AFL Draft

Every AFL club’s draft history with their 2023 picks

We’ve listed the players your club has previously picked up with the same selections they hold this year.

Published by
Annie Ireland

As we edge closer to the first of this year's pair of anticipated draft nights, AFL fans are hoping their club gets its hands on some of the talent this year's draft class has to offer.

Whilst numerous clubs have never historically had a selection with some of the picks they currently hold, many have had great luck with certain selections, whilst others have not fared well.

We take a look back at who your club has selected in past years with their current selections and whether or not it presents as a good omen come November 20.

Adelaide Crows

Picks: 10, 14, and 20.

Historically, Adelaide has had some strong players come from Picks 10 and 14, with none more prominent than bullocking midfielder Patrick Dangerfield. Dangerfield played 154 games for the Crows before departing home to Moggs Creek and joining Geelong. Recently retired Giant Phil Davis is another notable selection, although he only played 18 games with the Crows before transitioning to the Western Sydney expansion club.

Picture: Simon Cross Source: Herald Sun.

Rebounding defender Brodie Smith was a successful selection for the Crows and will enter his 14th season in 2024, having played 247 games. Now-Demons defender Jake Lever was another strong selection at Pick 14, though he played just 56 games at West Lakes before moving to Melbourne.

Judging by their past choices at these spots, Adelaide fans can be excited about the potential talent their side may gain from No. 10 and 14.

10: Patrick Dangerfield, Phil Davis

14: Fergus Watts, James Sellar, Brodie Smith, Jake Lever

20: None

Brisbane Lions

Picks: 30, 39, 51, 54, and 67.

One of Brisbane's most successful players, Jonathan Brown, was taken at Pick 30, playing 256 games and kicking 594 goals for the Lions. The spearhead forward achieved many accolades during his time in the league, including being a three-time premiership player and captaining Brisbane from 2009 to 2012. Brown is now an AFL Hall of Famer, with the Lions hoping that this year's Pick 30 holds even half the talent that Brown did.

Big-bodied Eagle Elliot Yeo is also a notable selection, though he only played two seasons at Brisbane before travelling west to continue his professional career.

30: Richard Champion, Jonathan Brown, Daniel Merrett, Elliot Yeo

39: Nigel Palfreyman, Rhys Mathieson

51: Joe Wilson, Adam Williamson, Scott Ralph

54: Adam Labrook, Matt Tyler, Jack Payne

67: None

Carlton

Picks: 22, 28, 70, and 78.

Unlike the Crows and Lions, the Blues don't boast many notable names from the previous pick numbers they're slated to pick at this year, with many now playing in state league competitions including Ben Silvagni, who did not have the same fortune as his brother, Jack, who recently penned another contract at Princes Park.

22: Josh Bootsma

28: Cale O'Keefe, Dillon Viejo-Rainbow

70: Trent Hoppner, Nick Duigan, Angus Schumacher, Ben Silvagni

78: Matthew Dickson, Jarrod Garlett

Collingwood

Picks: 19 and 33.

Collingwood has held Pick 19 for three of the last four drafts, recruiting midfielders Fin Macrae and Ed Allan. Both are talented youngsters who inspire hope for Collingwood's long-term future and with the departure of Taylor Adams to the Harbour City this off-season, the pair appears likely to receive further opportunities at the senior level.

While Nick Davis is a successful player previously chosen by the Pies with Pick 19, though he is largely remembered for his tenure at the Sydney Swans, whilst Jason Cloke played 76 games for Collingwood, including the 2003 Grand Final.

19: Brent Tuckey, Nick Davis, Jason Cloke, Ben Kennedy, Finlay Macrae, Ed Allan

33: None

Essendon

Picks: 9, 31, 35, and 61

Former vice-captain Mark McVeigh was a successful pick No. 9 for Essendon, playing 232 games for the club before retiring due to injuries.

Archie Perkins also shapes as a successful No. 9 selection for the Bombers, registering a breakout season in 2023 and promising to be a future star of the club.

9: Michael Werner, Mark McVeigh, Archie Perkins

31: Andrew Ukovic, Joel Reynolds, Ariel Steinberg, Jackson Merrett, Josh Begley

35: Peter Reid

61: Andrew Underwood

Fremantle

Picks: 34, 46, 60, and 64.

Connor Blakely would be the most notable selection of this trio for Fremantle, playing 78 games across 2015-2021 before heading to the Gold Coast, calling his retirement at the end of the 2023 season.

Matthew Clucas and Adam Butler failed to appear at the professional level through their respective careers, whilst Andrew Shipp only played 35 games, so Fremantle fans will be hoping this draft pick omen changes.

34: Connor Blakely

46: Matthew Clucas, Adam Butler

60: None

64: Andrew Shipp

Geelong Cats

Picks: 8, 25, and 76.

One of Geelong's favourite sons, Jimmy Bartel, was taken at Pick 8 and would be their most successful historical pick of this year's selections. The Brownlow medallist played 305 games for the Cats, including the 2007, 2009, and 2011 premierships; winning the Norm Smith Medal in 2011.

GEELONG, AUSTRALIA - JULY 29: Jimmy Bartel of the Cats thanks fans after his 300th match during the 2016 AFL Round 19 match between the Geelong Cats and the Western Bulldogs at Simonds Stadium on July 29, 2016 in Geelong, Australia. (Photo by Adam Trafford/AFL Media/Getty Images)

Youngsters Jhye Clark and Mitch Knevitt are both still inexperienced but shape as key cogs in Geelong's future plans as their older stars near the ends of their careers.

8: Darren Jones, Leigh Brockman, Joel Corey, Jimmy Bartel, Jhye Clark

25: Nathan Djerrkura, Mitch Knevitt

76: David Preston

Gold Coast Suns

Picks: 24, 26, 27, 32, 36, 38, 66, 71, and 74.

The Suns hold the equal-most amount of picks at this year's draft but historically have only selected four players with any of these picks. Sean Lemmens has been the most successful of any of these players, becoming the 15th Gold Coast player to reach 100 games.

Jeremy Sharp was just delisted by Gold Coast, failing to appear at the senior level once in 2023. Henry Schade only played 28 games at the AFL level; eight of those coming at Collingwood.

24: Henry Schade

26: None

27: Sean Lemmens, Jeremy Sharp

32: None

36: None

38: None

66: None

71: Caleb Graham

74: None

GWS

Picks: 7, 16, 43, 59, 77, and 79.

Historically, GWS boasts some strong picks with selections 7 and 16, having previously taken Nick Haynes, Jacob Hopper, and Harry Himmelberg. Hopper was an integral player at GWS from 2016 to 2022, emerging as a genuine star of the competition early on, with a career-best season in 2019 to finish third in the GWS best and fairest.

SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA - APRIL 06: Jacob Hopper of the Giants handballs during the round three AFL match between the Greater Western Sydney Giants and the Richmond Tigers at GIANTS Stadium on April 06, 2019 in Sydney, Australia. (Photo by Mark Kolbe/Getty Images)

Nick Haynes is one of six remaining original Giants players, notching 200 games this season and having been a strong contributor at GWS. Harry Himmelberg was a Giants Academy selection and has become an integral part of the club's backline, enjoying a standout year in 2023 which was capped by being awarded Mark of the Year.

7: Nick Haynes, Paul Ahern, Jacob Hopper

16: Harry Himmelberg, Harry Rowston

43: None

59: Jacob Wehr

77: None

79: Setanta Ó hAilpín

Hawthorn

Picks: 4, 44, 47, 49, 62, and 63.

There aren't many notable names for Hawthorn with their six selections this year, with Blake Hardwick the most notable. Hardwick played every game for Hawthorn this season for the second consecutive year to become a mainstay in their back six.

Scott Crow played 13 games for Hawthorn across three years, before he moved to Collingwood to play 62 further games.

4: None

44: Scott Crow, Chris Gerreyn, Blake Hardwick

47: Chris Palmer

49: Teia Miles

62: Ben Herald

63: Luke Lowden, Mathew Walker

Melbourne

Picks: 6, 11, and 42.

Despite only playing 47 games for Melbourne, Allen Jackovich kicked 201 goals in that time, becoming the fastest player ever to kick 50 goals. In just his 21st game, Jakovich kicked his 100th career goal. Injury and form effectively derailed his football career after he was delisted at the end of 1994.

With two first-round picks this year, Melbourne will be hoping to get their hands on some fresh talent.

6: Allen Jakovich

11: Tim McNeil, Don Cockatoo-Collins, Brent Grgic, Jordan Gysberts

42: Andy Lovell, Michael Prentice, Michael Clark, Billy Stretch, Mitch King

North Melbourne

Picks: 2, 3, 15, 17, 18, and 57.

North Melbourne will be hoping that whoever it selects with Pick 3 is just as talented as Harry Sheezel.

Sheezel is an emerging star for the club, exerting his influence from the moment he entered the AFL landscape. The Rising Star recipient averaged 27 disposals, 5.4 marks, and 11.5 handballs in just his first season at AFL level to win the Syd Barker Medal, the AFLPA Best First Year Player Award and the Rising Star. Whoever is taken at Pick 2 will no doubt complement an emerging crop of talent.

Robbie Tarrant was another successful selection for North Melbourne, playing 174 games at the Kangaroos before moving to Richmond for two seasons.

2: Daniel Wells

3: Lachlan Hansen, Will Phillips, Harry Sheezel

15: Brady Rawlings, Robbie Tarrant, Taylor Garner

17: Tom Warhurst, Scott Welsh, Shaun Atley

18: Anthony Stevens, Danny Millar, Kris Shore, Brad McKenzie

57: None

Port Adelaide

Picks: 73.

It'll be a quiet draft night for Port Adelaide this season, holding just one pick after orchestrating numerous trades during this year's player movement period. The Power have only ever selected one player at Pick 73; Riley Grundy, younger brother of now-Sydney ruckman, Brodie. Grundy never managed a game for Port Adelaide and was delisted at the end of the 2020 season.

73: Riley Grundy

Richmond

Picks: 29, 41, 65, and 68.

Pick 29 has been promising for Richmond in previous years, with Wayne Campbell representing the biggest name to come of that selection. Campbell played 297 games for the Tigers, captaining the Punt Road stalwart from 2001-2004. A four-time Jack Dyer Medallist and two-time All-Australian, Campbell was inducted into the Richmond Hall of Fame in 2013.

Electric midfielder-forward Shai Bolton has already tasted premiership success since being drafted by Richmond in 2016, taking part in the Tigers' 2019 and 2020 premierships. 2022 saw Bolton stage a breakout season, earning a maiden All-Australian blazer off the back of a 43-goal season.

29: Wayne Campbell, Jason Torney, Shai Bolton, Sam Banks

41: Chris Waterworth, Matthew Manfield, Andrew Krakouer, Tim Fleming

65: Mark Graham

68: Matthew Grieg, Chris Hyde

St Kilda

Picks: 13, 21, and 40.

Nick Dal Santo is the most successful pick, historically, out of St Kilda's draft selections this season, playing 260 games for the club before finishing his career at North Melbourne. Dal Santo was a three-time All-Australian at the Saints, finishing runner-up in the 2011 Brownlow Medal, whilst also appearing in consecutive grand final losses in 2009 and 2010, including the infamous 2010 draw.

Unlike his cousin Brendon Goddard, Hugh Goddard failed to have an impactful AFL career, playing only 12 games across six years. Meanwhile, Tom Lynch is remembered for his career at Adelaide, playing just six games at Moorabbin.

13: Chris Hemley, Nick Dal Santo, Tom Lynch

21: Matt Maguire, Hugh Goddard

40: Matthew Lappin, Brodie Murdoch, Brandon White

Sydney Swans

Picks: 12, 45, and 55.

Pick 45 has been a mixed bag for the Swans, with Amon Buchanan enjoying a successful career whilst Jack Maibaum failed to appear at the senior level. Buchanan played 116 games for Sydney, including in the historic 2005 premiership, when he kicked the final goal of the Grand Final to put the Swans a point in front.

Maibaum, on the other hand, now plays for the Claremont Tigers in the WAFL after spending most of his AFL career in the NEAFL. Maibaum was delisted in 2019 before being re-drafted as a rookie in 2019. However, a ruptured ACL derailed his career.

12: Lewis Johnston

45: Amon Buchanan, Jack Maibaum

55: Trent Dennis-Lane

West Coast Eagles

Picks: 1, 23, 37, and 58.

West Coast has had great success with Pick 1 at the draft in previous years and they'll be hoping 2023 is no different, particularly after this year's woeful campaign.

Drew Banfield was selected at Pick 1 in the 1992 Draft, going on to play 265 games, appearing in the club's 1994 and 2006 premiership wins, whilst also earning the West Coast Club Champion award in 1996.

Mark LeCras was a massive bargain pick for the Eagles, playing 219 games including in the Eagles' 2018 premiership. LeCras was an impressive small forward, kicking 441 goals across his career.

1: Drew Banfield, Michael Gardiner

23: Koby Stevens, Murray Newman, Harry Barnett

37: Ashley Blurton, Todd Holmes, Brent Staker, Mark LeCras, Josh Rotham, Rhett Bazzo

58: Ben Johnson, Noah Long

Western Bulldogs

Picks: 5, 48, 50, 52, 53, 56, 69, 72, and 75.

Jake Stringer is the Bulldogs' most successful selection at Pick 5 for the Bulldogs, despite his move to Essendon. Stringer was a three-time leading goal kicker for the Bulldogs and earned a maiden All-Australian blazer in 2015. He was a crucial part of the Bulldogs' 2016 finals run to the premiership, kicking three goals against Hawthorn in the semi-final before setting up the match-winning goal in the preliminary final against the Giants.

Bailey Williams has been a consistent performer for the Bulldogs and somewhat of a value pick, playing every game in 2021 and 2023, and missing just one game in 2022.

5: Jarrad Grant, Jake Stringer

48: Dennis Repacholi, Jarrad Boumann, Bailey Williams

50: Iszac Thompson, Josh Prudden

52: Tony Campbell

53: Louis Butler

56: Daniel Cross

69: None

72: None

75: None

Published by
Annie Ireland