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)

2. Jack Steele

(Originally: Pick 24, GWS)

Steele, up 22 spots in our re-draft, has undoubtedly been St Kildaโ€™s best acquisition in recent memory.ย 

The 25-year-oldโ€™s most impressive season came in 2021, when he averaged 29.1 disposals, 4.7 marks and a whopping 8.4 tackles per contest (ranking first in the AFL in total tackles).ย 

JACK STEELE
Midfielder
St Kilda
2021 SEASON AVG
29
Disposals
8.4
Tackles
6.3
Clearances

After a 2020 season filled with highs, Steele was one of St Kildaโ€™s lone bright spots throughout a disappointing regression this year.