ON THURSDAY night, the 26^th NAB AFL Draft will be held - for the first time - in western Sydney.

 

Back in 1986, it was somewhat of a hit and miss exercise. Now it’s one of the most important days on the AFL calendar.

 

Steven Febey was Melbourne’s first selection at No.3 in 1986. He proved an outstanding choice, playing 258 matches - the fifth most in Melbourne’s history. Only David Neitz (306 matches), Robert Flower (272), Adem Yze (271) and Jim Stynes (264) have made more appearances.

 

Current chief executive officer Cameron Schwab was Melbourne’s recruiting manager in 1986 and again in 1987.

 

In an era when the draft was speculative and difficult to lure prominent players from the SANFL and WAFL, Schwab selected the Febey twins and Darren Jarman in the first meeting.   

 

Matthew Febey played 143 matches for the Demons, but Jarman - a brilliant player for Hawthorn and Adelaide - couldn’t be lured from South Australia.

 

In 1987, the Demons backed their form up with Andrew Obst (150 matches), Stephen Tingay (162) and Jay Viney (23) from five picks. The talented Tim McNeil - Melbourne’s first pick that year at No.11 - never played a game, due to a serious achilles injury.

 

Interestingly, from those first two Draft meetings in 1986-87, only one Victorian player (Tingay) was plucked from 10 picks (five each year).

 

The first four players selected in 1986 were from Tasmania, with the rest coming from South Australia.

 

More than a decade later, the 1999 Draft proved to be one of Melbourne’s most successful, with 751 matches so far coming from that meeting.

 

Brad Green has played 241 games and is saddling up for his 13^th AFL season, while Paul Wheatley played 135 games, Michael Clark (one), Matthew Whelan (150) and Cameron Bruce (224). Shannon O’Brien was the only one from that Draft who didn’t play a senior game.

 

Melbourne has had the No.1 draft choice three times - selecting Travis Johnstone (1997), Jack Watts (2008) and Tom Scully (2009). 

 

Other top 10 picks include: Jack Trengove (No.2 in 2009), Colin Sylvia (No.3 in 2003), Cale Morton (No.4 in 2007), Allen Jakovich (No.6 in 1990) and Martin Pike (No.9 in 1992).

 

The Demons have never had a pick at No.7 or No.8, but have selected a player at every step, from pick No.9 through to No.27.

 

Father/son choice Tom Kavanagh, claimed at No.111 in 1988, is the Melbourne draftee claimed at the highest number to play an AFL match. He played two games for the Demons in 1989, before adding eight with Fitzroy.

 

Damon Munt, who never played an AFL match, was Melbourne’s highest selection, at No.122 in 1992.

 

Interestingly, pick No.50 has been the most utilised by Melbourne - Stephen Tingay (1987), Luke Ottens (1997), Matthew Whelan (1999), Jack Fitzpatrick (2009) and Troy Davis (2010) were all claimed at this number.

 

Entering this year’s Draft, Melbourne has 17 players on its list claimed by former recruiting manager Craig Cameron via the various drafting mechanisms.

 

Another 22 players have been recruited to the club under national recruiting manager Barry Prendergast, including 15 who have been chosen via the NAB AFL Draft.

 

 

1 - Travis Johnstone (1997), Jack Watts (2008), Tom Scully (2009)

 

2 - Jack Trengove (2009)

 

3 - Steven Febey (1986), Darren Kowal (1991), Colin Sylvia (2003)

 

4 - Cale Morton (2007)

 

5 - Jason Norrish (1991), Brock McLean (2003)

 

6 - Allen Jakovich (1990)

 

9 - Martin Pike (1992), Luke Molan (2001)

 

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 - 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 - 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)

 

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), TBC (2011)

 

37 - Andrew Obst (1987)

 

39 - Matthew Kluzek (1992), Matthew Blake (1997), Gary Moorcroft (2002)

 

40 - Nick White (1991)

 

41 - Michael Hobbes (1988)

 

42 - Andy Lovell (1986), Michael Prentice (1993), Michael Clark (1999)

 

43 - Michael Newton (2004)

 

45 - Clayton Gardiner (1996)

 

46 - Colin Garland (2006)

 

50 - Stephen Tingay (1987), Luke Ottens (1997), Matthew Whelan (1999), Jack Fitzpatrick (2009), Troy Davis (2010)

 

51 - Clay Sampson (1994), Neville Jetta (2008)

 

52 - TBC (2011)

 

53 - Simon Buckley (2005), Kyle Cheney (2007), Tom McDonald (2010)

 

54 - Daniel Clarke (1992), Cameron Hunter (2002), TBC (2011)

 

55 - Darren Jarman (1986), Andrew Ford (1988), Mark Bradly (1995), Brad Miller (2001)

 

57 - Tim Moreland (1989)

 

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)

 

69 - Matthew Mahoney (1988), Scott Simister (1992)

 

71 - Glenn Wilkins (1989)

 

72 - Ashley Gehling (1995), Luke Taylor (1998)

 

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)

 

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)