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...
Melbourne
Pick 2. Nat Fyfe
Look away now Dees fans. The steal of the draft at pick 20, Fyfe has fashioned a career like no other.
Fyfe's debut season was off to a flyer, having polled five Brownlow votes from his 18 matches in 2010.
The Freo skipper soon went onto with the AFLCA's Young Player of the Year award and a spot in the All-Australian squad in the following season after averaging 25 touches and four tackles per match.
From then on he has won two Brownlow medals, three All-Australian selections and three Best and Fairests at Fremantle.
Fyfe has polled a staggering 174 votes from 162 eligible games and sits eighth overall for three-vote performances.
He boasts career averages of 25.7 disposals, 4.5 marks, 4.0 tackles, 5.7 clearances and 14.4 contested possessions a game. Simply amazing.
