Carlton recruiters would be sitting back now looking at the 2015 AFL Draft with such fondness.
The Blues secured two guns in the top 10, whilst Essendon may have wished to have their time again with their pair of selections.
Melbourne also picked up a duo, of which both have had their troubles.
As the 2024ย AFL draft approaches, we've taken a look at the top 10 picks of the 2015 draft and look at what their lives look like now less than a decade on.
1 - Jacob Weitering (Carlton)
One of two Carlton selections, Weitering was quickly touted as the future of the club.
Thrown in the deep end with a struggling side, Weitering was tasked with taking care of the competition's best forwards, proving, at times, to be a steep learning curve.
However, as time ticked on, the Blues tall became a pillar of leadership and strength in the defensive half, helping set up his teammates as well as quell his opposition.
In 2020, he was recognised as the club's best and fairest, an honour he added to in 2023 with his second John Nicholls Medal.
And after many selections in the All-Australian squad, Weitering finally got the nod in 2024.
He's been Patrick Cripps' understudy since 2022 and is a key reason why the Blues have returned to premiership contention in recent years.
2 - Josh Schache (Brisbane)
A gun forward that showed glimpses of brilliance but struggled to string it together consistently.
Drafted to the club that his father Laurence played for, Schache showed enough for Lions fans to get excited in his first two years.
However, after 27 games and 25 goals, the left-footer departed and was successfully traded to the Western Bulldogs ahead of the 2018 campaign.
His time at the Kennel was as fruitful as expected, adding another 45 matches to his name, inclusive of the 2021 finals series and decider.
Failing to cement his spot under Luke Beveridge, Schache departed 12 months later, joining Melbourne as a depth option.
Across two years, he played another four matches but was recently delisted.
Schache has signed with EFNL club Doncaster East for the 2025 season.
3 - Callum Mills (Sydney)
A Sydney Academy player, the club was excited to get what they thought at the time would be their future captain.
A star midfielder during his midfield days after giving up rugby, Mills began his career in the backline, which helped him see the ground in different ways.
He featured in the 2016 grand final loss to the Western Bulldogs and was awarded the Rising Star and AFLPA best first-year player in the same season.
Since then, Mills has played 155 games for the club, including leading the Swans since the beginning of 2022, which ended in another grand final heartbreak.
The 27-year-old also earned a maiden All-Australian blazer and a Bob Skilton Medal.
He missed a large chunk of the 2024 season due to an off-season mishap and watched on as his side lost in another grand final.
4 - Clayton Oliver (Melbourne)
A gun midfielder who had the competition by the scruff of the neck.
Oliver was on his way to becoming Melbourne's best-ever player, winning four best and fairests before 25, whilst also claiming three All-Australians, two AFLCA Player of the Year Awards and a premiership.
A stacked CV.
However, the past two seasons have seen Oliver spiral, engaging in off-field antics that don't align with the club's values.
The midfielder has explored moves in the past 13 months due to the ongoing issues whilst also struggling to replicate his form from years ago.
The Demons have recommitted to Oliver for next year, but like teammate Christian Petracca, he'll be watched closely.
5 - Darcy Parish (Essendon)
Another star midfielder from this draft has shown reasons why he was taken with Pick 5.
There's no doubting Parish's ability to find the ball, but to become an A-grade player in the AFL, the need to punish the opposition is what sets apart the groups of midfielders.
Parish has stood up on big occasions, namely in 2021 when he was awarded the Anzac Day Medal as well as the Tom Wills and Yiooken awards for his performances on three individual stages. Later that year, he was awarded with a maiden All-Australian blazer.
But, after 162 games, Bombers fans are still hoping for more.
He's been a regular feature throughout but played the least amount of games in 2024, with injury limiting him to 12 outings.
Parish is locked away at Essendon until the end of 2028.
6 - Aaron Francis (Essendon)
An Essendon prospect who had all the talent at the time but was never seen consistently enough.
Francis was considered the best utility of the draft, but when he hit the elite level, he struggled as a forward.
The Bomber struggled to find a spot for him in the senior side, resulting in Francis exploring a trade back to his home state (South Australia), to no avail.
The 27-year-old remained at Essendon until the end of 2022, when both parties agreed to move on from one another.
Sydney, after losing the grand final, attempted to bolster their defensive stocks, snaring Francis during the trade period.
The South Australian has played 74 AFL matches but only five in 2024.
The Swans have committed to re-listing Francis in November's Rookie Draft after he was delisted at the end of last month.
7 - Jacob Hopper (GWS)
A tough onballer who never shied away from a contested possession.
Hopper was yet another gun youngster the Giants scooped up early in the draft, making his debut early in the piece.
A consistent feature for GWS, Hopper played 114 games over seven years but found himself playing out of his desired position more often than not due to the stacked list.
Along with teammate and friend Tim Taranto, he requested a trade to Richmond.
Since joining the Tigers, Hopper has battled with injury, limiting him to 28 outings across two years, and is now one of the leaders of the wooden spoon club.
8 - Callum Ah Chee (Gold Coast)
Beginning his career at Gold Coast, Ah Chee was an impressive forward-midfielder who was one of a host of young talents at the club.
The Western Australian struggled to cement his spot in the Suns senior side, which included only one game in 2019.
As a result, Ah Chee sought a trade to cross-town rivals Brisbane ahead of the 2020 season, a move that would prove fruitful.
The 27-year-old has rarely missed a game since joining the Lions, including taking part in two grand finals (2023 and 2024).
Ah Chee was quiet during the 2023 finals series but flipped the script in the most recent edition, kicking ten goals, including four in the grand final, and finishing third in the Norm Smith Medal voting.
9 - Sam Weideman (Melbourne)
A key forward, who was the grandson of Collingwood great Murray Weideman, had the versatility to play multiple positions.
Weideman was taken with a patient approach, given it does take key position players longer to develop.
He debuted in a flurry, kicking two goals and showing his immense talent early in the piece.
However, his time at the Demons was relatively short-lived, cut short by the club's desire to move him from the list, given he rarely featured in Simon Goodwin's side.
At the end of 2022, Weideman was traded to Essendon in search of more opportunities, playing 16 games in his maiden season.
Despite the positive start in the red and black, the Eastern Ranges product added only one more AFL game to his name, finishing with 76.
Weideman has reunited with junior club Vermont in the EFNL for the 2025 season.
10 - Harry McKay (Carlton)
A big part of Carlton's spine, McKay has the football world at his feet.
Due to his towering figure and strong hands, opposition defenders struggle to compete with the left-footer.
Unfortunately, his biggest flaw is his goalkicking, which has limited him to a max of 58 goals in a single season, which saw him claim the 2021 Coleman Medal and an All-Australian blazer.
On either side of that campaign, McKay has been serviceable, teasing both Blues fans and footy lovers of his potential.
He is becoming more consistent, but entering the prime of his career, it is now crunch time for the key forward to take the next step to stardom.
To date, McKay has played 128 games, kicking 252 goals.
