For the second time in as many years, GWS held the first three picks when they entered the 2012 AFL Draft.
Lachie Whitfield was long-tipped to go first on draft night, and the Giants made that a fact whilst also adding a pair of youngsters who wouldn't last long at the club.
The Western Bulldogs drafted a key duo who are now at rival clubs, whilst a famous father-son was taken with Pick 10.
As the 2024ย AFL draft approaches, we've taken a look at the top 10 picks of the 2012 draft and look at what their life looks like now, nearly a decade and a half on.
1 - Lachie Whitfield (GWS)
The prized pick in the 2012 draft, Whitfield, unlike some, has lived up to the hype.
Still a one-club player, the utility is a two-time All-Australian and two-time Kevin Sheedy medallist.
Whitfield has been a pillar of durability, rarely missing a game since debuting in 2013 and playing at an impressively high level.
He - along with the Giants - are still searching for their maiden flag, which they came close to in 2019 when they went down in the decider against Richmond.
2 - Jonathon O'Rourke (GWS)
Unfortunately for the Giants, their second pick was a relative bust.
O'Rourke struggled to make an impact in the two years due to injury and form, resulting in nine games before being traded to Hawthorn at the end of 2014.
The Calder Cannons midfielder's fortunes didn't change much, adding a dozen games to his tally before a string of injuries resulted in his delisting.
He continued playing football, signing with VFL club Northern Bullants for the 2019 season and Caufield Grammar in the VAFA the following season.
Aside from football, O'Rourke is in the project managing industry.
3 - Lachie Plowman (GWS)
Destined for greatness, Plowman failed to establish himself at the Giants after three seasons, resulting in a trade to a depleted Carlton outfit.
Playing 20 games for the expansion club, Plowman was among a quartet of GWS youngsters making the switch to the Blues in search of greater AFL opportunity.
And he found it, adding 125 games for Carlton before retiring at the end of the 2023 season.
Since exiting the elite level, Plowman joined EDFL club Maribyrnong Park in Division One, claiming a premiership medal in 2024.
He is also a business strategist.
4 - Jimmy Toumpas (Melbourne)
A selection that the Demons would like back.
Drafted out of South Australia, Toumpas was unable to find his feet at AFL level, despite how poor Melbourne were at the time.
The former Pick 4 featured in 27 games across three seasons but requested a move back to his home state, with Port Adelaide swooping in on him.
His time at the Power wasn't as fruitful as he'd hoped, adding ten games to his tally before being delisted at the end of 2018.
Toumpas immediately joined SANFL club Woodville-West Torrens for five seasons before moving to the Swan Hill Football club in the Central Murray Football League this year.
Aside from football, Toumpas made waves as a sales consultant and executive in the real estate industry but, more recently, has moved into the AFLPA company as a South Australia regional manager.
5 - Jake Stringer (Western Bulldogs)
Slowly becoming a journeyman after joining his third AFL club during the most recent trade period.
Stringer burst onto the scene with the Bulldogs and was quickly labelled 'the Package' due to his enormous potential to do just about everything on the football field.
In his five seasons at the Kennel, Stringer claimed an All-Australian blazer in 2015 and a premiership medallion the following season.
However, a move was on the horizon as it was understood that he didn't see eye-to-eye, with the club believing he didn't operate professionally.
Enter Essendon, who for the following seven seasons (2018-2024) hosted Stringer. He struggled to gain continuity in his body due to below-average pre-seasons and never quite lived up to his potential.
Like the Bulldogs, the Bombers saw the same flaws in the star forward and were happy to trade him to GWS, where he'll get a new lease on life in 2025.
6 - Jack Macrae (Western Bulldogs)
One of the game's best accumulators, Macrae found himself a new home in the recent trade period.
A three-time All-Australian (2019, 2020, 2021) and a premiership player (2016) at the Western Bulldogs, the former Pick 6 selection found himself playing out of position or in the VFL, wasting his talents in the reserves.
Macrae's future was obvious at the Bulldogs and, as a result, he sought a move to a rival club, with St Kilda storming into the picture.
On the last day of the trade period, the two clubs came to an agreement, meaning Macrae will be able to add to the 249 games he played in the red, white and blue.
7 - Ollie Wines (Port Adelaide)
A dominant midfielder from when he walked through the doors at Alberton, Wines has achieved just about everything individually.
In 2021, the 30-year-old cleaned up, claiming the illustrious Brownlow Medal, All-Australian and club best and fairest.
He was previously captain in 2019 but failed to live up to the expectations and was demoted, which in turn revived his career.
Wines has played 253 games for the Power and doesn't look like slowing down.
8 - Sam Mayes (Brisbane)
Bursting onto the scene at Brisbane, Mayes made an immediate impact at AFL level, playing 18 games in his first year.
The Lions were struggling at the time and looked to their youth for a glimpse into the future, which the midfielder was deemed to be.
However, playing 101 games for Brisbane, the South Australian sought a move back to his home state, landing at Port Adelaide ahead of the 2019 season.
Mayes, placed into a successful club, failed to impress coach Ken Hinkley enough to lock down a consistent spot in the side.
He was delisted at the end of 2022, with 118 AFL games next to his name.
Mayes was signed by SANFL club North Adelaide, where he played and coached for the past two years, announcing his retirement in 2024.
9 - Nick Vlastuin (Richmond)
A highly touted defender from his juniours, Vlastuin was part of the next wave of Tigers that took the club to premiership glory after years of turmoil.
Braving the first few years of his career, the 30-year-old started to see a rise at Richmond, ending with three flags between 2017 and 2020.
Since he debuted in 2013, Vlastuin has played 233 games and is going strong, leading the club as it undergoes a rebuild.
The Northern Knights product has finished on the best and fairest podium twice in his career (2020, 2024) and was also named in the All-Australian squad in 2020.
10 - Joe Daniher (Essendon)
He is a recently retired star who left the game with a premiership medallion around his neck.
Daniher began his career as a father-son selection at Essendon, playing 108 games, kicking 191 goals and claiming an All-Australian and best and fairest in 2017.
However, persistent injuries limited the rangy left-footer to 15 games between 2018 and 2020, which resulted in a successful move to Brisbane.
Daniher rarely missed a match for the next four years, proving to be a pivotal piece to the club's premiership chances.
The 30-year-old shocked the AFL world after calling it quits following the 2024 Grand Final, but in true Daniher style, drove off into the sunset fulfilled.
