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Re-drafting the 2018 National Draft

We have a go at redrafting the 2018 “Super Draft”.

Published by
Jake Benoiton

The 2001 'Super Draft' is widely regarded as one of the best, if not the best draft of all time.

It could be argued that there are five or six players that could have been taken at pick one and it would have been the right decision.

Sam Walsh has come third in a Brownlow Medal and is arguably one of the game's top 5 players. The King twins are seemingly growing by the year and look ready to dominate the competition, while Bailey Smith is probably the most popular player in the league

We've given our best attempt at selecting the top 10 from what may be the most difficult draft to reselect in AFL history.

Tom Sparrow

Sparrow cemented himself as a senior AFL footballer in 2021 and capped off his year as a premiership player. 21 games this season after managing just 7 games in his previous two seasons showed a significant step up for the 21-year-old who has a big future ahead.

PERTH, AUSTRALIA - SEPTEMBER 25: (L-R) Angus Brayshaw, Clayton Oliver, Tom Sparrow and Jack Viney of the Demons celebrate during the 2021 Toyota AFL Grand Final match between the Melbourne Demons and the Western Bulldogs at Optus Stadium on September 25, 2021 in Perth, Australia. (Photo by Michael Willson/AFL Photos via Getty Images)

The South-Australian became an important piece to the Melbourne puzzle in 2021 and averaged 11 disposals. While that isn't a big number his impact goes far beyond what he did with the footy.

Jack Lukosius

The silky South Australian is showing just how strong the draft class was out of the 'City of Churches'. Lukosius has become one of the game's most damaging ball users and is now a key weapon for the up and coming Gold Coast Suns.

MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - APRIL 17: Jack Lukosius of the Suns marks the ball against Easton Wood of the Bulldogs during the round five AFL match between the Western Bulldogs and the Gold Coast Titans at Marvel Stadium on April 17, 2021 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Daniel Pockett/Getty Images)

While touted as a possible forward option, Lukosius has found a home at halfback and the wing as he enjoys the space to launch attack after attack.

A career-high average of 20 disposals for the 2021 season and a massive 8 marks per game saw Lukosius become one of the game's most damaging players.

Xavier Duursma

MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - JULY 20: Xavier Duursma of the Power celebrates a goal during the 2019 AFL round 18 match between the Richmond Tigers and the Port Adelaide Power at the Melbourne Cricket Ground on July 20, 2019 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Dylan Burns/AFL Photos)

An injury interrupted 2021 left Duursma scratching for form towards the end of the year but he showed glimpses of his best footy throughout the year.

19 disposals a game and a goal every third game throughout 2021 was still a decent return and his energy was never down. Which is a key part of what Duursma brings to Port Adelaide.

He could without a doubt be Port Adelaide's best recruit from this draft class.

Tarryn Thomas

Thomas was an excitement machine in 2021 as he turned flash in the pan brilliance into consistent and eye-catching performances. The Kangaroo star took a giant leap forward in a difficult year for the Kangaroos but showed that the future is plenty bright.

MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - AUGUST 07: Aaron Hall and Tarryn Thomas of the Kangaroos look dejected after losing the round 21 AFL match between Richmond Tigers and North Melbourne Kangaroos at Melbourne Cricket Ground on August 07, 2021 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Quinn Rooney/Getty Images)

He averaged 18 disposals and over a goal a game in a team that struggled most weeks. His performance against Carlton where he managed 23 disposals and 4 goals was a breakout game.

After an injury derailed 2020, Thomas looks ready for another giant leap forward in 2022.

Connor Rozee

This man could have gone at pick one, and probably should have. That's according to Kane Cornes at least. Aside from that opinion, there's no doubt Rozee is a real talent.

His start to the 2021 season maybe wasn't his best but he still managed to collect a career-high 16 disposals per game while averaging a goal a game.

BRISBANE, AUSTRALIA - APRIL 06: Connor Rozee of the Power celebrates a goal during the round three AFL match between the Brisbane Lions and the Port Adelaide Power at The Gabba on April 06, 2019 in Brisbane, Australia. (Photo by Chris Hyde/Getty Images)

Rozee is a man for the big stage and Port's stage may only be getting bigger as the years roll on with these young stars.

Zak Butters

In 2021 Butters showed just how big a barometer he is for the Power as his knee injury coincided with Port Adelaide's drop in form.

GOLD COAST, AUSTRALIA - SEPTEMBER 05: Zak Butters of Port Adelaide celebrates kicking a goal during the round 16 AFL match between the North Melbourne Kangaroos and the Port Adelaide Power at Metricon Stadium on September 05, 2020 in Gold Coast, Australia. (Photo by Matt Roberts/AFL Photos/via Getty Images)

He became more of a full-time midfield option for Ken Hinkley and took a step forward in his development when fit. It's an incredible achievement to be such an important part of your team at the age of just 21.

Max King

After missing his first year with a knee injury King has been a massive threat in his first two years on the field. In 2021, after suffering the yips in front of goal, King turned it around and became an incredibly reliable kick late in the season.

His ability to launch at the football and get his hands out of reach of any opposition defender makes him an incredibly tough matchup and as he gets smarter and stronger, it's hard to see how teams stop him.

MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - APRIL 10: Max King of the Saints celebrates a goal during the round four AFL match between the St Kilda Saints and the West Coast Eagles at Marvel Stadium on April 10, 2021 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Darrian Traynor/AFL Photos/via Getty Images)

38 goals and nearly 5 marks per game in 2021 is a massive level up.

Ben King

47 goals in a team that was once again less than impressive is a super return. King stepped up massively in 2021 and showed why he is considered by many as good if not better than brother Max.

The Suns forward line was a baron and lonely place at times but when given the opportunity to compete, King never backed down.

If the Suns improve it will only serve to benefit King who could take another step up this list.

Bailey Smith

The most followed AFL player on Instagram levelled up in 2021 and is fastly becoming one of the best two-way running midfielders in the game.

BALLARAT, AUSTRALIA - APRIL 10: Bailey Smith of the Bulldogs in action during the 2021 AFL Round 04 match between the Western Bulldogs and the Brisbane Lions at Mars Stadium on April 10, 2021 in Ballarat, Australia. (Photo by Dylan Burns/AFL Photos via Getty Images)

His performances in the semi-final against Brisbane and the preliminary final against Port Adelaide were the stuff of legends. Great players are judged by what they do when the whips are cracking and Smith stood up when his team needed him most.

This is only the beginning for Smith as well.

Sam Walsh

3rd in the 2021 Brownlow Medal and a Carlton Best and Fairest to his name, Walsh is a genuine star of the competition. He stamped himself as not only the best player in this draft class but possibly a top 3 player in the AFL.

He has all the tools, he is as fit as they come and managed to start hitting the scoreboard in 2021 with the 2018 number one draft pick kicking 12 goals.

There isn't anything he doesn't do and he has leapfrogged Patrick Cripps as Carlton's best player. He could be the game's best within no time.

Published by
Jake Benoiton