A draft crop that should rival the 2001 'superdraft'.
Stacked with midfield talent and a set of key position twins that have shown they have the capabilities to take the competition by storm, the 2018 AFL Draft is one full of both promise and stardom.
The Blues cashed in with their prized Pick 1, whilst the Suns, although securing three of the first six selections, may wish they had their time again.
As the 2024ย AFL draft approaches, we've taken a look at the top 10 picks of the 2018 draft and look at what their life looks like now, six years on...
1 - Sam Walsh (Carlton)
After the Blues claimed the wooden spoon, they welcomed generational talent Sam Walsh to their mix.
With the weight of expectation placed on Walsh's shoulders, the prized Pick 1 didn't disappoint in his maiden season, claiming the Rising Star and AFLPA best first-year player awards.
The following year, he finished second in the club's best and fairest and Carlton fans knew they had a gem in the midst.
Walsh has played 119 games for the Blues and is a future captain of the club, operating as a perfect understudy to Patrick Cripps.
He's an All-Australian (2021) and John Nicholls medallist and has featured prominently on Brownlow night
2 - Jack Lukosius (Gold Coast)
The rangy swingman has teased football fans for years, with Lukosius seemingly not settled at Gold Coast, resulting in a switch to Port Adelaide this year.
However, the South Australian spent six seasons at the Suns, playing 116 games at either end of the field.
In recent times, Lukosius showcased his immense talent forward of the ball, kicking 39 majors in 2023 as a third tall.
However, an opportunity to return to his home state and reunite with great mate Connor Rozee was too good to pass up.
3 - Izak Rankine (Gold Coast)
A supremely talented forward-midfielder, Rankine took a while to debut after persistent hamstring injuries derailed his maiden season.
Debuting in 2020, the South Australian slotted three goals against Melbourne, catching the eyes of the entire competition for what he could turn into.
Similar to Lukosius, Rankine sought a trade back to his home state to the dismay of the Suns camp after four years and 48 games.
Adelaide came calling and secured the match-winner.
Rankine played a career-high 20 games in 2023 for a 36-goal return as Crows fans saw Eddie Betts reincarnate.
The most recent campaign was troubled by injuries once again, albeit had nearly a two-goal average in 15 outings.
4 - Max King (St Kilda)
The Saints took a gamble on the highly-touted prospect, who tore his ACL during his draft year and injured his ankle, preventing a sighting in his maiden season.
King eventually made his debut in 2020 and looked to be every bit of a key forward the club was calling out for since Nick Riewoldt.
Across years three and four, King kicked 90 goals and looked to be the answer to all of St Kilda's problems.
However, shoulder problems and form curtailed the Victorian's linear progression, taking a step back in his development.
King has played 83 games for the Saints but only 23 in the past two years.
Signing a long-term contract, the club believes he can lead St Kilda to greener pastures from 2025 onwards.
5 - Connor Rozee (Port Adelaide)
A local talent that the Power got right in selecting at Pick 5.
Rozee had x-factor from the moment he walked in the door, whilst his leadership oozed through his game, thrusting his name into captaincy calculations.
The 24-year-old is as durable as they come, playing 129 games and rarely missing a match.
He's claimed two All-Australian selections (2022, 2023) and a John Cahill Medal (2022), building nicely into the legacy he'll leave in a decade.
Ahead of the 2024 season, Rozee earned the keys to the kingdom and was made captain of the proud club.
6 - Ben King (Gold Coast)
Like his brother, King had all the attributes to be a star of the competition, with the Suns looking to the Victorian as a replacement for Tom Lynch.
The Sandringham Dragons product impressed in his opening two seasons but took major strides towards stardom in 2021, kicking 47 goals as one of the deadliest forwards in front of the big sticks.
However, an ACL injury wiped King from the following year, missing 12 crucial months of football.
Despite the knee injury, the key forward returned with a vengeance, kicking 40 then 55 goals in the two years that followed.
King has played 94 games for 195 goals for Gold Coast and is ready to take the competition by storm, with the club hopeful of keeping him in Queensland.
7 - Bailey Smith (Western Bulldogs)
A match-winner at his best, Smith is arguably one of the hardest-working midfielders in the game.
The Bulldogs selected the gun onballer at Pick 7 and saw the best of his work during the 2021 finals series, where he single-handedly lifted the club in the semi and preliminary finals.
However, off-field drama and behavioural issues saw Smith answer questions regarding his personal life, which resulted in a tell-all about his ongoing battles with mental health.
The Xavier College graduate became unsettled, and whilst also being played out of position, the end would spell near.
Smith missed the entire 2024 season due to an ACL tear and officially made the move to Geelong, noting a fresh start.
8 - Tarryn Thomas (North Melbourne)
Thomas' talent was undoubted, but his ongoing off-field troubles put a line through his career.
The Kangaroos were excited by the Tasmanian, who showed all the attributes of a midfield-forward star.
Thomas showed glimpses of brilliance throughout his 69-game career but, unfortunately, was unable to string it together consistently.
The AFL imposed an 18-game ban for his deplorable behaviour, ultimately ending his time at the elite level.
Thomas is facing court charges that are set for late November.
9 - Chayce Jones (Adelaide)
A handy defender who has the attributes to roll further up the ground.
Jones slots straight into the Crows senior lineup with little fuss, tasked with quelling some of the game's best small forwards.
The Tasmanian has impressed since joining the club, playing at least 15 games each year, barring his maiden season.
With 92 games to his name, expect many more in Adelaide colours for the next few years.
That is until the Devils enter the league, with Jones no doubt a target for what will be the AFL's newest team.
10 - Nick Blakey (Sydney)
A Sydney Academy prospect who decided against following his father's footsteps in joining North Melbourne.
Blakey had the option of joining the Kangaroos or Brisbane as a father-son but opted to head to the club that developed him as a junior.
Blakey is a unique character, but he lets his football do the talking, reflected by his trademark dash from half-back, leaving his opponents in his dust.
The man known as 'The Lizard' is a leader of the Swans, complemented by his durability and consistency on the field.
An All-Australian in 2024, it wouldn't surprise many if Blakey added more awards to his cabinet.
However, he is still searching for that elusive flag after coming close to a premiership on two occasions.
