A top-10 draft pick in the AFL often fills clubs and fans with hope for the future. Striking gold inside the top 10 can deliver fortune-changing stars such as Nick Riewoldt, Chris Judd, Lance Franklin and Joel Selwood.

However, this is not always the case, for as many home run hits there are just as many that don't go to plan for various reasons.

We have pitted each player selected from 1-10 throughout the 2000-2015 National Drafts and compared them based on what position they were selected.

Measurement categories include: average games played, average Brownlow Medal votes, combined club best and fairest awards and combined All-Australian selections.

No. 1 Draft Pickย 

MELBOURNE, VICTORIA - OCTOBER 04: Luke Hodge the captian of the Hawks poses with the 2013, 2014 and 2015 premiership trophies during the Hawthorn Hawks AFL Grand Final fan day at Glenferrie Oval on October 4, 2015 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Quinn Rooney/Getty Images)

Picks: Nick Riewoldt, Luke Hodge, Brendon Goddard, Adam Cooney, Brett Deledio, Marc Murphy, Bryce Gibbs, Matthew Kreuzer, Jack Watts, Tom Scully, David Swallow, Jonathon Patton, Lachie Whitfield, Tom Boyd, Paddy McCartin, Jacob Weitering

Average games played: 206
Average Brownlow votes: 47
Combined All-Australian selections: 15
Combined club best and fairest awards: 18

The coveted No. 1 overall pick has delivered some of the modern-day greats. As a whole, the top spot in the draft proved to top the average games category and the combined best and fairest category.

Some of the best captains of this era also lay claim to being a first overall pick in Nick Riewoldt, Luke Hodge and Marc Murphy. While Lachie Whitfield and Jacob Weitering are also well on their way to terrific careers thus far.

Brendon Goddard, Brett Deledio and Murphy all went on to become much-loved players at the club which drafted them, while Tom Boyd became a Bulldogs hero in 2016, helping to deliver a drought-breaking premiership in emphatic fashion.

Unfortunately injuries curtailed the careers of Tom Scully and Paddy McCartin, while Blues big-man Mathew Kreuzer also battled his fair share of bumps and bruises.

No. 2 Draft Pick

SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA - JUNE 15: Nic Naitanui of the Eagles runs with the ball during the round 13 AFL match between the Sydney Swans and the West Coast Eagles at Sydney Cricket Ground on June 15, 2018 in Sydney, Australia. (Photo by Brett Hemmings/Getty Images)

Picks:ย Justin Koschitzke, Luke Ball, Daniel Wells, Andrew Walker, Jarryd Roughead, Dale Thomas, Scott Gumbleton, Trent Cotchin, Nic Naitanui, Jack Trengove, Harley Bennell, Stephen Coniglio, Jonathon O'Rourke, Josh Kelly, Christian Petracca, Josh Schache

Average games played:ย 164
Average Brownlow votes:ย 39
Combined All-Australian selections: 11
Combined club best and fairest awards:ย 10

In a spot that routinely gets highly scrutinised with the pick beforehand, the No. 2 overall spot delivered mixed results through 2000-2015. More stars were selected including Nic Naitanui, Jarryd Roughead and Trent Cotchin to name a few.

Household names in Christian Petracca and Josh Kelly also seem to be entering the primes of their careers and showing why they were selected so high.

Stephen Coniglio has gone on to captain the GWS Giants, and will look to regain the form which elevated him into the top tier of midfielders a couple of seasons ago.

The supremely talented Harley Bennell was able to show glimpses of the talent he possessed, however the long stints on the sidelines eventually took its toll.

No. 3 Draft Pick

MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - SEPTEMBER 20: Chris Judd of the West Coast Eagles poses after winning the Brownlow Medal during the Brownlow Medal Dinner at the Crown Casino on September 20, 2004 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Ryan Pierse/Getty Images)

Picks:ย Alan Didak, Chris Judd, Jared Brennan, Colin Sylvia, Ryan Griffen, Xavier Ellis, Lachlan Hansen, Chris Masten, Stephen Hill, Dustin Martin, Sam Day, Dom Tyson, Lachie Plowman, Jack Billings, Angus Brayshaw, Callum Mills

Average games played: 175
Average Brownlow votes:ย 46.6
Combined All-Australian selections: 13
Combined club best and fairest awards:ย 10

The No. 3 spot in the draft proved to top the No. 2 in each of the measured categories except combined club best and fairest awards, where it was even.

Headlined by Brownlow medallists Chris Judd and Dustin Martin, this spot in the draft has been well represented in big moments over the last 20 years, while recent selections Angus Brayshaw and Callum Mills continue to improve their stocks.

Interestingly, Judd was later traded in a deal sending pick 3 back to West Coast from Carlton which the Eagles then used on Chris Masten. Masten would go on to be a vital player in West Coast's 2018 premiership win over Collingwood.

No. 4 Draft Pick

MELBOURNE, VICTORIA - OCTOBER 01: Marcus Bontempelli of the Bulldogs celebrates the win with fans during the 2016 AFL Grand Final match between the Sydney Swans and the Western Bulldogs at Melbourne Cricket Ground on October 1, 2016 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Darrian Traynor/AFL Media/Getty Images)

Picks:ย Luke Livingstone, Graham Polak, Tim Walsh, Farren Ray, Richard Tambling, Josh J. Kennedy, Mathew Leuenberger, Cale Morton, Hamish Hartlett, Anthony Morabito, Andrew Gaff, Will Hoskin-Elliot, Jimmy Toumpas, Marcus Bontempelli, Jarrod Pickett, Clayton Oliver

Average games played:ย 121
Average Brownlow votes:ย 32.5
Combined All-Australian selections: 11
Combined club best and fairest awards:ย 7

A spot which may haunt a few clubs looking back, the No. 4 overall slot saw a significantly lower amount of average games played than the top 3.

If it weren't for Western Bulldogs captain Marcus Bontempelli and Melbourne ball-magnet Clayton Oliver in more recent times, the 4th pick would have slumped even further behind the top 3 selections.

However, West Coast would look back fondly at players selected pick four with Andrew Gaff and Josh J. Kennedy both having long, successful careers in the West.

Unfortunately, injury cut down the promising career of Fremantle's Anthony Morabito.

No. 5 Draft Pick

MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - SEPTEMBER 28: Lance Franklin of the Hawks celebrates winning the 2013 AFL Grand Final match between the Hawthorn Hawks and the Fremantle Dockers at Melbourne Cricket Ground on September 28, 2013 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Quinn Rooney/Getty Images)

Picks:ย Andrew McDougall, Xavier Clarke, Jarrad McVeigh, Brock McLean, Lance Franklin, Scott Pendlebury, Travis Boak, Jarrad Grant, Michael Hurley, Ben Cunnington, Jared Polec, Matt Buntine, Jake Stringer, Kade Kolodjashnij, Jordan De Goey, Darcy Parish

Average games played:ย 173
Average Brownlow votes:ย 55
Combined All-Australian selections: 22
Combined club best and fairest awards:ย 12

Boasting the most combined All-Australian selections than any other top 10 pick, the No. 5 overall pick has delivered some of the best players since the turn of the century.

Hawthorn and now-Sydney champion Lance Franklin delivered eight of the All-Australian selections by himself, while longtime Collingwood captain Scott Pendlebury accumulated six of his own, along with five club best and fairest awards.

Recent selections including Jake Stringer, Jordan De Goey and Darcy Parish are all also seemingly hitting the primes of their careers respectively.

Consistent performers Jarrad McVeigh for Sydney and Ben Cunnington for North Melbourne have both had terrific careers out of this draft position.

No. 6 Draft Pick

GOLD COAST, AUSTRALIA - NOVEMBER 22: Western Bulldogs coach Brendan McCartney presents Jackson Macrae with the jernsey after being drafted to Western Bulldogs during the 2012 AFL Draft at the Gold Coast Exhibition Centre on November 22, 2012 on the Gold Coast, Australia. (Photo by Chris Hyde/Getty Images)

Picks:ย Dylan Smith, Ashley Sampi, Steven Salopek, Kepler Bradley, Tom Williams, Beau Dowler, Mitch Thorp, David Myers, Chris Yarran, Gary Rohan, Reece Conca, Chad Wingard, Jack Macrae, Mathew Scharenberg, Caleb Marchbank, Aaron Francis

Average games played:ย 95
Average Brownlow votes:ย 12
Combined All-Australian selections:ย 5
Combined club best and fairest awards:ย 1

The least successful position inside the top 10 in terms of average games played, average Brownlow votes and combined club best and fairest awards, the No. 6 spot still provided some value for certain clubs.

Jack Macrae produced three of the five All-Australian selections, whereas Chad Wingard was responsible for the other two, and the lone club best and fairest in 2013 with Port Adelaide.

No. 7 Draft Pickย 

GEELONG, AUSTRALIA - APRIL 15: Joel Selwood of the Cats thanks fans after the match in which he overtook Reg Hickey to become the Cats longest serving captain during the 2018 AFL Round 04 match between the Geelong Cats and the St Kilda Saints at GMHBA Stadium on April 15, 2018 in Geelong, Australia. (Photo by Adam Trafford/AFL Media/Getty Images)

Picks:ย Laurence Angwin, David Hale, Andrew Mackie, Kane Tenace, Jordan Lewis, Paddy Ryder, Joel Selwood, Rhys Palmer, Daniel Rich, Brad Sheppard, Josh Caddy, Nick Haynes, Ollie Wines, James Aish, Paul Ahern, Jacob Hopper

Average games played:ย 178
Average Brownlow votes:ย 34
Combined All-Australian selections:ย 13
Combined club best and fairest awards:ย 7

One of the better performing selection spots inside the top 10, Pick 7 saw the second-most average games played, behind only the first overall selection.

Among the names selected seventh overall were Geelong captain Joel Selwood, Brownlow medallist Ollie Wines, four-time premiership Hawk Jordan Lewis, and emerging mature young talents Nick Haynes and Jacob Hopper from the GWS Giants.

David Hale, Andrew Mackie and Josh Caddy all went on to play in premiership-winning sides, while Brad Sheppard has been a mainstay in the Eagles team for the past decade.

Paddy Ryder and Daniel Rich have gone on to have long careers in the AFL, while Rhys Palmer took home the Rising star award in 2008 with Fremantle.

No. 8 Pick

GEELONG, AUSTRALIA - JULY 29: Corey Enright (R) and Jimmy Bartel of the Cats celebrate the win in their milestone games during the round 19 AFL match between the Geelong Cats and the Western Bulldogs at Simonds Stadium on July 29, 2016 in Geelong, Australia. (Photo by Michael Dodge/Getty Images)

Picks:ย Daniel Motlop, Jimmy Bartel, Luke Brennan, Raphael Clarke, John Meesen, Jarred Oakley-Nicholls, Ben Reid, Lachie Henderson, Ty Vickery, John Butcher, Dyson Heppell, Billy Longer, Sam Mayes, Luke McDonald, Peter Wright, Callum Ah Chee

Average games played:ย 110
Average Brownlow votes:ย 16
Combined All-Australian selections:ย 4
Combined club best and fairest awards:ย 2

Headlined by 2007 Brownlow medallist Jimmy Bartel, the No. 8 position inside the top 10 has delivered some mixed results for clubs. Dyson Heppell has gone on to captain Essendon whilst carving an impressive career.

Lachie Henderson and Luke McDonald have delivered a number of consistent seasons for their respective clubs. Often glossed over, Ben Reid was an All-Australian and one of the league's best key defenders in his prime.

Still young and both at their second clubs, Peter Wright and Callum Ah Chee still have time on their side and the potential to play plenty of good footy in the future.

No. 9 Pick

MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - MARCH 25: Darcy Moore of the Magpies celebrates a win after the final siren during the 2021 AFL Round 02 match between the Carlton Blues and the Collingwood Magpies at the Melbourne Cricket Ground on March 25, 2021 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Dylan Burns/AFL Photos via Getty Images)

Picks:ย Kayne Pettifer, Luke Molan, Hamish Mcintosh, David Trotter, Jordan Russell, Mitch Clark, David Armitage, Ben McEvoy, Jack Ziebell, Andrew Moore, Dion Prestia, Adam Tomlinson, Nick Vlaustin, Christian Salem, Darcy Moore, Sam Weideman

Average games played:ย 120
Average Brownlow votes:ย 13
Combined All-Australian selections:ย 1
Combined club best and fairest awards:ย 1

Overall, this spot inside the top 10 has delivered some very good team players which may lack the accolades of other spots. The lone All-Australian selection belongs to Darcy Moore, while the one club best and fairest belongs to Dion Prestia in Richmond's 2019 premiership year.

David Armitage, Ben McEvoy, Jack Zieball, Adam Tomlinson and Nick Vlaustin have all gone on to become vital players at their respective clubs, while Christian Salem seems to be entering his prime.

Key-forward Sam Weideman has looked to break onto the scene on multiple occasions but has battled with consistency. Still young, Weideman possesses real key position talent and could mould into a quality forward for the Demons.

No. 10 Pick

MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - SEPTEMBER 26: Patrick Dangerfield of the Cats holds the 2016 Brownlow Medal during the 2016 Brownlow Medal Count at the Crown Palladium on September 26, 2016 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Adam Trafford/AFL Media/Getty Images)

Picks:ย Jordan McMahon, Sam Power, Jason Laycock, Ryley Dunn, Chris Egan, Marcus Drum, Nathan Brown, Patrick Dangerfield, Phil Davis, Jake Melksham, Daniel Gorringe, Liam Sumner, Joe Daniher, Nathan freeman, Nakia Cockatoo, Harry McKay

Average games played: 97
Average Brownlow votes:ย 17
Combined All-Australian selections:ย 10
Combined club best and fairest awards:ย 5

The last selection of the top 10 has delivered one of the game's best players in this timespan in Patrick Dangerfield. Dominant at both Adelaide and then Geelong, he has eight All-Australian selections, four best and fairest awards and a Brownlow Medal.

From this group, Phil Davis has gone on to captain the GWS Giants into their first Grand Final in 2019 while key forwards Joe Daniher and Harry McKay still have plenty of time in front of them, both with lofty ceilings for the future.

Injury struck him down at Geelong, but Nakia Cockatoo has found a new home in Brisbane and will be hoping to find some form and continuity whilst putting his injuries behind him.