The 2011 AFL draft saw GWS receive 11 of the top 14 picks in preparation for their first season in the AFL in 2012.
While there has proven to be some top-end talent to come out of that draft, most of the great players came outside of the top 10 and have since gone on to establish careers as some of the best players in the game.
Original top 10 of the 2011 AFL Draft:
- Jonathon Patton (GWS)
- Stephen Coniglio (GWS)
- Dom Tyson (GWS)
- Will Hoskin-Elliot (GWS)
- Matt Buntine (GWS)
- Chad Wingard (Port Adelaide)
- Nick Haynes (GWS)
- Billy Longer (Brisbane)
- Adam Tomlinson (GWS)
- Liam Sumner (GWS)
Check out what the top 10 would possibly look like ten years on if teams were to re-draft from 2011.
5. Sam Docherty
(Originally: Pick 12, Brisbane)
Docherty was chosen with pick 12 by Brisbane but would only play 13 games with the Lions in his first season before requesting a trade back to Victoria where he landed at Carlton.
From there, Docherty has evolved into a star defender of the game when he is healthy.
Back-to-back ACL injuries ruled him entirely out of the 2018 and 2019 seasons but before that, he was sublime in defence for the Blues.
In 2016, Docherty won the Blues best-and-fairest averaging 25.7 disposals before going even better in 2017, averaging 27.9 disposals and 9.1 marks per game which saw him claim All-Australian honours.
When fit and firing, Docherty is a great player, and a clean bill of health will only improve his standing in the game.