A key forward kicked off the 2013 National Draft, taken by the Giants.
However, Tom Boyd didn't last long in New South Wales after he was traded in one of the biggest deals (at the time) in the competition.
Collingwood gained two gun juniors, but injuries crippled their careers while arguably the game's best player was taken with Pick 4.
As the 2024ย AFL draft approaches, we've taken a look at the top 10 picks of the 2013 draft and look at what their life looks like now, just over a decade ago.
Pick 1 - Tom Boyd (GWS)
A name recognised for one of the biggest deals (at the time) for a player who'd barely entered the league.
Boyd was taken at Pick 1 as a dominant key forward but was involved in a huge trade, sending him to the Western Bulldogs after one season on ridiculous money (seven years, $7 million).
The Giants secured Ryan Griffen and Pick 6.
Boyd was met with ridicule, which was vindicated in 2016.
The Bulldogs, who defeated GWS in the preliminary final, ended a 62-year premiership drought against Sydney by 22 points. Boyd slotted three goals and came third in the Norm Smith Medal count.
Unfortunately, Boyd was unable to recapture his 2016 form, battling persistent injuries that limited him to 11 and 12 games the following two seasons.
It was in 2019 when the Eastern Ranges product announced his retirement from the AFL amid battling mental health issues, finishing with 61 games and a premiership medallion.
Since then, Boyd has become an ambassador for mental health across many forums, honing in on wellbeing among businesses.
He didn't throw his football talent away, playing for VFL side Werribee and Ovens and Murray club the Wangaratta Rovers.
Pick 2 - Josh Kelly (GWS)
A star midfielder for the Giants, Kelly's presence has been felt from the moment he walked through the door.
As GWS gathered high-end picks to build their future, at Pick 2, they didn't realise how good Kelly would be.
The Victorian has played 215 games, claiming two Kevin Sheedy Medals and an All-Australian blazer.
In recent years he's turned to leadership as an area of improvement, leading the club as captain in 2022 before standing alongside Toby Greene as a vice-captain since.
Still playing at an extremely high level, Kelly's eyes are on a premiership medallion, having come close in 2019 as well as losing preliminary finals in 2016, 2017 and 2023.
Pick 3 - Jack Billings (St Kilda)
A highly touted junior that most would say could've gone Pick 1 in this draft.
Billings began his time at St Kilda and was the frontman for the next generation of the club.
However, the left footer started to miss through injury, resulting in a total of 11 games across 2022 and 2023.
After 10 seasons at the Saints, Billings sought a move to a rival club, with Melbourne scooping up the former Pick 3.
He continued his role on the wing for Simon Goodwin, featuring in 16 matches for the Demons.
Pick 4 - Marcus Bontempelli (Western Bulldogs)
The pick of the bunch, Bontempelli is arguably the best player in the competition.
A premiership player in his third season, the 'Bont' has almost done it all: Three-time Leigh Matthews Trophy winner, AFLCA Player of the Year in 2019, three-time AFLPA best captain, six-time All-Australian, six-time Charles Sutton medallist.
The former Pick 4 has also led the Bulldogs since 2020, almost becoming a premiership captain in 2021.
Bontempelli has played 240 games and is nowhere near slowing down, inching ever so close to claiming a Brownlow Medal.
Pick 5 - Kade Kolodjashnij (Gold Coast)
An impressive defender throughout his junior ranks, Kolodjashnij had all the attributes that would excite Suns fans.
Debuting immediately after being drafted, the Tasmanian rarely missed in his first three seasons at the club.
After a lean 2017 and 2018 campaign, Kolodjashnij sought a trade to Melbourne - alongside teammate Steven May - which didn't prove to be fruitful.
The versatile tall faced concussion issues and ultimately retired in 2020.
Kolodjashnij is a co-owner of a Pilates studio.
Pick 6 - Matthew Scharenberg (Collingwood)
The first of two picks for the Pies in the top 10, Scharenberg posed as a long-term player.
Unfortunately, that wouldn't be the case.
Scharenberg was unable to debut in his maiden season, and after recovering from a knee reconstruction, was handed his jumper late in 2015.
Following the completion of that season, the unlucky defender was struck with another knee injury, tearing his right ACL and missing the entire 2016 season.
Scharenberg returned to football in 2017 and was handy during the club's run to the 2018 grand final but unfortunately suffered his third serious knee injury in Round 19 of that season.
The 29-year-old added ten games in the next two years and was delisted at the end of 2020, playing 41 matches all up.
After exiting the AFL, Scharenberg has found himself at Olinda Ferny Creek Football Club in the Outer East football league in Victoria.
Pick 7 - James Aish (Brisbane)
A three-club player, Aish made his name for himself at Collingwood despite spending two years - and 32 games - at the Lions.
A calm and poised defender, the 28-year-old added another 50 matches in the black and white, proving to be a key contributor for Nathan Buckley.
However, Aish's desire to follow defensive coach Justin Longmuir to Fremantle helped bridge a move across to Western Australia at the end of 2019.
Since then, the South Australian has played 101 games for the Dockers, utilising his versatility in an array of roles.
Pick 8 - Luke McDonald (North Melbourne)
The heart and soul of the Kangaroos squad, McDonald, has gone through it all.
Drafted into a successful club featuring in the finals series, the defender has rarely missed since the beginning of 2022.
North Melbourne's dive would've been understandable for McDonald to explore his options, but the co-captain of the side has shown his loyalty throughout the tough times.
A Syd Barker medallist in 2020, let's hope for McDonald's sake he starts to see some improvement.
Pick 9 - Christian Salem (Melbourne)
A top-10 pick that has proved his worth, Salem has been a regular feature for the Demons since he got drafted.
Playing across the half-back line in a quarterback-style role, the classy left-footer likes to set up the field, utilising his skills and vision to tear up the opposition.
A pivotal cog in Simon Goodwin's team, Salem was a premiership player in 2021 but has struggled to get his body right for the majority of the seasons since, playing no more than 17 games a year.
On the right side of 30 heading into 2025, the Brighton Grammar product still has plenty to give.
Pick 10 - Nathan Freeman (Collingwood)
Freeman lived a similar fate to fellow Collingwood draftee Matt Scharenberg as injuries crippled his career.
The midfielder was unable to debut for the Pies, suffering serious hamstring woes that could not be overcome during his time at the club.
However, St Kilda took a chance on the discarded Freeman, trading for him ahead of the 2016 season.
The Saints kept him on their books for three years - and two games - before being delisted.
Since, Freeman has played for Frankston in the VFL and Dingley in the Southern Football Netball League.
He is also an accredited player agent with Connors Sports Management and the AFLPA, as well as co-founding The Breath Haus at the end of 2022.
