The rookie draft was introduced in 1997.

Craig presided over it for Melbourne.

He drafted Nathan Basset, Matthew Bishop, Daniel Ward, Robbo, Junior and a bloke named Duncan O'Toole. Fair day's work.

Duncan O'Toole still plays good footy in Tasmania. He was never going to make the grade at AFL, he was a bit of a project from memory, suffered a few wrist injuries and never really looked like it.

You can hardly say Molan or Lamb were CACs fault. Molan looked set to be a very promising KPP before injury. Lamb was a decent player - he was overlooked by Daniher too often.

You can hardly say Molan or Lamb were CACs fault. Molan looked set to be a very promising KPP before injury. Lamb was a decent player - he was overlooked by Daniher too often.

Lamb got close to making it, but didn't. Molan was an outright howler, CAC even says himself that this was an error. If either of them were any good, they'd be on AFL lists now. They weren't.

Number 1 would be James McDonald. He was taken at 78 in the rookie draft. 2 club B&F's, AA and 197 games later I reckon he wins hands down,

Fair post.

Number 1 would be James McDonald. He was taken at 78 in the rookie draft. 2 club B&F's, AA and 197 games later I reckon he wins hands down,

Wow. Number one with a bullet.

Holland has done a job. He was recruited to fill a positional need as a big fullback gorilla keeper, and extra tall in the forward line. He's done so with full commitment and has produced a satisfactory perfomance.

Bulldogs with their height crisis would have accepted him, for the same reasons. Hawthorn (Mark Williams at one end, Zac Dawson at the other) might have found him useful, too. So there's two possible lists he could be on, and I've spent as much time thinking about it as I have typing it.

He is now 5 years older than when we got him, of course his options would be very limited if we delisted him. But remember that when we picked him up we really were just a little excited about him being able to fill a role. I think it was a fair decision to grab him at the time, and a fair decision to keep him on the list for 08.

If Carroll hadn't turned it right up when Nicho faded out into retirement, Holland would have been our only fullback for two years now - Far from ideal but we would be glad we had him!

By my calculations he's played 4 seasons.

I disagree, he's slow and the only reason why he looked good in our backline last season was because once Rivers got injured we simply didn't have anyone else.

In 2004 we got 2 decent games out of him, 2005 was marginally better, 06 was completely underwhelming and 07 was dissappointing considering he's meant to be one of our senior KPP's. Do you honestly believe that his performances are worth the pick that we gave up for him?

That's rubbish about the doggies and the hawks, if they were interested then they would have made a play for him when he became available. We were the only one's stupid enough to give up an early 2nd round pick.

You are a meanie

Very diplomatic of you YM.

I think the coach has a fair input into player trades so I don't think CAC is responsible for bringing Ben Holland to the club. Anyway it's hard to see why Ben is regarded as a "failure", he's listed for his 5th year at the club has played 54 games and performed a range of roles very effectively. Jed Adcock is the only player in 2003 2nd round that gives cause for concern ...

Round 2 20 West Coast SAMUEL BUTLER CENTRAL DISTRICTS 14/01/1986 185 75

Medium, inside midfielder/forward with clean hands and good foot skills. Rarely goes to ground and reads the play well. AIS-AFL Academy member and SA U/18 representative in 2003. Member of Central Districts Reserves Premiership side this year. From South Gawler FC. Year 12 student at Xavier College in Gawler.

Round 2 21 Richmond ALEX GILMORE TASSIE MARINERS 29/06/1986

Round 2 22 Geelong CAMERON THURLEY TASMANIA 26/11/1981 181.7 75

Small inside midfielder who is excellent front and square. Hard runner who uses the ball extremely well.

Round 2 23 Brisbane Lions MATTHEW MOODY SOUTH FREMANTLE (WAFL) 23/09/1985 187 81.8 Medium, outside forward who finds space and is a penetrating kick. Smart near goals. All-Australian U/18 in 2002. AIS-AFL Academy in 2002. Vice-captain of WA at 2003 National AFL U/18 Championships. From Kelmscott FC.

Round 2 24 Kangaroos CHAD JONES CLAREMONT (WAFL) 15/06/1984 195.9 80.8

Tall, outside defender/forward – very athletic player who is a penetrating right foot kick. Was in the top 10% for the 10 metre sprint at the 2003 National Draft camp.

Round 2 25 Hawthorn HARRY MILLER PORT ADELAIDE (SANFL) 11/06/1985 174.2 77.5 Small, outside midfielder/forward with a great leap. Good speed and knows where the goals are. SA u18 representative this year. Had the best sit and reach (flexibility) at the 2003 National Draft. From Mallee Park F.C.

Round 2 26 West Coast DANIEL MCCONNELL EASTERN RANGES 21/06/1986 189.7 84

Inside defender or forward – has excellent pace and endurance for his size. Extremely good in the air and has got sound skills. AIS/AFL Academy in 2003. Was in the top 10% for the shuttle run at the 2003 National Draft camp. From Vermont F.C.

Round 2 27 Fremantle ADAM CAMPBELL NORTH BALLARAT REBELS 25/01/1985 191.9 78.2 Tall, inside key forward who continually presents himself. Has speed off the mark and is a good kick. Versatility and leadership qualities are strengths. From Hamilton F.C.

Round 2 28 Essendon JAY NASH CENTRAL DISTRICTS 21/12/1985 185 75

Medium, outside defender/midfielder with terrific work rate and excellent finishing skills. Has good football brain. AIS-AFL Academy member in 2002. SA U/18 representative in 2002 and 2003. Was in the top 10% for the standing vertical jump at the 2003 National Draft camp, state screening session. Another member of Central Districts Reserves Premiership team this year. From Nuriootpa FC. Year 12 student at Nuriootpa High School.

Round 2 29 Sydney TIM SCHMIDT WEST ADELAIDE 14/03/1986 179.2 77.6 Small, inside midfielder with clean disposal skills and strong in the air. Joint u16’s B & F medal winner in 2002. AIS/AFL Academy and SA u18 rep in 2003. From Robertstown F.C

Round 2 30 Port Adelaide BRADLEY SYMES CENTRAL DISTRICTS 7/03/1985 185 75

Medium defender/midfielder who is strong over the ball. Good hand and foot skills. AIS-AFL Academy in 2002. Named South Australia’s most valuable player in the 2003 National AFL U/18 Championships, and won All-Australian U/18 honours, member of Central Districts Reserve Premiership side in 2003. From Gawler Centrals FC. First year student at Adelaide University.

Round 2 31 Adelaide JOSHUA KRUEGER GLENELG (SANFL) 27/10/1983 195.3 91.1 Tall, inside ruckman – athletic player who can take a strong contested mark. Excellent work rate. From West Gambier.

Round 2 32 Collingwood BRAYDEN SHAW NORTHERN KNIGHTS 16/09/1985

Round 2 33 Brisbane Lions JED ADCOCK NORTH BALLARAT REBELS 15/11/1985 184 81.8 Disciplined, medium, inside defender who is defensively very good. Smart footballer who plays a physical game, but can provide plenty of run. A real competitor finishing 3rd in Rebels B & F this year after representing Vic Country in the National AFL U18’s. Was in the top 10% for standing vertical jump and 10 metre sprint at the 2003 National Draft camp. From Maryborough FC. Year 12 student at Maryborough Regional College.

Sam Butler

Matt Moody

Brad Symes

Jed Adcock

and now even Jay Nash.

They all have a future.

You also excluded Amon Buchanon, Sam Fisher, Michael Rischitelli and Michael Pettigrew, ALL who are playing good footy.

Pick 21 was a ridiculous price to pay for Ben Holland.

I just looked back on our pre-CAC draft record.

...

...

I will never look again. But I won't forget what I saw, either.

Craig Cameron

Anyone who looks at Richard Griffith's recruiting record will have a better understanding of Cameron's undoubted qualities.

Anyone who looks at Richard Griffith's recruiting record will have a better understanding of Cameron's undoubted qualities.

To be fair the draft was in it's infacy and the selection process was completely different, for example the u18's didn't even exist and the eagles were excellent at 'hiding' the talent coming throughAlthough the club was doing very well financially not much money was spent on the footy department and virtually nothing on recruiting. Griffith's wouldn't have had a tenth of what CAC has available to him.

In 1986 we drafted S.Febey, M.Febey, A.Lovell, C.Walker and Darren Jarman.

Those picks are as good a result as we've ever had in a single draft, but just imagine if we managed to talk Jarman into leaving SA. The following year we picked up Andrew Obst and Stephen Tingay. Not bad considering we were playing with peanuts.