts trigger some of those beautiful nostalgic moments we might have shared – and that you might find great entertainment from them.
1997 AFL Draft
There are some absolutely cracking names in this draft… and I’m not taking one of them.
All the way down at Pick 49, the Adelaide Crows drafted a young man from East Perth, named Ian Perrie.
In my mind, Ian Perrie was a born Centre-Half Back that the Crows ineffectually slotted in as a key forward. Man, Perrie could absolutely clunk a mark, but he had the accuracy of a Channel 9 weather man. And the stats don’t lie – he kicked 129 goals to 101 behind. That’s an accuracy rate of 56.09% and we aren’t even counting all the balls he drilled 6 rows back out on the full.
Perrie was also famous for his incredibly large head and was the first player I can remember who wore a glove (I’m also looking at you Travis Cloke).
1998 AFL Draft
I’m sure the boys I went to school with will thorough enjoy this next pick.
In 1998, Collingwood drafted a small forward with their 19th pick by the name of Nick Davis.
Personally, I can’t even remember him playing for Collingwood. But I can hear you all snickering. You know why this guy is here. The moment Mark’s eyes just rested on his name; 20 minutes of childhood trauma emerged.
It may behove you to believe, but I was a somewhat obnoxious young Cats supporter. Shaped by years’ of copping snide remarks from all the young boys at school who witnessed their side win it all, twice, in early memory, while the team I had picked hadn’t been successful since my dad was 15…
But I thought my fate was about to change. In 2005, the cats were up and about – we led the Swans by 23 points in the final quarter of a semi. It was game over. Surely. Cats in a prelim.
Anyway, without belabouring the point, Nick Davis kicked the last 4 goals of the game including one that he pulled out of his proverbial with only 3 seconds to go. Ball tapped out of the ruck, he juggled it 6 times, still didn’t take control of it but let it fall on his boot and through it sailed. The image of Joel Corey lying there with his mouth agape burned into my brain.
“Siren could go any second. Swans need a goal…Nick Davis! Nick Davis! I don’t believe it! I see it, but I don’t believe it! – Anthony Hudson
The following week at school was a rough one.
1999 AFL Draft
With the 19th pick in the draft, Melbourne selected midfielder Brad Green.
I just remember Green’s exquisite left foot and his ability to get down and dirty and lay a few tackles. He got to play in a grand final in his first season, then tirelessly played 250 games for his club with little to no reward.
While Petracca, Oliver and Viney are the best midfield Melbourne’s had this century, there was still something special watching Green, Travis Johnston and Cameron Bruce do their thing in the mid 00’s.
2000 AFL Draft
Pick 39, the Bombers took Adam McPhee.
I’m picking McPhee, because as we all know, he is Kevin Bacon’s doppelgänger. I mean look at them:
Literally separated at birth.
2001 AFL Draft
Goodness. Luke Hodge, Luke Ball, Chris Judd, Jimmy Bartel, Gary Ablett Jnr, Nick Dal Santo, James Kelly, Steve Johnson, Dane Swan, Sam Mitchell, Leigh Montagna, Brent Reilly, Brain Lake.
So, with all that out of the way, I’m going with Andrew Welsh at Pick 47 for the Bombers. I don’t really remember much of his playing career; I’m just used to seeing him on the TV. I even thought he did Sunrise, but then realised that’s Matt Shirvington. It’s a mistake anyone could make.
Anyway, did you know that Welsh attempted to crack Hollywood after his playing career? Sadly, he failed.
However, according to Forbes, since coming back, he’s amassed a personal fortune of $254M through his property development company ‘WelCo’. Bit ironic really, he’s probably more successful than anyone who got drafted that year…
2002 AFL Draft
I’m determined to not turn this piece into a Geelong lovefest session (know your audience), so just bear with me and don’t skip this one… I have a gem for you.
At pick 7, Geelong selected a local lad from Glenelg – Andrew Mackie.
Mack is going to be one of those players who is slightly overlooked simply due to the talent that existed around him. But this guy could play. Even more importantly, the guy could sledge. And as a cricketer, I love a good sledge.
Once, while kicking the crap out of North Melbourne, Mack once asked “Do we get 4 points for this win, or does this one only count as 2?” He even made Adam Simpson laugh.
The gem I promised comes through an anecdote I heard from my old boss. He used to play for Brighton Cricket Club, where the Mackie family were also involved. Well at the start of 1997/98 cricket season, a young Andrew Mackie came out the to club rather chuffed – he had made it onto TV. Spotted in a news piece showing highlights from grand final watch parties around the state – a screenshot of this still featuring on the Crows website: https://www.afc.com.au/news/296783/fans-1997-gf-memories
Sadly, the Crows didn’t have a pick until well into the 20s. You got Luke Jericho though, so kind of the same right?
2003 AFL Draft
Brisbane had pick 33 in the draft, and with it, they took Jed Adcock.
It’s not always easy to find a high scoring AFL Fantasy defender, but Jed fit the bill nicely. This was probably about the time we started playing AFL Fantasy and I have fond memories of doing some background reading on the guy, taking a punt on him and then making some good bank off his rapidly increasing value in the ‘classic’ format of the game.
You may not remember, but the year he was delisted by Brisbane, he was picked up by the Bulldogs in the rookie draft of all places. He’d only play 7 games, but it was the year they won the flag, so he’s technically on a premiership list. Maybe Beveridge could have cut the medal that he gave to Bob Murphy in half or something.
Fun fact, the Bulldogs VFL side won the flag that year also, and Adcock featured in that game.
2004 AFL Draft
We all know this, but I’d be remiss to not use this as an opportunity to remind everyone that in this draft, Richmond used pick 4 in the draft to take Richard Tambling.
Hawthorn, of course, used pick 5 to take Lance Franklin.
Bahahahahaha. Poor Symes.
2005 AFL Draft
One of the jets of AFL Fantasy football, Andrew Swallow was taken by North Melbourne with pick 43 in the draft.
In his best seasons, he averaged nearly 26 disposals and 7 tackles. 3 Best and fairest, captained his club, and most importantly, is a man of faith. One of my underrated favourites.
2006 AFL Draft
Well, you could call this one, the last pick of Mark’s list of draft picks. So, who is better to take with my last pick than David Mackay, at pick 48 for the Crows. Hilariously unintentional.