The original top-10 from 2014 is largely a story of unfulfilled potential, with Paddy McCartin (Pick 1), Jarrod Pickett (Pick 4), Caleb Marchbank (Pick 6), Paul Ahern (Pick 7) and Nakia Cockatoo (Pick 10) managing a mere 164 combined games.

McCartin, Marchbank, Ahern and Cockatoo have all had injury-plagued careers, while Pickett struggled with motivation after switching clubs and eventually being released by the Blues.ย 

On the other hand, Melbourneโ€™s two top-three selections in 2014 (Christian Petracca and Angus Brayshaw) have panned out splendidly, with both recently becoming premiership players and Petraccaโ€™s arguable status as a top-five player in the competition.ย 

We take a look at that draft seven years on and re-select what we feel is the top-10 from 2014.ย 

Original top 10 of the 2014 National Draft:

  1. Paddy McCartin (St Kilda)
  2. Christian Petracca (Melbourne)
  3. Angus Brayshaw (Melbourne)
  4. Jarrod Pickett (GWS)
  5. Jordan De Goey (Collingwood)
  6. Caleb Marchbank (GWS)
  7. Paul Ahern (GWS)
  8. Peter Wright (Gold Coast Suns)
  9. Darcy Moore (Collingwood)
  10. Nakia Cockatoo (Geelong)

3. Darcy Moore

(Originally: Pick 9, Collingwood)

After beginning his career as a forward and producing mixed results (1.4 goals per game in 2014), Moore was rotated to the backline and has since had vast success.ย 

The 25-year-old (up six spots to No. 3 in our re-draft) achieved career-highs in average disposals (17) and marks (8.2) per game in 2021, ranking third in the league in marks per game.ย 

DARCY MOORE
Defender
Collingwood
2021 SEASON AVG
17
Disposals
8.2
Marks
4.1
Rebound50s

Mooreโ€™s Magpies will be looking to bounce back in 2022 - with new coach Craig McRae at the helm - after a disappointing 2021 campaign.