Getting taken at number 1 in the AFL draft comes with its pros and cons. It serves as an honour to be recognised as the best player in your draft class, but that also comes with extra pressure to perform at a high level on a consistent basis.
These players listed below were able to channel that duress and either become wildly successful players in the AFL or lay an obvious platform or things to come.
With only a month to go until the draft, the buzz surrounding the consensus first cab off the rank in Jason Horne-Francis is almost at its crescendo.
RELATED: "I can make an impact straight away': Horne-Francis speaks on looming Roos selection
Should the hype prove to be real, you can expect the South Australian's name to be up in lights on lists like this within the very near future.
Here's the top 10 number 1 draft picks since 2000:
10. Jacob Weiteringย
Weitering was selected by Carlton in the 2015 draft as a key defender from the Dandenong Stingrays. Since then, the 23-year-old has become a pillar in the Carlton defence in what has been a somewhat tumultuous period for the club.
Averaging 13.7 disposals and 5.5 marks over his 77 game career so far, Weitering already has a swag of honours to his name, including a best-and-fairest in 2020 and selections in the 22under22 team in 2016, 2019 and 2020.
The Victorian was unlucky to miss out on an All-Australian selection in 2021, but don't be surprised if he moves up this list in the near future.
