The 2009 AFL draft has become famous for Melbourne having the first two picks and not selecting Dustin Martin.
In hindsight, it couldn't have been known the player Dusty would become, but this draft is one of many that saw the Demons use top picks for players that did not reach their potential.
However, they did select one player later on in the draft that they most definitely won't regret, more on that later in the piece.
Original top 10 of the 2009 AFL Draft:
- Tom Scully (Melbourne)
- Jack Trengove (Melbourne)
- Dustin Martin (Richmond)
- Anthony Morabito (Fremantle)
- Ben Cunnington (North Melbourne)
- Gary Rohan (Sydney)
- Brad Sheppard (West Coast)
- John Butcher (Port Adelaide)
- Andrew Moore (Port Adelaide)
- Jake Melksham (Essendon)
With only two of the original names making the updated list, check out what the top 10 would look like if teams were to re-draft today.
*Luke Ball did not make the list since he was originally drafted in 2001
1. Dustin Martin
(Originally: Pick 3, Richmond)
The No.1 player from the 2009 crop is Dustin Martin.
'Dusty' beats out Fyfe for what he brings to the table, not only an elite ball-winning midfielder but also an x-factor for the Tigers.
The face of the recent Richmond dynasty, Martin went on an absolute tear from 2016 onwards.
In 2017, Dusty potentially had the greatest season of any player in V/AFL history.
An All-Australian selection, club best and fairest, Leigh Matthews Trophy, AFLCA Champion Player of the Year Award. Those alone make for an all-time great season, but he won more.
A record-breaking Brownlow win, on all fronts, votes and most three votes, followed by a Norm Smith and Gary Ayres Award (best finals player) in a premiership win.
The former Bendigo Pioneer further added to his legacy by helping the yellow and black to another two flags, where he won his unprecedented second and third Norm Smith Medals.
A big-game player, Martin plays his absolute best when it matters most, but he still gets it done in the regular season, his Brownlow will account to that. As would, his four All-Australian nods (2016, 2017, 2018, 2020).
Now this would be controversial, given the man is a polarising figure in the AFL community, but there is no denying his accomplishments.