Imagine if every AFL club had to build their list from scratch and all players went into one massive supper draft.
Theย Zero Hangerย have undertaken the project, starting today with the first round. The club with the worst record from 2019, Gold Coast, get the first pick, while the premiers, Richmond, get the final pick of the first round.
Our re-draft will operate under a โsnake draftโ format for equality, meaning the Tigers will get the first pick of the second round (pick 19) and the Suns will get the last pick of the second round (pick 36).
All pick swaps effecting the 2020 draft have been disqualified and reset to 2019 finishing positions.
So letโs see which players would go where, if the draft happened today.
Pick 1. Gold Coast select Patrick Cripps
The total package, many players could put their hand up for the spot but Cripps stands up above the rest. Cripps would provide a good contested ball winning ability to the Suns and true leader. Still only 25 year old, Cripps also has a great look and is very marketable for the Suns going forward.
Pick 2. Melbourne select Marcus Bontempelli
The Bont would be a terrific acquisition for the Dees - he is still relativley young and has invaluable premiership experience. Will provide a bit of flash for the MCC members and will be a very good face of the football club for years to come. Brings everything a club could need no questions asked.
Pick 3. Carlton select Dustin Martin
The Baggers have been known to chase the big names, and there aren't many bigger names than Dusty. The Blues need goals and he can provide that from both midfield and forward of the ball. Will be massive for the marketing side of things to get fans through the gates (when we can) and a strong starting point for the Blues.
Pick 4. Sydney select Brodie Grundy
The Swans have done well here landing the star ruckman at pick 4. Grundy will be a great asset to a team that prides itself on stoppage work. A man who is cut from a different cloth, Grundy could thrive with a move to Sydney away from the biggest club in the country. Less focus may allow the expressive ruckman to find another level, if that's even possible.
Pick 5. St Kilda select Nat Fyfe
The dual Brownlow medalist may perhaps get the spotlight he deserves with a relocation to Moorabbin. Fyfe is as marketable a player in the competition and is another complete package. He can do it on the ground and in the air with a laconic ease unlike any others. Still only, 28 Fyfe has plenty of good footy ahead of him.
Pick 6. Fremantle select Patrick Dangerfield
Dangerfield moves across the country to Perth in our re-draft in a shift that not sit super well with the Geelong local but will delight the Fremantle hierarchy. A fair replacement for Nat Fyfe, Danger is a brilliant hard-ball winner and has burst speed that is unparalleled in the league. At 30 years old this pick may seem a bit of a stretch but it would be silly to leave him on the board.
Pick 7. North Melbourne select Jeremy Cameron
The Kangaroos have chased a big fish for years and thanks to this draft they have managed to land one. Cameron returns to Victoria in the prime of his career. The 2019 Coleman medalist is the game's most dominant forward and a major asset - you can't put a price on goals.
Pick 8. Adelaide select Stephen Coniglioย
The newly appointed and re-signed GWS captain makes the move to Adelaide. The Crows are in a bit of a crisis at the moment and the leadership of the Italian Stallion may be just what's needed. Coniglio has all the skills in the book and kicks goals for fun.
Pick 9. Port Adelaide select Tom Lynch
The big forward only got better as 2019 rolled on and by the end of the season he was at his peak. One of the game's best contested marks and a very good set shot for goal, Lynch is a true centre half forward. A very good pick up for the Power - any power forward at their peak is a great get.
Pick 10. Hawthorn select Elliot Yeo
Yeo was arguably the best player in the game in the back end of 2019, he can dominate a game both offensively and defensively. In big games he finds himself tagging the opposition's best player and can still rack up touches himself. Alastair Clarkson could potentially take Yeo's game to another level.
Pick 11. Essendon select Jack Macraeย
Arguably the most underrated midfielder in the game, Macrae is an elite ball user and collects disposals for fun. The Essendon midfield struggles a lot with ball use and bringing in Macrae will be the start of a new era for the Bombers.
Pick 12. Western Bulldogs select Lachie Neale
Arguably the game's best ball collector, Neale maybe doesn't suit the Luke Beveridge style of play. But no one would shrug their shoulders at Lachie Neale walking through the door.
Pick 13. Brisbane select Max Gawn
Arguably the game's best ruckman, if not second best. Gawn is a very unique character and may be another one who thrives outside the Melbourne footy bubble. His tap work is second to none and a very good starting base for any club.
Pick 14. West Coast select Lachie Whitfieldย
The smooth moving half-back would fit into the large expanses of Optus Stadium perfectly. Another elite ball user, Whitfield can be a general for any side and the Eagles would love having the former number one draft pick cruising around picking off targets.
Pick 15. Geelong select Josh Kelly
As smooth moving player in the competition that there is, the Rolls-Royce that is Josh Kelly makes his way to Geelong in a move that may be somewhat typical Geelong. The Cats tend to target good ball users and Kelly fits that role as well as anyone in the competition.
Pick 16. Collingwood select Tim Kelly
Not a move that will please the recent West Coast recruit, Kelly is on the move again and returns to Victoria via the powerhouse Collingwood. The Pies get one of the game'e best best midfielders to build their team around.
Pick 17. GWS select Luke Shuey
The 2018 Norm Smith medalist has proven himself as a big game player and the Giants have struggled in big games lately. The 2019 Grand Final is as good an example of that as you will see. There may be no better player to build around for the Giants at this given time.
Pick 18. Richmond select Jeremy McGovern
The Tigers love an intercept marker. Alex Rance was arguably the game's best and if he wasn't, McGovern was and/or is. McGovern coming in would allow Richmond to build a similar game style that has seen them win two of the last three flags.
