The 2012 National Draft saw the Giants receive a number of concessions in what was their second draft as an AFL football club.Â
GWS held five picks inside the first round, however just one of them (Pick 1, Lachie Whitfield) remains at the club.Â
Original top 10 of the 2012 National Draft:
We take a look at that draft nine years on and re-select what we feel is the top 10 from 2012.Â
Membrey, who was originally selected with Sydney’s Pick 46, is a huge mover in our re-draft.Â
The 27-year-old was a non-factor during his time in the Harbour City, but his career has since seen a great rise at Moorabbin.Â
After a sluggish 2020 campaign, Membrey produced a stat-line average of 14.9 disposals, 7.2 marks (both career-highs) and 1.6 goals.Â
A father-son choice in 2012, Viney did what his father, Todd, couldn’t in 2021: win a premiership for his beloved Melbourne Demons.Â
The hard-nosed midfielder isn’t a flashy player by any means - and some may say is in the shadows of his colleagues Clayton Oliver and Christian Petracca -- but his determination and leadership are traits the Demons are glad to have.Â
Hunter is the biggest mover in our re-draft, originally selected with Pick 49 by the Dogs.Â
The crafty left-footer is - and continues to be - a very valuable commodity for the Bulldogs on the wing, with his best season coming in 2018 (29.8 possessions, 5.6 marks and 2.8 tackles per game).Â
The 26-year-old managed just 21.8 disposals per game in 2021 (his lowest per-game average since his second season in 2014), but his worth to Luke Beveridge and the Bulldogs isn’t measured merely by touches.
Daniher, who moved up three spots in our re-draft, showed flashes of brilliance at Essendon (averaging 2.8 goals per game in 2017), but persistent injuries and goal-kicking inconsistency ensured his Bombers career didn’t quite get off the ground.Â
The 27-year-old was slightly disappointing throughout Brisbane’s straight-sets exit from the 2021 finals series, but has the potential to be on the same level as the likes of Harry McKay and Buddy Franklin when he’s at his best.Â
Vlastuin, originally Pick 9, has been an incredibly reliable interceptor in the back-half throughout his career at Tigerland.Â
Having been trialled in the forward-line and midfield before finally finding a home in defence, the three-time premiership player has also become a key leadership presence among the growing youth movement at Punt Road.Â
In Richmond’s 2020 premiership season, the 27-year-old ranked first in the AFL in total intercept marks.Â
In our re-draft, Stringer remains at the original Pick 5 he was taken at in 2012.Â
The 27-year-old game-changer won a premiership with the Bulldogs in 2016 before taking his talents to Tullamarine in 2018, where he has continued to be a damaging presence through the midfield and forward-line.Â
Stringer averaged 16.4 disposals and four tackles (career-bests) in 2021, as well as 2.2 goals per game.Â
Whitfield was Pick 1 in 2012 and slipped three spots in our re-draft, despite his career-to-date having been one of dominance.
The 27-year-old is in the prime of his career, with his speed and disposal-use off half-back proving to be immensely valuable traits.
Whitfield just capped off a season in which he averaged 25 disposals, six marks and 3.8 rebound 50s.Â
Grundy, one of the most nimble ruckmen in the league alongside Nic Naitanui, has been a formidable force in the middle of the ground for the black and white.Â
The South Australian - who ranked first in the AFL in hit-outs in 2021 whilst also averaging 19 disposals and four tackles - moves up from Pick 18 to Pick 3 in our re-draft.Â
Grundy hasn’t quite been at his very best since his outstanding 2019 campaign - during which he averaged 21.3 disposals, 4.4 marks and 42.6 hit-outs (all career-highs) - but he’s still a top-five player at his position and will be for years to come.Â
In our re-draft, Macrae moves up four spots from the original Pick 6 he was taken at by the Bulldogs in 2012.Â
The serial ball-winner is coming off a scintillating finals series, during which he averaged 34 disposals across four games - this after averaging a stellar 33.9 possessions throughout the 2021 home-and-away season.Â
Consistently a threat from midfield, Macrae has emerged as a lethal user of the ball and one of the game's all-time accumulators.
The 2021 Brownlow medallist climbs six spots to the first overall selection in our re-draft, after originally being drafted to Port Adelaide with Pick 7.Â
From averaging 18.8 disposals in his rookie season to a career-high 32.4 in his Brownlow campaign, Wines has developed into a contested-ball beast at an astronomical rate.
This season saw Wines join elite air, with the Power ball-magnet set to play a key role in hopefully bringing a second AFL premiership to Alberton Oval. Â