I thought I'd have a go at picking our top 10 all time draft picks. At first I figured it was going to be pretty easy but as I quickly found out it definitely wasn't a straightforward decision and I had to set some sort of criteria that I loosely based my decisions on:

1. Quality of the player - very subjective, everyone has their favourites

2. Value for money - Pretty obvious

3. Level of output - also pretty obvious

So with these 3 in mind I rechecked my list and came up with the following as my best ever draft picks.

1. 1997 Pick 51 Rookie draft - James McDonald

Probably the most underrated player we've ever had on our list, just keeps on delivering the same each year. Not a superstar but well respected and great value for his pick.

2. 1997 Pick 18 PSD - Shane Woewodin

Our only drafted player to have won a brownlow and once again great value for money. I actually seriously considered having him at 1 but Jnr's longevity beat him in the end. He gave us great service for many years.

3. 1986 Pick 3 - Steven Febey

The first year of the draft, we probably spent about $10 on the recruiting department for the year (t/a coffee's on the morning of the draft for everyone), hell we probably didn't even have a recruiting manager. Bloody miracle to have picked up a decent player considering the lack of science and kowledge.

4. 2004 Pick 3 Rookie - Arron Davey

The most recent draft on my list and a great pick considering everyone dismissed him as a potential player. Adds excitement to our team like no other player on our current list.

5. 1987 Pick 50 - Stephen Tingay

Once again early days in the draft, but gee he was a great player. Probably a little high but he was one of my favs and I hope he didn't marry that chick that pushed him through the glass door.

6. 1994 Pick 16 - Adem Yze

Regardless of the current debate about him now he has given years and years of great service. Originally drafted as a forward (I think, memory a little hazy) he didn't find his feet until tried as a rebounding defender where he led the 'Rebounds out of the defensive 50' for years. Then later on he moved back forward and kicked many freakish goals. If that isn't enough the fact that the entire Melbourne crowd used to shout 'OOOZE' every time he kicked the ball is worthy of a spot on this list.

7. 1999 Pick 64 - Cameron Bruce

Late pick, quality player. Can't ask for anything more from a recruiting manager

8. 2003 Pick 56 Rookie - Nathan Carroll

I know most people won't agree with me but my reasoning is that Carroll has held down an important position for us for a couple years when we haven't had anyone else to do the job. Not the best player going around but a very good drafting effort for such a late rookie pick.

9. 1996 Pick 68 - Russell Robertson

I love the story that he came into notice after appearing on 'my footy legends' on 'The Footy Show.' Very good value for money.

10. 1999 Pick 19 - Brad Green

I reckon he's almost as underrated as Jnr.

I originally had Yze at 8 but then as I was tapping on the keyboard I realised I was being too harsh, he probably could even have gone further up.

Apologies go to Jakovich, TJ, Rivers, McLean, D.Bennett and James Tomkins (surely our only drafted player to have won multiple gold medals)

One last thing, this would have to be the best draft day we've ever had:

1997 ROOKIE DRAFT (Melbourne)

# 3 Nathan Bassett (Norwood) MELBOURNE = All-Australian, 175 games

# 19 Daniel Ward (Fitzroy Top Up) MELBOURNE = 120 games

# 35 Russell Robertson (Melbourne) MELBOURNE = B&F winner, All-Australian, Club Leading Goalkicker, 190 games

# 51 James McDonald (Old Xaverians) MELBOURNE = All-Australian, B&F winner, 180 games

# 83 Matthew Bishop (Box Hill) MELBOURNE = 150 games, Premiership player

What a f£ckign awesome result.

(Thread dedicated to CAC, thanks for the years of service but I hope you fail dismally at the tiggers )

5. 1987 Pick 50 - Stephen Tingay

Once again early days in the draft, but gee he was a great player. Probably a little high but he was one of my favs and I hope he didn't marry that chick that pushed him through the glass door.

How I rue the day we lost Stinga. He was awesome. He would truly have been one of the greats IMHO. Such a shame.

Pretty sure Robbo didn't get AA selection in 2005 for his 73 goals.

Deserved it though.

6. 1994 Pick 16 - Adem Yze

Regardless of the current debate about him now he has given years and years of great service. Originally drafted as a forward (I think, memory a little hazy) he didn't find his feet until tried as a rebounding defender where he led the 'Rebounds out of the defensive 50' for years. Then later on he moved back forward and kicked many freakish goals. If that isn't enough the fact that the entire Melbourne crowd used to shout 'OOOZE' every time he kicked the ball is worthy of a spot on this list.

9. 1996 Pick 68 - Russell Robertson

I love the story that he came into notice after appearing on 'my footy legends' on 'The Footy Show.' Very good value for money.

great work jarka...very good post...however, i would just like to state that 'OOOZE' will be back this year bigger and better than ever!!! and..im not trying to be picky cos im actually not sure, did Robbo get picked up in the rookie draft or national draft?

great work jarka...very good post...however, i would just like to state that 'OOOZE' will be back this year bigger and better than ever!!! and..im not trying to be picky cos im actually not sure, did Robbo get picked up in the rookie draft or national draft?

As far as I know - orignally drafted, then delisted, thrown a lifeline via the rookie draft, and then re-added to the senior list.

Someone - Jaded? - mentioned this recently in another thread.

Where was Ox taken? Or was he just before the draft was instituted, a la Neita?

Where was Ox taken? Or was he just before the draft was instituted, a la Neita?

The Ox came up through the u19's - recruited from Sunbury and debuted in 1991 in number 44.

Fantastic job Jarka - only change I'd make would be Green out at number 10 and Whelan in - same draft as Green but at number 50. Injury not withstanding he is still one of our most important players. A great list, though!

The Ox came up through the u19's - recruited from Sunbury and debuted in 1991 in number 44.

Fantastic job Jarka - only change I'd make would be Green out at number 10 and Whelan in - same draft as Green but at number 50. Injury not withstanding he is still one of our most important players. A great list, though!

Fair call on Whelan, whom I rate highly as well.

I'm pretty sure that Robo was first drafted in '96, then dropped and rookied in in '97 and then promoted the year after that.

Matty Febey is also an interesting story, first drafted @ 16 in the '86 draft, then again in the '89 psd. I remember hearing stories that his brother wouldn't extend his contract untill Matthew was taken care of.

As far as I know - orignally drafted, then delisted, thrown a lifeline via the rookie draft, and then re-added to the senior list.

Someone - Jaded? - mentioned this recently in another thread.

Yeah that's correct.

As Jarka said, Robbo was picked up in the draft. He 'was [censored]' (not my words ) and got dropped to the rookie list. He was then promoted again.

Was a good pick up considering it was his 'Legends' tape that got him drafted. Imagine the fans' outrage if that happened today... maybe at Richmond it would... oh hang on, it won't now that they stole our recruiter <_<

Robbo didn't actually get into the All Australia team in 05. It was a terrible decision. From memory, Peter Everitt was in the forward pocket that year. Thank God they don't just put the backup ruckman wherever anymore.

How did we get big Jimmy? I would've thought he'd be a late pick because he was an unknown quantity.