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:
9. Adam Cooney
Cooney was taken by the Western Bulldogs in the 2003 draft and succeeded as a midfielder who could move forward and kick goals.
The South Australian kicked 186 goals in his 219-game career for both the Bulldogs and the Bombers, with his days in boots highlighted by a Brownlow Medal and All-Australian in 2008.
Cooney also remained consistent across his 13-year career and averaged 21.7 disposals throughout.
