Well Straight up I would say Jimmy Hird at pick 79... Can anyone else think of any great draft gets over the years.

I think Dougy Hawkins was somewhere in the 80's... Not a bad grab at all

Chris Grant- Western Bulldogs-Grant was recruited by the Footscray Football Club (now Western Bulldogs) in the 1988 VFL Draft at pick number 105, and played his first AFL game in 1990 at the age of 17. Grant kicked 51 goals that season, the youngest player in VFL-AFL history to achieve this feat, to be the leading goalkicker for the club.Very stiff not to win a Brownlow- I think he was robbed by the league.

Yeah thats a top a grab... Would of been a shattering moment in ones life, winning on votes then being ineligible.

Edited November 5, 201015 yr by Deemolition Man

Well Straight up I would say Jimmy Hird at pick 79... Can anyone else think of any great draft gets over the years.

Was a F/S... not that impressive when you consider it.

Bruce wasn't bad. There'd be better obviously... if you could be bothered looking.

Davey is awesome. Hundreds of games, wonderful player, changed the game (albeit only slightly) and was nearly not even picked up.

Any rookie or PSD pick (sans Nick Stevens) that has carved out an enduring AFL career gets my vote.

I would have thought Junior, Brett Kirk, Russell Robertson, Dean Cox and Aaron Davey. Mark Jamar might just become one of those great stories too in a couple of years.

You could argue Darren Jolly but the teams where he has played his best football each gave 1st round picks for him.

Maybe Ash can confirm but Hird may not have been a F/S as he sustained a serious hip injury as a junior which undermined his trade value.

Was a F/S... not that impressive when you consider it.

Hird was not a F/S.

Liam jurrah

Dane swan

Edited November 5, 201015 yr by Daz's Dee's

James McDonald. For games played to pick value, he probably has the highest ratio of anyone ever. Longest-lived rookie, and a Captain to boot. I haven't been around for too long, but that's the one I'd go for.

I'm biased, and I know that LJ didn't nominate for the ND (and received special approval to enter the AFL via the PSD), but I hope he can be a serious contender in a few more years.

Dean Kemp is one of the best ever West Coast footballers, and one of the best AFL players of the 1990s. He was drafted at 117 in the 1989 draft.

Dean Kemp is one of the best ever West Coast footballers, and one of the best AFL players of the 1990s. He was drafted at 117 in the 1989 draft.

This. Had he played with a Victorian club would be mentioned alongside the all time greats. Wonderful player.

Aaron Davey; Stephen Tingay, LJ

Dean Cox gets my vote.

4-time AA, B&F winning premiership ruckman off a rookie list.

Jono Brown at 30 was a reasonable get.

Jono Brown at 30 was a reasonable get.

Father son. Doesn't count!

Looking at recent drafts there has been some good late gets.

2001 had Brian Lake at 71 and Dane Swan at 58.

2002 Brad Sewell was a rookie selection, so was Porplyzia.

Father son. Doesn't count!

Ahh yes, forgot about that.

Maybe Ash can confirm but Hird may not have been a F/S as he sustained a serious hip injury as a junior which undermined his trade value.

Right you are.

And the fact he was from Canberra... that's gotta be a risky prospect.

As far as the thread goes, I think the above poster was correct when he said picking a risky early pick is braver than picking up a rookie, as no-one's expecting anything from something so late.

I also reckon the drafting since about 2000, maybe later, has become that much more involved, and less hit-and-miss. I think comparing a first rounder now to a first rounder in the early nineties is a bit pointless. Very different situation.

Looking at recent drafts there has been some good late gets.

2001 had Brian Lake at 71 and Dane Swan at 58.

2002 Brad Sewell was a rookie selection, so was Porplyzia.

There's some beauty's there.

Some absolute gun late-picks during those years.

Edited November 8, 201015 yr by BattlerBailey

Funny thing about players from Canberra -

James Hird is from North of the lake.

Aaron Hammill is from the Tuggeranong valley.

Both shining examples of how their communities like to think of themselves...

Shaun Smith was also an Ainslie boy, but I don't know too much about him except he can fly.

Adam Goodes was in the 60s and 70s ,same with Brian Lake

Michael Barlow as a rookie prob best from last year as Freo failed without him