Pick or Schmick - Is it a Priority?

[H_T 3,049]

Priority Picks given to AFL clubs. Not all AFL clubs have received them. Below is a "ladder" of those that have received them (before Round 1), headed by Hawthorn & Carlton who have each received 3 Priority Picks.

What value is in a Priority Pick you ask?

Well, the clubs that have received them have benefited greatly. Not necessarily in terms of winning Premierships, but they contribute to their respective sides and arguably are invaluable for their respective sides competitive edge.

PRIORITY PICK LADDER (prior to Round 1)

Hawthorn...................3

Carlton......................3

Western Bulldogs........2

StKilda.......................2

Collingwood................2

Melbourne..................2

Richmond...................1

West Coast.................1

Fremantle...................1

The Priority Pick has in recent seasons caused much grief for clubs supporters and is very much a debatable topic among AFL supporters in general. The AFL introduced this pick as a way of helping some of the poorer performed clubs and helping them fast track their turn around on field. Effectively, creating an even competition. Which is why it was created by the AFL.

Let's have a look at the 17 Priority Picks that have been decided (in regard to picks 1, 2 or 3): -

PICK...........PLAYER........................DRAFT........CLUB

1................Matthew Kruezer............2007..........Carlton

3................Xavier Ellis....................2005...........Hawthorn

2................Dale Thomas.................2005...........Collingwood

1................Marc Murphy..................2005...........Carlton

3................Ryan Griffen..................2004............Bulldogs

1................Brett Deledio.................2004............Richmond

2................Jarryd Roughead............2004............Hawthorn

1................Adam Cooney................2003............Bulldogs

3................Colin Sylvia...................2003............Melbourne

2................Andrew Walker..............2003............Carlton

3................Chris Judd.....................2001............West Coast

2................Luke Ball.......................2001............StKilda

1................Luke Hodge....................2001............Hawthorn

1................Nick Riewoldt..................2000............StKilda

2................Paul Hasleby...................1999...........Fremantle

1................Josh Fraser.....................1999............Collingwood

1................Travis Johnstone..............1997...........Melbourne

*Both Melbourne and West Coast received priority picks in last years 2008 NAB draft, however these were given prior to the start of the second round of drafting.

It goes without saying that the Priority Pick does in effect help teams recover by essentially awarding teams a "free pick" on top of their first round draft pick. The above list of players are a very important part to their sides make-up and arguably indirectly or directly can influence games and their sides positioning on the ladder.

At the moment 4 of the above list are Premiership players. There are also several vying for a Premiership Medallion this season as it stands.

* source - Inside Football.

[w00dy 146]

PICK...........PLAYER........................DRAFT........CLUB

1................Matthew Kruezer............2007..........Carlton

3................Xavier Ellis....................2005...........Hawthorn

2................Dale Thomas.................2005...........Collingwood

1................Marc Murphy..................2005...........Carlton

3................Ryan Griffen..................2004............Bulldogs

1................Brett Deledio.................2004............Richmond

2................Jarryd Roughead............2004............Hawthorn

1................Adam Cooney................2003............Bulldogs

3................Colin Sylvia...................2003............Melbourne

2................Andrew Walker..............2003............Carlton

3................Chris Judd.....................2001............West Coast

2................Luke Ball.......................2001............StKilda

1................Luke Hodge....................2001............Hawthorn

1................Nick Riewoldt..................2000............StKilda

2................Paul Hasleby...................1999...........Fremantle

1................Josh Fraser.....................1999............Collingwood

1................Travis Johnstone..............1997...........Melbourne

*Both Melbourne and West Coast received priority picks in last years 2008 NAB draft, however these were given prior to the start of the second round of drafting.

I think when you're doing this type of analysis, you need to not look at the priority pick itself, but the first round selection. If the club did not have the priority pick, then they would take the priority player with the first round selection. For example, if we get the priority pick, we would draft say Scully and Morabito.... If we finish last, but still don't get the priority pick, we would still get Scully, but miss out on Morabito... Looks something more like this...

PLAYER........................DRAFT........CLUB

Matthew Kruezer............2007..........Carlton *

Beau Dowler...................2005...........Hawthorn

Scott Pendlebury............2005...........Collingwood

Josh Kennedy.................2005...........Carlton

Tom Williams..................2004............Bulldogs

Richard Tambling.............2004............Richmond

Lance Franklin................2004............Hawthorn

Farren Ray....................2003............Bulldogs

Brock McLean.................2003............Melbourne

Andrew Walker...............2003............Carlton **

Ashley Sampi.................2001............West Coast

Xavier Clarke..................2001............StKilda

Graham Polak....................2001............Fremantle***

Justin Koschtizke............2000............StKilda

Leigh Brown...................1999...........Fremantle****

Steve McKee..................1999............Collingwood *****

Travis Johnstone..............1997...........Melbourne ******

* Kreuzer remains the same as they would've given this selection up to secure Chris Judd if they did not have the priority.

** Walker remains the same, as Carlton were stripped of their first round draft pick for salary cap breaches.

*** Shouldn't really count as Fremantle were stupid enough to throw away the #1 pick in the Trent Croad deal. If the priority pick didn't exist you would think Freo wouldn't have traded the #1 pick for Croad, and would've missed out on Polak.

**** Freo were lucky, they had 3 of the top 6 selections. They took Haselby, Pavlich then Leigh Brown. No priority pick, and Leigh Brown is who they miss out on.

***** Collingwood traded their first round selection to Richmond for Steve McKee (if only clubs would trade like that with us now!) If they had not had the priority pick, no doubt this trade wouldn't have happened, as they wouldn't have traded pick 1 for McKee you would think.

****** Trav Johnstone was just a number one draft pick I believe. Don't think he was a priority. Who did we draft or trade for with our first round selection if this were the case?

[H_T 3,049]

Jeff White

[H_T 3,049]

I think when you're doing this type of analysis, you need to not look at the priority pick itself, but the first round selection. If the club did not have the priority pick, then they would take the priority player with the first round selection. For example, if we get the priority pick, we would draft say Scully and Morabito.... If we finish last, but still don't get the priority pick, we would still get Scully, but miss out on Morabito... Looks something more like this...

The idea behind the analysis is basically identifying past priority picks and their worth. It's a free pick ahead of the first round selection (effectively second pick). But your analysis adds weight to the argument, that if a side such as Melbourne this year, finds itself (by analysing their list honestly) lacking in quality/stars and the opportunity presents itself to secure the priority pick (2 years in the making), it should be given heavy consideration in managing their list to take that opportunity, in order to find the quickest path to being a very competitive and competent team.

[Gorgoroth 13,184]

I thought TJ was just a number 1 pick, not priority.

[John Dee 445]

I thought TJ was just a number 1 pick, not priority.

Memory fades ...

We had pick 2 as well as pick 1; we used pick 1 on TJ and traded pick 2 to Freo for Whitey. Surely we had a priority pick?

[Gorgoroth 13,184]

What's a memory?

[Jarka 767]

Hawthorn traded to get the first pick which they used on Hodge, Freo originally had it, they've only had 2.

[H_T 3,049]

Hawthorn traded to get the first pick which they used on Hodge, Freo originally had it, they've only had 2.

Really?

*Source - Inside Football.

[Hannabal 4]

I thought TJ was just a number 1 pick, not priority.

I don't believe that Johnstone was a PP.

[Axis of Bob 11,898]

I don't believe that Johnstone was a PP.

Johnstone was a priority pick.

We had picks 1 and 2 that year, but we traded pick 2 to Freo (along with other picks) for Jeff White. Freo then on traded that pick to Richmond for Chris Bond and Richmond used it on Brad Ottens.

[Hannabal 4]

Johnstone was a priority pick.

We had picks 1 and 2 that year, but we traded pick 2 to Freo (along with other picks) for Jeff White. Freo then on traded that pick to Richmond for Chris Bond and Richmond used it on Brad Ottens.

Youre probably right, but I'd feel a little more confident if someone else verified it.

I usually find this site pretty accurate. http://www.footywire.com/afl/footy/ft_draf...amp;t=N&s=P

They list Headland as one in 1998, as well as many others, but not TJ. It makes sense that he was, but this site doesn't categorise him as one. Hence my doubts.

...I feel like I have a cyber stalker...

[H_T 3,049]

This years draft is considered to be shallow compared to last year's draft which ran deep in quality according to recruiters in the know. Tom Scully has been universally recognised (in AFL terms) as the one to go No.1. No matter which side gets to pick first, as he is widely recognised as an elite player of the future.

Yes or No, should Tom Scully, become the No.1 priority for the Melbournefc? and why or why not?

[Slartibartfast 17,991]

Youre probably right, but I'd feel a little more confident if someone else verified it.

He was. Source is 2009 AFL Record Season Guide 2009. Johnstone is listed as a "PS" or priority selection.

[Slartibartfast 17,991]

...I feel like I have a cyber stalker...

Bob probably felt like that when you used a quote of his for your "sole priority" thread.

You reap what you sow.

[Hannabal 4]

Bob probably felt like that when you used a quote of his for your "sole priority" thread.

You reap what you sow.

Yeah, nah. His eyes light up when he sees a post of mine. It's been happening for a while. I think it's the only time he posts.

I used the text you mention purely for balance. But, of course, a smart man like you already knows this.

[old55 23,833]

Youre probably right, but I'd feel a little more confident if someone else verified it.

I usually find this site pretty accurate. http://www.footywire.com/afl/footy/ft_draf...amp;t=N&s=P

They list Headland as one in 1998, as well as many others, but not TJ. It makes sense that he was, but this site doesn't categorise him as one. Hence my doubts.

...I feel like I have a cyber stalker...

1997

[Hannabal 4]

1997

I know.

The link I pasted is 1997. Have a click.

[45HG 1,559]

Hawks essentially traded Croad and McPharlin for Pick One.

They got Croad back later for pick 8.

Fremantle.

[old55 23,833]

I know.

The link I pasted is 1997. Have a click.

yep, there's 17 R1 picks in that list ...

[Hannabal 4]

yep, there's 17 R1 picks in that list ...

I think we've established that he was a PP. Thanks Fan.

Now scroll up a year to 1998 and tell me what it says next to Des Headland's name ?

I'll wait by the computer.

[Jarka 767]

Really?

*Source - Inside Football.

If you doubt me (hey I don't blame you, many others do here ) check the link that shows the ladder positions for that year

http://www.footywire.com/afl/footy/ft_ladd...;st=SE&sb=p

Freo finished last with 2 wins, what a screw up that was, passing up on either Hodge, Ball or Judd *shakes head*

[John Dee 445]

I don't believe that Johnstone was a PP.

This leads to a philosophical issue; if you have pick 1 and pick 2, is the player you select with pick 1 the priority. or is it the player that you select with pick 2. The AFL would say that pick 1 is the priority pick, but, if you did not have the priority pick, you would select the same player with your first draft pick. In practical terms, the player you would not get if you didn't have the priority pick is the player at pick 2.

Whatever, technically TJ was the priority pick; trading pick 2 to Freo got us Whitey and a fine for breaching the salary cap.

[45HG 1,559]

They chose Croad over pick One.

[H_T 3,049]

If you doubt me (hey I don't blame you, many others do here ) check the link that shows the ladder positions for that year http://www.footywire.com/afl/footy/ft_ladd...;st=SE&sb=p Freo finished last with 2 wins, what a screw up that was, passing up on either Hodge, Ball or Judd *shakes head*

I wasn't doubting you. Was simply astounded.