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.
2. Dustin Martin (2009)
Drafted by: Richmond
Current appearances: 260-games
Martin was selected by Richmond in 2009 and has since become one of the game's most important and talented players.
In what was the most debated selection, there is a genuine case for Martin to be the number one selection.
'Dusty' has been a durable player, rarely missing a game of footy until the back half of 2021. Over his career, he turned himself from a solid player into the leagueโs best since 2017.
With current averages of 24.8 disposals, 1.1 goals, 4.1 clearances and 4.8 inside 50s, his statistics are impressive but donโt tell the whole picture. His ability to dominate a game (especially in the finals) is unmatched in the league, with the tattooed Tiger proving able to change the tide of a game off his own boot.
Since 2017, there has been no better player in the league than Martin. This is especially true in the biggest games of the season. In all three of the Tigers Premiership seasons, he won the Ayres and Norm Smith Medal being the best player throughout the finals and on Grand Final day.
Martin has also been selected for the All-Australian team four times, the All-Australian squad a further three times and was the winner of the 2016 and 2017 club B&F.
With such an incredible career, he would be a consensus number 1 at most other selections, however, Martin has been beaten out by a worthy advisary.
