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.
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.
Picks:Â 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:Â 164
Average Brownlow votes:Â 39
Combined All-Australian selections: 11
Combined club best and fairest awards:Â 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.
Picks:Â 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:Â 46.6
Combined All-Australian selections: 13
Combined club best and fairest awards:Â 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.
Picks:Â 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:Â 121
Average Brownlow votes:Â 32.5
Combined All-Australian selections: 11
Combined club best and fairest awards:Â 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.
Picks:Â 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:Â 173
Average Brownlow votes:Â 55
Combined All-Australian selections: 22
Combined club best and fairest awards:Â 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.
Picks:Â 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:Â 95
Average Brownlow votes:Â 12
Combined All-Australian selections:Â 5
Combined club best and fairest awards:Â 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.
Picks:Â 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:Â 178
Average Brownlow votes:Â 34
Combined All-Australian selections:Â 13
Combined club best and fairest awards:Â 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.
Picks:Â 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:Â 110
Average Brownlow votes:Â 16
Combined All-Australian selections:Â 4
Combined club best and fairest awards:Â 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.
Picks:Â 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:Â 120
Average Brownlow votes:Â 13
Combined All-Australian selections:Â 1
Combined club best and fairest awards:Â 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.
Picks:Â 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:Â 17
Combined All-Australian selections:Â 10
Combined club best and fairest awards:Â 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.