Some of the best talent in today's competition came from the 2014 AFL Draft, many of which were selected outside of the first round.
In this re-draft of the first round of picks, 11 of the 20 players find themselves premiership players, including one premiership captain, whilst many others have earned individual success such as All-Australian blazers and first place finishes in club best and fairest counts.
11 players from the original top 20 selected didn't earn a spot in our re-draft in what was a hit-and-miss opening round of selections.
Here is the original first round of picks:
- Paddy McCartin (St Kilda)
- Christian Petracca (Melbourne)
- Angus Brayshaw (Melbourne)
- Jarrod Pickett (GWS)
- Jordan De Goey (Collingwood)
- Caleb Marchbank (GWS)
- Paul Ahern (GWS)
- Peter Wright (Gold Coast)
- Darcy Moore (Collingwood)ย f/s
- Nakia Cockatoo (Geelong)
- Liam Duggan (West Coast)
- Corey Ellis (Richmond)
- Lachie Weller (Fremantle)
- Jake Lever (Adelaide)
- Jarrod Garlett (Gold Coast)
- Sam Durdin (North Melbourne)
- Kyle Langford (Essendon)
- Isaac Heeney (Sydney)
- Blaine Boekhorst (Carlton)
- Jayden Laverde (Essendon)
Note: All matched bids for Academy and Next Generation Academy prospects and Father-Son prospects in this re-draft are based on what we know about how those players' careers have panned out, to date. Those picks won't be permitted in this re-draft, however clubs that acquired Academy or father-son selections will hold their place in the order.ย
20. Jeremy Finlayson - Essendon (Originally: Pick 85, GWS)
Finlayson's slender frame and his NEAFL performances throughout 2014 saw him slip down the draft order, taken as the second last pick in the draft. His first four years at AFL level were quiet, playing only 15 games. However, Finlayson cemented himself as a forward in 2019, kicking 44 goals, including seven in the finals series, to see GWS reach their first grand final.
Since crossing to Port Adelaide, Finlayson has also been a valuable asset up forward, kicking 59 goals in two years and playing as a supporting ruckman. Finlayson would have ended up at Essendon had he been taken at Pick 20 in what was a tumultuous time for the club amidst the Bombers' supplements saga.
