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
7. Daniel Talia
(Originally: Pick 13, Adelaide)
Another top 14 pick in 2009, Talia took a while to get going, but once he did, he never looked back.
It took a year and a half before his debut in Round 15 2011, after that he played ever game that season despite carrying an Achilles injury. The key defender broke out the following year in 2012, winning the Rising Star award.
From then on, Talia made the All-Australian team twice (2014, 2016) and the 22under22 team three times (2012-2014).
An ankle injury restricted him from playing in 2021, and the veteran defender was subsequently was delisted.
The 30-year-old played 200 games for Adelaide and is noteworthy for having the most spoils of the last decade with 1283.