MELBOURNE has never had a pick at No.47 in the NAB AFL Draft, but it once chose a fair goalkicker from Tasmania, named Russell Robertson, who was originally chosen at No.68.
This year – or at least before the academy/father-son picks alter the order – Melbourne will have picks No.47 and No.68 in Friday night’s NAB AFL Draft.
Never has Melbourne started this late in a NAB AFL Draft since it became a regular fixture in 1986.
It’s a considerably different draft for Melbourne this year, given it has had at least one top 10 pick since 2012.
This time, Melbourne will have just two live picks, given Josh Wagner has been upgraded from the rookie to senior list. His elevation is the equivalent of Melbourne’s mandatory third pick in the Draft.
Despite having fewer picks this year, it’s a good situation for Melbourne, given it has loaded up with talent in recent years.
It’s also topped up with experience – think the likes of Jake Melksham, Michael Hibberd and of course four-time premiership player, Jordan Lewis – in the past two trade periods.
Melbourne’s list is starting to settle, which means the list management/recruiting team, featuring Josh Mahoney, Todd Viney, Jason Taylor, Kelly O’Donnell (pro scout), Tim Lamb (national recruiting officer) and Darren Farrugia (recruiting technology coordinator) have done an outstanding job in recent seasons.
Pinpointing exactly who Melbourne will select at No.47 and No.68 will be difficult.
A host of names will be in the mix, with the possibility of a slider from the top 40 sneaking through.
For the record, Melbourne has selected four players at No.68, with three of them playing senior football.
Aside from Robertson, who became a Melbourne great, playing 228 matches and kicking 428 goals from 1997-2009, defender Luke Norman (No.68 in 1994) played 16 games for Melbourne in 1995-96 and Dean Terlich managed 35 matches from 2013-14, although he spent 2015-16 on Melbourne’s list. Heath Neville, who was selected at No.68 in 2005, didn’t manage a game.
It must also be noted that Robertson was redrafted in the first AFL Rookie Draft in 1997 at pick No.48.
Although Melbourne has never had pick No.47, it has had two picks at No.46 (Colin Garland, 2006 and Liam Hulett, 2015) and one at No.48 (Dean Kent, 2012). All three players remain on Melbourne’s list for 2017, with Garland being a fine player for the club during the past decade.
Kent is now integral part of Melbourne’s side up forward and Hulett, although he is yet to debut, showed genuine promise for Casey in the VFL in 2016 and could debut in attack next year.
Given Taylor and his recruiting team have secured some excellent prospects late in the draft or as rookies – think Jayden Hunt (pick No.57 in the 2013 NAB AFL Draft), Oscar McDonald (No.53 in the 2014 NAB AFL Draft) and Aaron vandenBerg (selection No.2 in the 2014/15 NAB AFL Rookie Draft) – expect them to again do everything in their power to snap up further talent for the red and blue.
This year, the Draft will be held in Sydney.
In 2015, it was held in Adelaide and four times since 2010 on the Gold Coast. In 2011, it was held in Greater Western Sydney, meaning this will be the first time it is held in New South Wales since then.
In the late 1990s, it was held in Adelaide, but otherwise it has predominantly been held in Melbourne at VFL/AFL House, then function rooms at Rod Laver Arena or Etihad Stadium.
In fact it’s a long way from the ‘forgotten’ VFL drafts, which were held at VFL House in Jolimont in 1981-82 and then at the same venue from 1986, which is considered the first draft of how we know it today.
Although trade and free agency has become a significant player in recent years, the draft remains a significant event on the AFL calendar. And with the NAB AFL Rookie Draft to be held on Monday – three days after the Draft – the recruiting period will again be all over by December, meaning all lists will be finalised for 2016.
Last year, Melbourne added Clayton Oliver (No.4), Sam Weideman (No.9), Mitch King (No.42) and Liam Hulett (No.46). Oliver and Weideman played for Melbourne and showed why they were top 10 selections.
Oliver received the first NAB AFL Rising Star nomination in 2015 and when Weideman made his debut against Hawthorn in round 20 this year, he made an impact in the club’s first win over the Hawks in 10 years. King unfortunately injured his knee in the opening VFL round and missed the rest of the 2015 season. He is now back on track and is undertaking pre-season training.
Reflecting on the drafts, the 1981-82 ‘forgotten’ drafts have rarely been mentioned, but it’s fascinating to note that Alan Johnson was the first player selected in 1981. He became a star with the Demons, winning the club’s 1983 and 1989 best and fairest awards.
Danny Hughes, who was picked at No.13 in that same meeting, later became vice-captain of the club and won the 1986 best and fairest. He was chosen at No.13.
In 1982, Keith Thomas – a former Fitzroy player and now Port Adelaide’s chief executive – was claimed by Melbourne at No.5. He never played for the club. The other player picked up was Ray Holden from West Perth. He was chosen at No.17 and played three games for the Dees.
When the first National Draft was held in 1986 – regarded as the first by the AFL – Melbourne landed some fine players.
The club’s recruiting manager was former chief executive Cameron Schwab, who selected some top players back in 1986-87. It was at a time when the draft was speculative and difficult to lure prominent players from the SANFL and WAFL.
The one that got away though was superstar Darren Jarman, who was claimed by the Demons at No.55. He never played for Melbourne and instead became a three-time premiership player with Hawthorn (1991) and Adelaide (1997-98). He would’ve been a brilliant sight for the red and blue faithful, but he couldn’t be lured from South Australia. Interestingly, his son Ben is in the draft mix in 2016, after Hawthorn and Adelaide opted not to take him as a father/son selection.
Steven Febey, who sits behind only David Neitz, Adem Yze, Robert Flower and Jim Stynes for the most Melbourne games played, was claimed at No.3 in 1986 – regarded as Melbourne’s first ever pick in continuous drafts. His twin brother Matthew Febey was also a fine player, notching up 143 matches for the Dees.
In 1987, Andrew Obst (150 matches), Stephen Tingay (162) and Jay Viney (23) – the brother of Melbourne great Todd – were also recruited.
The 1986-87 drafts proved fruitful for the Demons.
One of Melbourne’s most successful drafts came in 1999, when Craig Cameron, now with GWS Giants, was recruiting manager. It produced 764 games for the Demons.
Former captain Brad Green played the most with 254 matches, followed by Cameron Bruce (224 for Melbourne, before he added 10 with Hawthorn in 2011-12), Whelan (150), Paul Wheatley (135 games) and Michael Clark (one). Shannon O’Brien was the only player not to play a senior game from that meeting.
Tenacious and popular ball-winner Guy Rigoni – Melbourne’s leading possession winner in the 2000 Grand Final – remains arguably the club’s best bargain recruit in this meeting.
Rigoni, who was selected at No.77 in the 1997 AFL Draft, played 107 matches for the Demons. He played 80 matches in his first four years – including 70 in his first three seasons – before a serious back injury forced him to miss the 2002 season. He was then delisted and redrafted in the Pre-Season Draft in December 2002 and managed to add another 27 matches, before retiring.
Father/son choice Tom Kavanagh, selected at No.111 in 1988, is the highest Melbourne draftee to have played an AFL match. He managed two games for the Demons in 1989, before adding eight with Fitzroy.
But Damon Munt, who never played an AFL match, was Melbourne’s highest overall selection at No.122.
In the AFL Draft years, Melbourne has had seven recruiting managers: Schwab (1986-87), Jim Durnan (1988-90), Richard Griffiths (1991-95), Craig Cameron (1996-2007), Barry Prendergast (2008-2011), Todd Viney (2012) and now Jason Taylor, who had his first draft meeting with Melbourne in 2013.
Taylor, who was the highly-respected Derek Hine’s right-hand man at Collingwood, before joining the Demons, will call out the names for the fourth consecutive year.
He has already been an influential figure in reshaping Melbourne’s list since he first called out Salem’s name at No.9 in 2013.
He has also called out the names: Jay Kennedy-Harris, Hunt, Christian Petracca, Angus Brayshaw, Alex Neal-Bullen, Billy Stretch, O.McDonald, Oliver, Weideman, King and Hulett – 11 youngsters set to help shape Melbourne’s future.
Melbourne’s recruiting team has again undertaken a mountain of work to find the best young talent in the country and it will be fascinating to see how it continues to evolve in 2017 and beyond.
Every Melbourne player selected in the AFL Draft since 1981-82 and 1986-2015
1 – Alan Johnson (1981)*, Travis Johnstone (1997), Jack Watts (2008), Tom Scully (2009)
2 – Jack Trengove (2009), Christian Petracca (2014)
3 – Steven Febey (1986), Darren Kowal (1991), Colin Sylvia (2003), Angus Brayshaw (2014)
4 – Cale Morton (2007), Jimmy Toumpas (2012), Clayton Oliver (2015)
5 – Keith Thomas (1982)*, Jason Norrish (1991), Brock McLean (2003)
6 – Allen Jakovich (1990)
9 – Martin Pike (1992), Luke Molan (2001), Christian Salem (2013), Sam Weideman (2015)
10 – Andrew Lamprill (1991), Trent Ormond-Allen (1993)
11 – Tim McNeil (1987), Donald Cockatoo-Collins (1995), Brent Grgic (1996), Jordan Gysberts (2009)
12 – Nathan Jones (2005), James Frawley (2006), Lucas Cook (2010)
13 – Danny Hughes (1981)*, Darren Bennett (1989), Chris Lamb (1998), Matthew Bate (2004)
14 – Daniel Bell (2002), Jack Grimes (2007)
15 – Nicholas Smith (2002), Lynden Dunn (2004)
16 – Matthew Febey (1986), Adem Yze (1994), Scott Thompson (2000)
17 – Ray Holden (1982)*, Sam Blease (2008)
18 – Luke Tapscott (2009)
19 – Garry Merritt (1990), Phil Gilbert (1991), Brad Green (1999), James Strauss (2008)
20 – Paul Wheatley (1999)
21 – Addam Maric (2007)
22 – Alistair Nicholson (1996), Troy Longmuir (1997)
23 – Matthew MacKay (1991)
24 – Mark Ducker (1987), Brett Jeffrey (1992)
25 – Paul Rouvray (1989), Steven Armstrong (2001)
26 – Aaron Rogers (2001), Jared Rivers (2002), Jack Viney (father/son – 2012)
27 – Rod Keogh (1988), Brad Hall (1993)
29 – Craig Walker (1986)
30 – Hayden Lamaro (1996), Ricky Petterd (2006)
31 – Haydon Kilmartin (1991)
32 – Micah Berry (1991)
33 – Jeremy Howe (2010)
34 – Michael Polley (1994), Max Gawn (2009)
35 – Jamie Bennell (2008)
36 – Jason Dullard (1991), Chris Johnson (father/son – 2003), Rory Taggert (2011)
37 – Andrew Obst (1987)
39 – Matthew Kluzek (1992), Matthew Blake (1997), Gary Moorcroft (2002)
40 – Nick White (1991), Jay Kennedy-Harris (2013), Alex Neal-Bullen (2014)
41 – Michael Hobbes (1988)
42 – Andy Lovell (1986), Michael Prentice (1993), Michael Clark (1999), Billy Stretch (father/son – 2014), Mitch King (2015)
43 – Michael Newton (2004)
45 – Clayton Gardiner (1996)
46 – Colin Garland (2006), Liam Hulett (2015)
47 – TBC (2016)
48 – Dean Kent (2012)
50 – Stephen Tingay (1987), Luke Ottens (1997), Matthew Whelan (1999), Jack Fitzpatrick (2009), Troy Davis (2010)
51 – Clay Sampson (1994), Neville Jetta (2008)
52 – Josh Tynan (2011), Matt Jones (2012)
53 – Simon Buckley (2005), Kyle Cheney (2007), Tom McDonald (2010), Oscar McDonald (2014)
54 – Daniel Clarke (1992), Cameron Hunter (2002), James Sellar (2011)
55 – Darren Jarman (1986), Andrew Ford (1988), Mark Bradly (1995), Brad Miller (2001)
57 – Tim Moreland (1989), Jayden Hunt (2013)
59 – Anthony McDonald (1996)
60 – Darren O’Brien (1995), Luke Speers (1998), Clint Bartram (2005)
62 – Daniel Breese (2000), Isaac Weetra (2006)
63 – Jay Viney (1987), Fabian Francis (1990), Shannon O’Brien (1999)
64 – Cameron Bruce (1999), Rohan Bail (2008)
66 – Nathan Brown (1997), Ryan Ferguson (2002), Tom McNamara (2007)
68 – Luke Norman (1994), Russell Robertson (1996), Heath Neville (2005), Dean Terlich (2012), TBC (2016)
69 – Matthew Mahoney (1988), Scott Simister (1992)
71 – Glenn Wilkins (1989), Daniel Nicholson (rookie elevation – 2012)
72 – Ashley Gehling (1995), Luke Taylor (1998), Michael Evans (rookie elevation – 2012)
73 – Ross Funcke (2000)
75 – Robert Panozzo (1990), Mark Winterton (1996)
76 – Todd McHardy (1994)
77 – Niall Buckley (1990), Guy Rigoni (1997)
80 – Mitchell Craig (2000)
81 – Jordie McKenzie (rookie elevation – 2010)
82 – Duncan O’Toole (1996), Mitch Clisby (rookie elevation – 2013)
83 – Brian Stynes (1988), Ashley Gehling (1996)
84 – Damien Gaspar (1992)
85 – Anthony Tohill (1989)
96 – Jake Spencer (rookie elevation – 2010)
97 – Tom Grehan (1988)
99 – Jeff Hilton (1992)
111 – Tom Kavanagh (father/son – 1988)
122 – Damon Munt (1992)
Notes:
- The 1981-82 drafts are considered the ‘forgotten’ drafts and are often not recognised. But four players: Alan Johnson (No.1, 1981), Danny Hughes (No.13, 1981), Keith Thomas (No.5, 1982) and Ray Holden (No.17, 1982) have been included for recognition.
- The Demons have never had the No.7 or No.8 pick, but have had every selection from No.9 to No.27. It has never had picks at No.28, No.38, No.44, No.47, No.49, No.56, No.58, No.61, No.65, No.67, No.70, No.74, No.78 to No.79, No.86 to No.95, No.98, No.100 to No.110 or No.112 to No.121.
- Melbourne has had 23 top 10 draft picks: No.1, Alan Johnson (1981)*, Travis Johnstone (1997), Jack Watts (2008), Tom Scully (2009); No.2, Jack Trengove (2009), Christian Petracca (2014); No.3, Steven Febey (1986), Darren Kowal (1991), Colin Sylvia (2003), Angus Brayshaw (2014), TBC (2015); No.4, Cale Morton (2007), Jimmy Toumpas (2012); No.5, Keith Thomas (1982), Jason Norrish (1991), Brock McLean (2003); No.6, Allen Jakovich (1990), No.7, TBC (2015); No.9, Martin Pike (1992), Luke Molan (2001), Christian Salem (2013) and No.10, Andrew Lamprill (1991), Trent Ormond-Allen (1993).
