The 2019 National Draft has already provided a plethora of exciting talent, with many quickly rising to prominence or reaching star-of-the-competition status just a few years into their careers.
As with any AFL draft, there were players taken highly in 2019 whose careers haven't quite panned out to date, however, there are also plenty of later picks who have made meteoric rises to stardom.
For context, these were the original first 18 draft picks in 2019:
Note: all matched bids for Academy and Next Generation Academy prospects in this re-draft are based on what we know about how those players' careers have panned out, to date.
So, without further ado, here is the 2019 National Draft, re-done.
After a failed bid on Brisbane Lions Academy prospect Noah Cumberland at No. 17, the Cats capitalise on great value in the form of Harrison Jones.
While Jones' marks per game were down in 2022 from 2021, he averaged more goals per game this season (1.3, compared to 1.2 in 2021) during what was a worse campaign for his Bombers.
Being mentored on forward craft by the likes of Tom Hawkins isn't a bad way to help grow your career.
The current-day Lions would surely be kicking themselves for choosing not to match Richmond's 2019 bid for Noah Cumberland, with the youngster proving to be a reliable goalkicker throughout his debut season with the Tigers.
There could've been a reality where Cumberland, Charlie Cameron, and Lincoln McCarthy wreak havoc on opposing backlines.
The Bulldogs, who missed on their original selection in Weightman, as well as failing in a re-draft bid for Liam Henry, take Frederick and fill their small-forward needs, with Frederick being the biggest riser in our re-draft (up 45 spots).
The speedy forward has shown he can do more than simply kick goals, as pressuring opposing defenders and generating scores from turnover was a force of his in 2022.
Henry ends up at Cockburn in our re-draft, as he did in 2019, however, a little bit lower than his original position.
The small forward-turned-wingman has displayed his positional versatility in his short time in the league, and while he has been inconsistent at times, he still looks the goods and remains a tantalising long-term prospect for Fremantle.
Lachie Ash, nabbed by the Power in our re-draft, suffers a slight drop from his original 2019 No. 4 position.
The speedy half-back-flanker adds dash to Port Adelaide's backline, as well as the potential to move into the midfield as his career progresses and he gains more confidence.
The Hawks stick with their 2019 No. 13 selection of Will Day in our re-draft.
Day, while struggling with injury during the early portion of his career, has displayed intercept-marking prowess as well as classy disposal use exiting the backline when he's been healthy.
The 21-year-old remains a cornerstone piece of Hawthorn's backline alongside James Sicily and Jack Scrimshaw.
The Demons, looking for an exciting small-forward, select Cody Weightman at No. 12 in our re-draft.
Weightman has been extremely lively during his short time at the Bulldogs and adds another element to an emerging Demons forward line that also boasts Tom McDonald and Bayley Fritsch.
The Suns, unsuccessful with a Keidean Coleman bid at No. 10, opt for livewire small forward 'Kozzie' Pickett in our re-draft, joining a forward mix that includes Alex Sexton and Izak Rankine ahead of the 2020 season.
Pickett is one of just four premiership players from the 2019 crop of draftees.
The Suns try their luck with a bid for Coleman in our re-draft, which is matched by the Lions, knowing what we now know about Coleman's devastating dash and silky disposal use from half-back.
Coleman looks certain to feature prominently in Brisbane's defence for seasons to come, coming off a 2022 season during which he averaged 18.1 disposals, 5.9 marks, and 3.1 rebound 50s per game.
Georgiades, a Subiaco prospect, returns to his home state of Western Australia in our re-draft, with the Dockers taking him at No. 9.
Throughout his career-to-date at Port Adelaide, Georgiades, while at times inconsistent, has shown incredible promise as a key position player and provides hope to a Dockers side looking for a post-Pavlich tall forward target alongside Matt Taberner.
Young was atop the Dockers' board at No. 7 in 2019 and remains at the top of their board in our re-draft.
The youngster turned heads in 2022, providing the Dockers with dash, poise, and effective disposal off half-back, averaging 22.8 disposals, 7.5 marks and 4.3 rebound-50s per game during a breakout campaign.
The Crows initially went key-position with Fischer McAsey, but selecting a Mitch Georgiades-type this high didn't feel quite right. Therefore, Adelaide bolsters its struggling midfield group by capitalising on value and selecting Matt Rowell, who slides six spots, in our re-draft.
While, to this point, Rowell has left a bit to be desired in terms of disposal efficiency, he makes up for it with his tackle pressure, hardness, and overall grunt at the contest, providing the Crows' midfield with some much-needed toughness.
The Swans, who tried their luck bidding on Tom Green in search of a generational midfield talent but were unsuccessful in our re-draft, settle for another gun prospect in Caleb Serong.
Serong's ability to cleanly extract the ball and burst away from stoppage is a welcome trait among an ageing Swans midfield off the back of their 2019 campaign.
The Giants get their man, matching a re-draft Swans bid for Green and adding to an already-delicious midfield that includes the likes of Josh Kelly, Jacob Hopper and Tim Taranto.
Green, already a contested-ball beast so early in his career, looks set to be the future face of the GWS Giants after the departures of Taranto and Hopper this trade period.
Knowing they will soon be forced to match a bid for impressive Academy prospect Tom Green, the Giants choose to double-up on midfielders by selecting Noah Anderson at No. 4 in our re-draft.
Anderson had something of a breakout season with the Suns in 2022, averaging almost four more possessions per game this season than in 2021, as well as averaging more marks, tackles, and goals per contest in a midfield that also included Touk Miller and fellow draftee Matt Rowell.
Perhaps a slight reach based on the 'best player available' viewpoint, but, with the Demons initially going key-position with Luke Jackson in 2019, selecting De Koning felt appropriate after Jackson is taken by the Suns at No. 2 in our re-draft.
De Koning had an incredible second season with the Cats in 2022, playing 23 games (after just one appearance in 2021) and averaging 12.2 disposals and 5.2 marks per game in a premiership-winning side.
Despite originally selecting midfielder Noah Anderson at No. 2 in 2019, the Suns take ruck-forward Luke Jackson with the second pick in our re-draft, solidifying their key-position stocks and providing Jarrod Witts with an apprentice.
Jackson, who averaged 11.1 hit-outs per game as a second-choice Demons ruckman in 2022, adds much-needed athleticism to the Suns' midfield group.
Warner, already a bonafide star of the competition just three seasons removed from his draft year, is a massive riser in our re-draft, coming in at No. 1 overall where the Suns take him and considerably boost their midfield stocks.
Having originally taken Matt Rowell at No. 1, we believe Warner is slightly more along in his development as an AFL midfielder, thriving among a talented young Swans outfit.
An electric ball-carrier exiting stoppages, Warner averaged 22.8 disposals, 3.3 marks, 4.0 tackles, 5.6 inside-50s, and 4.0 clearances per game in 2022, while ranking sixth in the competition in total score involvements, total metres gained, inside-50s per game, and goal assists per game.