Best No 1 - Luke Hodge (Hawthorn 2001/Brisbane)
Hodge gets the nod as the best Number 1 selection from another champion of the game, Nick Riewoldt. He finished his career with 346 games, two Norm Smith Medals and four premierships and was named a Virgin Australia AFL All Australian on three occasions including captain in 2010. Hodge also won the Jim Stynes Medal playing in the International Rules Series in 2014.
Riewoldt finished his career with 336 games, a five-time Virgin Australia AFL All Australian, won his club’s best and fairest on six occasions, however premiership success alluded him. Was also crowned the NAB AFL Rising Star in 2002.

Best No 2 - Trent Cotchin (Richmond 2007)
Now a two-time premiership captain and a Brownlow Medallist, Cotchin has played 234 games and has been a major contributor in establishing Richmond as a powerhouse Club with his leadership and unique talent. Has beaten an excellent field including Coleman Medallist and two-time Virgin Australia AFL All Australian, Jarryd Roughead (Hawthorn 2004) and a four-time Virgin Australia AFL All Australian and triple premiership star, Nigel Lappin (Brisbane 1993).

Best No 3 - Chris Judd (West Coast Eagles 2001/Carlton)
Judd changed the game with his breathtaking acceleration from the centre and was extremely difficult to defend when he first burst onto the scene for the West Coast Eagles in 2002. Played 279 games, won two Brownlow Medals, was six times a Virgin Australia AFL All Australian and won five club best and fairest awards and was a premiership captain. But he certainly now has a challenger emerging with Dustin Martin already on 224 games, two premierships, two Norm Smith Medals and a Brownlow as well as a three-time Virgin Australia AFL All Australian putting him in the super star category.

Best No 4 - Matthew Pavlich (Fremantle 1999)
A record 353 games (700 goals) with the Fremantle Dockers and six-time club best and fairest as well as six-time Virgin Australia AFL All Australian guarantees him the nod. A true champion of the game. Hot on his heels was another superstar from the West, in Norm Smith Medallist Peter Matera, whose 253 games were electric for the West Coast Eagles with him being awarded Virgin Australia AFL All Australian honours on five occasions.

Best No 5 - Lance Franklin (Hawthorn 2004/Sydney)
Approaching 1000 goals in the AFL, Franklin is one of the greatest players of the modern era, being chosen as a Virgin Australia AFL All Australian on eight occasions including as captain in 2018. A four-time Coleman Medallist, he reached his 300th AFL game for Hawthorn and Sydney in the final round on this season. He eclipses an unlucky Scott Pendlebury (Collingwood 2005) who is also one of the super stars of the modern game also passing his 300th game late this year and being a six time Virgin Australia AFL All Australian, winning a Norm Smith Medal as well taking out Collingwood’s Copeland Trophy on five occasions.

Best No 6 - Jack Macrae (Western Bulldogs 2012)
An emerging super star of the game and ball magnet continued to take all before him as one of the game’s genuine stars winning Virgin Australia AFL All Australian honours this year and has now played 141 games for the Western Bulldogs including starring in their Premiership success in 2016. Pushes ahead of former Port Adelaide and now Hawthorn forward Chad Wingard, a dual Virgin Australia AFL All- Australian as the best selection at this number.

Best No 7 - Joel Selwood (Geelong 2006)
One of the best players of this generation, Selwood has now played 295 games for Geelong winning three premierships, being named a Virgin Australia AFL All Australian six times (including three as captain), is a three-time best and fairest winner as well as the NAB AFL Rising Star award on the way up. Gets the nod ahead of another champion from the Brisbane Lions, Chris Johnson (Indigenous Team of the Century and three-time premiership player) and recently retired Hawthorn/Melbourne star Jordan Lewis (four-time premiership player and 319 games).

Best No 8 - Jimmy Bartel (Geelong 2001)
Playing over 300 games, winning both a Brownlow and a Norm Smith Medal is part of the Bartel resume along with three premierships in an outstanding career with Geelong. Nudges out former teammate Joel Corey (two-time All- Australian, dual Best and Fairest in 276 games for three premierships) and Swans star Jude Bolton (325 games and two premierships) as the best player selected at number 8.

Best No 9 - Chad Cornes (Port Adelaide 1997/ GWS Giants)
Cornes’ impressive record continues to make him the most successful choice Number 9 now playing 255 games with both a premiership medallion and Virgin Australia AFL All- Australian honours to his credit. The likes of current stars Jack Ziebell (2008), Ben McEvoy (2007) and Dion Prestia (2010) still with plenty to play out in their careers, may possibly challenge as the best Number 9 in future years.

Best No 10 - Patrick Dangerfield (Adelaide 2007/Geelong)
The former Adelaide Crow and now Geelong superstar is the easy call as the best Number 10 Draft choice of all time. Approaching 250 games with seven Virgin Australia AFL All- Australian honours, four best and fairest awards and a Brownlow Medal, he continues to epitomise the spectacular game. Former Western Bulldogs and Richmond star taken at this number in the NAB AFL Draft in 1996 in Nathan Brown was a star in his 219 games winning Virgin Australia AFL All- Australian honours on two occasions and a Jim Stynes Medallist in International Rules football.

Best No 11 - Brad Johnson (Western Bulldogs 1993)
A six-time Virgin Australia AFL All Australian and three time best and fairest winner who became the Club’s games record holder with 364 games after being drafted from around the corner at Williamstown/Western Jets, Johnson is an AFL Hall of Famer and obvious selection.
A youngster selected from Pennant Hills in the West of Sydney who became a St Kilda star in 297 games, in Lenny Hayes, is a little unlucky to have Johnson selected at the same number five years earlier.

Best No 12 - Gavin Wanganeen (Essendon 1989/Port Adelaide)
A playmaker all over the ground who won a Brownlow Medal as a 20-year-old on his way to 300 games, five-time Virgin Australia AFL All Australian and two premierships stamp him as an all-time great and AFL Hall of Fame member. His selection shouldn’t have been debated but also selected at this same number in the NAB AFL Draft have been two other greats of the game (also Indigenous champions) in Shaun Burgoyne (376 games) and Cyril Rioli (Norm Smith Medallist and four-time premiership player) selected in 2000 and 2007 respectively.

Best No 13 - Shane Crawford (Hawthorn 1991)
A star on-baller who was the running man in a 305-game career which captured a Brownlow Medal, four best and fairest awards and four-time Virgin Australia AFL All Australian honours with a premiership in his last game. But the number 13 has not been unlucky for all with Nick Dal Santo (322 games and three times Virgin Australia AFL All Australian) Bob Murphy (312 games and Virgin Australia AFL All Australian captain) along with Jack Riewoldt (262 games – three-time Virgin Australia AFL All Australian and three-time Coleman Medallist) also in the debate as the best at this number.

Best No 14 - Adam Simpson (North Melbourne 1993)
Current West Coast Eagles coach wins the nomination for the best performed player ever selected in the AFL Draft at choice 14 for his playing career with the Kangaroos, amassing 306 games, playing in two premierships, winning a club best and fairest and captaining his club before moving into coaching. A four-time premiership star and 2012 All Australian, Grant Birchall was a great performer in defence in his 248 games for Hawthorn and now Brisbane Lions was another successful player chosen at Number 14.

Best No 15 - Brady Rawlings (North Melbourne 1998)
North Melbourne drafted a 17-year-old from Devonport in Tasmania in the late 1990s who went onto play 245 games and win three best and fairest awards and he gets the nod as the best performed player to date at this selection. In the conversation at this number were a pair of South Australians who became household names with their Victorian clubs in Scott Camporeale (Carlton 1994/Essendon) who played 252 games with the Blues and Travis Varcoe (Geelong 2005/Collingwood) who has played 221 games in successful teams.

Best No 16 - Fraser Gehrig (West Coast Eagles 1993 / St Kilda)
Drafted from the Murray Bushrangers, Gehrig had a stellar career playing 260 games and kicking 549 goals with St Kilda and the West Coast Eagles winning the Coleman Medal on two occasions and was also twice a Virgin Australia AFL All- Australian. Also considered was Scott Thompson, a medium midfielder from South Australia selected by Melbourne but ending up returning to the Adelaide Crows finishing his great career with 308 games and being named a Virgin Australia AFL All- Australian in 2012 as well as winning two best and fairest awards with the Crows.

Best No 17 - Harry Taylor (Geelong 2007)
Current key defender with Geelong, Taylor gets the nod as he continues his stellar career having played 261 games as one of the best intercept marks of the modern era been twice named a Virgin Australia AFL All Australian and has been an important member of two premierships after being drafted from East Fremantle. Another to win a Jim Stynes Medal representing Australia in International Rules with distinction. Very much in the conversation at Number 17 has to be a former teammate at the Cats in James Kelly who moved to Essendon at the end of his career, retiring with 313 games, a best and fairest and three premierships and also winning a Jim Stynes Medal.

Best No 18 - Alex Rance (Richmond 2007)
Another current day star and key defender from Western Australia earns the gong at Number 18 having already been name a Virgin Australia AFL All Australian on five occasions (including once as captain) in his 200 games as well as being a premiership player and best and fairest winner for the Tigers. There are a few others very worthy at this number with former North Melbourne champion drafted in 1988 in Anthony Stevens (292 games, two best and fairest and twice a Virgin Australia AFL All Australian) in the mix with West Coast Eagles star Luke Shuey (201 games, Norm Smith Medallist and best and fairest winner)

Best No 19 - Barry Hall (St Kilda 1995/Sydney Swans/Western Bulldogs)
Powerhouse forward drafted from the Murray Bushrangers at this selection in 1995 ended up inducted into the AFL’s Hall of Fame by 2017 after kicking 746 goals in his 289 matches across three clubs, winning Virgin Australia AFL All Australian honours on four occasions and twice receiving the Coleman Medal. Another Murray Bushranger and current Fremantle star who this year passed the 300-game milestone in David Mundy is certainly in the conversation as the best-ever chosen at No 19.

Best No 20 - Nat Fyfe (Fremantle 2009)
Drafted from Claremont and one of our current superstars, dual Brownlow Medallist Nat Fyfe is the standout performer at this selection having been already a three-time Virgin Australia AFL All Australian (including captain this year) and winning his club best and fairest on three occasions in his 173 games to date. He was also a Jim Stynes Medallist in 2017. Port Adelaide’s Mr Consistency Kane Cornes had an outstanding career playing 300 games, winning four best and fairest awards and twice named All Australian but it took a superstar in Fyfe to beat him.

Best No 21 - Tom Mitchell (Sydney 2011/Hawthorn)
He may have missed the entire season with injury but what he has achieved in just 111 games is special making Mitchell the best-ever draftee taken at that number despite the fact his outstanding performances have been at the club he was traded to. A Brownlow Medal win after being runner up the previous year along with back-to-back, best and fairest awards and dual Virgin Australia AFL All Australian selection he picks himself. Fremantle’s recently retired small forward Hayden Ballantyne had an excellent career kicking 254 goals in 171 matches including winning Virgin Australia AFL All Australian honours in 2014 was a great return but Mitchell gets the nod.

Best No 22 - Scott Selwood (West Coast Eagles 2007/Geelong)
Another recently retired star hampered by injury in the back half of his career, Selwood is the only player chosen at selection 22 to win a club best and fairest award which he did for the West Coast Eagles in 2012. Finished his career with Geelong, having played 169 games across 11 years. Emerging Brisbane Lions Defender Darcy Gardiner’s consistency across 106 games since being drafted from the Geelong Falcons in 2013 may see him considered at this number in the years to come.

Best No 23 - Michael Long (Essendon 1988)
An inspired selection by Essendon after being awarded AFL All Australian honours playing for the Northern Territory in the 1988 Australian National Championships. Long became a trailblazer for indigenous players in his 190 games for the Bombers winning the Norm Smith Medal in 1993, being twice both a premiership player and Virgin Australia AFL All Australian in the same year.
Former North Melbourne and West Coast Eagles big man Drew Petrie (332 games) was another star of the game taken at choice 23.

Best No 24 - Steve Johnson (Geelong 2001/GWS Giants)
A key reason why the 2001 NAB AFL Draft has been dubbed the Super Draft was the emergence of the prodigiously talented Stevie J at selection 24. After 293 games, 516 goals, three-time Virgin Australia AFL All Australian and a triple premiership player, winning a Norm Smith Medal in the process, he is considered one of the great entertainers as a mercurial forward. A teammate of Johnson taken at this same number by Geelong in 1998, David Wojcinski (203 games and three premierships) was another great success story for Geelong in the draft.

Best No 25 - Seb Ross (St Kilda 2011)
Now a dual best and fairest winner with the Saints in his 124 games over seven seasons, Ross is now one of the most prolific ball winners in the game. He wins the nomination in a close call over an ultra-consistent midfielder from the West Coast Eagles having previously played with the Brisbane Lions in Jack Redden now with over 200 matches at AFL level and a premiership with the Eagles.

Best No 26 - Shane Edwards (Richmond 2006)
The Richmond dual premiership player and a Virgin Australia AFL All Australian in 2018 is maybe only now getting the recognition he deserves as a star of the game across a career now surpassing 250 games. Edwards has excelled in multiple roles for the AFL premier team. In my view he is ahead of a stellar group of candidates selected in this draft number in West Coast Eagles’ Jack Darling (196 games, 378 goals) Essendon’s duel best and fairest winner Zach Merrett (126 games) along with former Hawthorn star Darrin Pritchard (211 games, three premierships) first selected at 26 in the inaugural draft of 1986.

Best No 27 - Ted Richards (Essendon 2000/Sydney Swans)
Initially selected by Essendon it wasn’t until he moved to the Harbour city that Richards blossomed as a star defender playing 261 matches including in a premiership with the Sydney Swans in 2012 and winning All Australian honours the same year. Another contender selected at this number in the second ever Draft in 1987, from Tasmania, was Richmond key forward Brendan Gale (244 games) who is having an even bigger impact with the Tigers as its CEO.

Best No 28 - Jason Johnson (Essendon 1996)
A best and fairest winner and a Virgin Australia AFL All- Australian, Johnson played 184 games with Essendon and gets the nod ahead of one of Geelong’s current midfield stars in Mitch Duncan with 203 games and a premiership under his belt as the best performed at Number 28.

Best No 29 - Wayne Campbell (Richmond 1989)
Four-time best and fairest winner and a dual Virgin Australia AFL All Australian in 297 games with Richmond was the final return for Campbell who also captained his club in an outstanding career, wins the nomination. A contender also was current Hawthorn forward Jack Gunston with three premierships, a Virgin Australia AFL All Australian and 192 games on the board, mainly of course with Hawthorn after being drafted initially by the Adelaide Crows at Number 29 in 2009.

Best No 30 - Jonathan Brown (Brisbane Lions 1999)
The father /son selection became a superstar for the Brisbane Lions including in their triple premierships in 2001, 2002 and 2003. Playing 256 games, winning three best and fairest awards, twice named a Virgin Australian AFL All Australian and winning a Coleman Medal to clearly be the best performed player selected at Number 30 in the draft.

Best No 31 - Simon Black (Brisbane Lions 1997)
With three premierships, a Brownlow Medal and a Norm Smith Medal, Black played 322 games with the Lions and was adjudged the best ever player selected at 31. Hot on his heels was another Norm Smith Medallist and triple premiership player in Paul Chapman (280 games – Geelong/Essendon).

Best No 32 - Bernie Vince (Adelaide Crows 2005/Melbourne)
The youngster from the Yorke Peninsula in South Australia drafted at this selection to the Adelaide Crows before being traded to Melbourne finished his career with 229 games winning a best and fairest at both clubs – enough to ensure him our nomination as the best Number 32. With 331 goals in his 265 games for the Bulldogs, Daniel Giansiracusa was a local youngster from the Western Jets who found his draft home around the corner becoming a household name and a contender at Number 32.

Best No 33 - Craig Bolton (Brisbane Lions 1998/Sydney Swans)
Drafted to the Brisbane Lions after learning the game in the ACT, Bolton became a dual Virgin Australia AFL All Australian and premiership player when he shifted to the Sydney Swans becoming a diligent key defender in 199 games at AFL level. A teammate of Bolton for a short period at the Lions in Shaun Hart, the 2001 Norm Smith Medallist and triple premiership player in 273 games, was certainly in the debate as the best performed at this pick.

Best No 34 - Max Gawn (Melbourne 2009)
The giant Melbourne ruckman has come of age in the last few seasons winning back-to-back Demons best and fairest awards and is now a three-time All Australian in just 120 games.
His influence on matches now, in my view, has him ahead of other contenders including the well performed Sydney Swans’ midfielder Darryn Cresswell (244 games) and Collingwood’s electric small Leon Davis (225 games).

Best No 35 - David Astbury (Richmond 2009)
Now a dual premiership player, key defender Astbury has become a pillar for the Tigers in his 129 games after being drafted from the GWV Rebels. A consistent ball winner who was drafted to Carlton in 1989 before playing with both Richmond and Fremantle in Chris Bond was also a worthy contender finishing his career with 163 games.

Best No 36 - Sam Mitchell (Hawthorn 2001/West Coast Eagles)
The absolute standout at this choice was overlooked numerous times in the NAB AFL Draft before Hawthorn selected him from their aligned VFL side, the Box Hill Hawks, in 2001. A four-time premiership player, five-time best and fairest winner and three-time Virgin Australia AFL All Australian, Mitchell also won the Brownlow Medal and NAB AFL Rising Star award in one of the games most decorated careers. He stands alone as the best Number 36.

Best No 37 - Leigh Montagna (St Kilda 2001)
Twice a Virgin Australia AFL All Australian and with 287 games with St Kilda, the speedy midfielder come defender was judged ahead of West Coast Eagles star Mark LeCras whose 441 goals in 219 games and Virgin Australia AFL All Australian honours in 2010 made him a very worthy contender.
Best No 38 - Cameron Ling (Geelong 1999) Overlooked in the draft the previous year, Ling became a triple premiership player (one as captain) in 246 games as well as earning All Australian honours and winning a club best and fairest award to win this nomination after being rated just above Brendan Fevola , a dual Coleman Medallist in 204 games kicking 623 goals with Carlton and Brisbane.

Best No 39 - Travis Cloke (Collingwood/Western Bulldogs)
A premiership player with Collingwood and a two-time Virgin Australia AFL All Australian, Cloke finished with 256 games and 452 goals also winning a Collingwood’s Best and Fairest award to be a clear winner as the best performed Draftee selected at 39.

Best No 40 - Gary Ablett Jnr (Geelong 2001/Gold Coast SUNS/Geelong)
The undisputed best at this draft number is arguably the best to play the game. Currently with 345 games, two Brownlow Medals, an eight-time Virgin Australia AFL All Australian, six-time club best and fairest and two-time premiership player.