The 2009 draft was a blessing or a curse for a number of clubs, as stunning selections and unlucky injuries would soon write as a major theme for many draftees.
A year Demon fans will try to forget for most parts, the club was gifted the first two selections of the crop. After two season their prized No.1 selection had departed and eventually their trusty number two would be plagued with injuries, leaving the club after just 86 games across eight seasons. However, an early third-round selection would soon turn those sour fans.
For many others however, they left draft night not knowing they had found a star they were soon to call their own. Many selections outside of the first round went on to become Brownlow medalists, premiership players and All-Australians - leaving many clubs to wonder "what if?".
Across the entire field, the 17-man first-round shapes very differently when given the chance of a do-over, and that's exactly what we've done.
*Certain player movements were negotiated in this draft (eg. Luke Ball to Collingwood, Matt Maguire to Brisbane), these players who arranged moves were not included in our list.
Let's begin...
Richmond
Pick 3. Max Gawn
One of the biggest risers in our list, Gawn comes into third overall after originally being selected by the Demons at 34th in the draft.
The 208cm tall bearded ruckman was another to slowly bloom into their stride, Gawn spent seven years in the system before collecting any major accolade.
Come 2016, he was given All-Australian honours and would eventually find himself within the side on two more occasions.
Gawn also went on to win back-to-back best and fairests for Melbourne between 2018 and 2019, with the former year also seeing him crowned as the AFLCA's Player of the Year.
Gawn currently holds the record for most hitouts in a season with 1,119 in 2018 and holds the top three hitout seasons in Demons history.
