For Melbourne, it means seven selections this year, although three of those have already been committed to players.
Outstanding young midfielder Jack Viney has been claimed as a father/son pick at No. 27 - a great result, considering Melbourne would’ve used pick No. 3 to nab him - and Michael Evans and Daniel Nicholson have been upgraded from the rookie list, meaning they will be taken at picks No. 73 and No. 74.
That leaves four ‘live’ picks for the Demons: No. 4, No. 49, No. 53 and No. 70.
It will be the second time Melbourne has had pick No. 4 in the NAB AFL Draft, with recently departed Demon and new Eagle Cale Morton the only other Dee claimed at that choice.
Rod Keogh (1988), who played 22 matches for the Demons before crossing to St Kilda, and Brad Hall (1993), who didn’t play a match in the red and blue, have to date been Melbourne’s only other two choices at No. 27.
Three players - Simon Buckley (2005), Kyle Cheney (2007) and Tom McDonald (2010) - have been chosen at No. 53. Buckley and Cheney played for the Demons before moving to Collingwood and Hawthorn respectively, while McDonald emerged as one of Melbourne’s brightest prospects in 2012.
Melbourne’s only previous draftee at No. 73 was Ross Funcke (2000), who originally started his career with Richmond.
The Demons have never had picks No. 49, No. 70 or No. 74.
Today’s drafting methods are far more involved than when it all first started in 1986.
Back then, the focus on the draft was not as great and clubs did not have the resources set up as they do today.
Still, there were some fine players to emerge and some shrewd recruiting achieved - even if there were hits and misses - which still occur today, right across the competition.
Today, the NAB AFL Draft is one of the most important days on the AFL calendar, although with the revamped recruiting process now involving free agency and an extended trade period, it could be argued that every part of the entire recruiting period from October to December is as critical as each other - depending on club requirements.
Harking back to Melbourne’s first meeting in 1986 is a fascinating look.
Steven Febey was Melbourne’s first selection at No. 3. 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.
Back then, chief executive officer Cameron Schwab was Melbourne’s recruiting manager in 1986, as was again the case in 1987.
This was in an era when the draft was speculative, and it was difficult to lure prominent players from the SANFL and WAFL. For example, Schwab selected the Febey twins and Darren Jarman in the first meeting.
Matthew Febey played 143 matches for the Demons, but Jarman - a brilliant triple premiership player with Hawthorn and Adelaide - couldn’t be lured from South Australia. He was chosen at No. 55.
In 1987, the Demons claimed 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 Melbourne’s first two Draft meetings, Tingay was the only Victorian player plucked from 10 picks. Melbourne’s 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 764 matches coming from that meeting.
Brad Green, who retired at the end of the 2012 season, played the most with 254 games. Paul Wheatley achieved 135 games, Michael Clark (one), Matthew Whelan (150) and Cameron Bruce (224). Bruce also added another 10 matches with Hawthorn in 2011-12. 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).
Top 10 picks have included Travis Johnstone (No. 1 in 1997), Jack Watts (No. 1 in 2008), Jack Trengove (No. 2 in 2009), Colin Sylvia (No. 3 in 2003) and Allen Jakovich (No. 6 in 1990).
The Demons have never had a pick at No. 7 or No. 8, but have selected a player at every selection from No. 9 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. Kavanagh, the son of Brent Crosswell, 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 overall 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.
The Demons were one pick away from having No. 50 again in 2012, but will use No. 49 for the first time, as further chapters are set to be written into the club’s drafting history.
Every Melbourne player to be selected via the NAB AFL Draft since 1986 (in draft number order)
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), TBC (2012)
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), Jack Viney (father/son - 2012)
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)
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)
49 - TBC (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)
53 - Simon Buckley (2005), Kyle Cheney (2007), Tom McDonald (2010), TBC (2012)
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)
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)
70 - TBC (2012)
71 - Glenn Wilkins (1989)
72 - Ashley Gehling (1995), Luke Taylor (1998)
73 - Ross Funcke (2000), Michael Evans or Daniel Nicholson (rookie elevation - 2012)
74 - Michael Evans or Daniel Nicholson (rookie elevation - 2012)
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)
