While the third pick of the draft is the bronze medal selection, that doesn't mean that clubs aren't able to strike gold with the pick. While two clubs get to draft a player first, often a few hidden gems slip through this miniature crack.
Looking over the picks since 2000, there isn't the same depth as the first two selections. However, at the top end of the board, two of the greatest and most damaging players of all time find themselves selected at the 3rd pick.
In what was considered the hardest decision, the choice between Martin vs Judd went back and forth with little separating the two superstars.
Even further down the list, there are multiple club B&F winners, All-Australians and even a player with an (unofficial) award named after them.
This list also looks to get even stronger over the next few years, with Luke Jackson, Izak Rankine and Will Phillips.
Even though each of these names are highly talented players who could someday make their way onto this list, they currently don't have the sustained success to find themselves on this list.
Given a few other star players such as Trent Croad and Shannon Grant were both selected before 2000, this has rendered them ineligible for this list.
We have already looked at the top 10 number 1 and number 2 selections since 2000.
After plenty of thought and collaboration, we now take a look at the 10 best players selected with the 3rd selection of every draft since the 2000 draft.
5. Hugh McCluggage (2016)
Drafted by: Brisbane
Current appearances: 106-games
McCluggage was selected by the Brisbane Lions in the 2016 draft. After an exodus of players from the club due to the want to return home, McCluggage was dedicated to the Lions and has helped make them an attractive destination again.
Being a consistent performer throughout his career, the Victorian has finished in the top three of the club's B&F in each of the past three seasons. This stretch of success includes being finishing as the runner-up this season.
This rise to prominence has come about due to McCluggage's means of 21.1 disposals, 3.7 tackles, 3.4 inside 50s and 0.6 goals across the course of his career thus far.
While being one of the Lion's most important players, the wingman has become one of the better players in the league earning selection in the All-Australian squad of 40 in each of the past three seasons.
At just 23-years of age, it's almost scary to think that he is still a few years away from reaching his prime.
