It was later that year, after Hawthorn celebrated its ninth premiership, when a young New South Welshman from Finley (via Assumption College) named Shane Crawford was selected at No.13 in the AFL Draft by then recruiter Frank Davis.
Crawford, of course, has since become an all-time club great and remains the only link from Hawthorn's golden era through to today. But it wasn't until 1999 when the club's list really started to take shape under then recruiting manager John Turnbull (1996-03).
A highly-underrated and astute talent identifier, Turnbull (now a recruiter with Melbourne) and his team were instrumental in securing almost half of this year's grand final side.
Trent Croad, Chance Bateman, Mark Williams, Robert Campbell, Luke Hodge, Rick Ladson, Campbell Brown, Sam Mitchell, Michael Osborne and Brad Sewell were all claimed by Turnbull.
In 2004, the start of the Alastair Clarkson era, four-time Hawthorn premiership player Gary Buckenara took over as recruiting manager.
Buckenara's first drafting year was a beauty, landing Jarryd Roughead, Lance Franklin, Jordan Lewis and Clinton Young in 2005. Grand final emergencies Tom Murphy and Simon Taylor were also claimed.
Hawthorn took its recruiting resources to another level in 2005 when Chris Pelchen returned to the club, after a successful management/recruiting period with Port Adelaide. He was instilled as player personnel and strategy manager, overseeing recruiting and list management. Pelchen's recruiting model has been pivotal to the club's success.
Pelchen and Buckenara oversaw the acquisition of Xavier Ellis, Grant Birchall, Stephen Gilham, grand final emergency Travis Tuck (a father/son selection) and the experienced Brent Guerra in 2005. Brent Renouf was chosen in 2006.
Last year, 1990 Collingwood premiership player Graham Wright was added to Hawthorn's recruiting ranks.
Pelchen remained in his role, as Wright and Buckenara became joint recruiting managers looking after designated regions of Australia. Buckenara became the west coast recruiting manager and Wright the east coast.
This group added Cyril Rioli to its ranks last year, with Clarkson instrumental in reigniting the career of Port Adelaide premiership player Stuart Dew.
Hawthorn has also had the likes of assistants Greg Boxall, Steve Barker, Peter Ryan, Gary Smart, Barry Clarke, Paul Whaley and Bob Simpson play important roles throughout the Turnbull-Buckenara-Pelchen era.
These recruiting eras have now given Hawthorn a great opportunity to claim its 10th VFL/AFL flag.
HOW THE 2008 HAWTHORN LIST WAS BUILT
1991
Shane Crawford – AFL Draft (No.13)
1999
Tim Clarke – AFL Draft (No.33)
Chance Bateman – AFL Draft (No.48)
2000
Mark Williams – AFL Draft (No.43)
Robert Campbell – AFL Rookie Draft (No.27) – promoted to senior list 2001
2001
Luke Hodge – AFL Draft (No.1)
Rick Ladson – AFL Draft (No.16)
Campbell Brown – AFL Draft (No.32)
Sam Mitchell – AFL Draft (No.36)
2002
Tim Boyle – AFL Draft (No.51)
Brad Sewell – AFL Rookie Draft (No.7) – promoted to senior list 2003
* Michael Osborne – AFL Rookie Draft (No.23) – promoted to senior list 2003
2003
* Trent Croad – Exchange period (traded by Fremantle)
Danny Jacobs – Exchange period (traded by Essendon)
Zac Dawson – AFL Draft (No.41)
2004
Jarryd Roughead – AFL Draft (No.2)
Lance Franklin – AFL Draft (No.5)
Jordan Lewis – AFL Draft (No.7)
Tom Murphy – AFL Draft (No.21)
Simon Taylor – AFL Draft (No.53)
Clinton Young – AFL Rookie Draft (No.18) – promoted to senior list 2005
2005
Travis Tuck – Father/Son selection, AFL Draft (No.38)
Xavier Ellis – AFL Draft (No.3)
Beau Dowler – AFL Draft (No.6)
Grant Birchall – AFL Draft (No.14)
Max Bailey – AFL Draft (No.18)
Beau Muston – AFL Draft (No.22)
Brent Guerra – AFL Pre-Season Draft (No.3)
Luke McEntee – AFL Rookie Draft (No.3) – promoted to senior list 2007
Stephen Gilham – AFL Rookie Draft (No.34) – promoted to senior list 2006
Ben McGlynn – AFL Rookie Draft (No.55) – promoted to senior list 2006
2006
Josh Kennedy – Father/Son selection, AFL Draft (No.40)
Mitch Thorp – AFL Draft (No.6)
Brent Renouf – AFL Draft (No.24)
Jarryd Morton – AFL Draft (No.33)
Garry Moss – AFL Draft (No.56)
Matthew Suckling – AFL Rookie Draft (No.22)
2007
Cyril Rioli – AFL Draft (No.12)
Brendan Whitecross – AFL Draft (No.29)
Stuart Dew – AFL Draft (No.45)
Hugh Sandilands – AFL Rookie Draft (No.11)
Tim Walsh – AFL Rookie Draft (No.27)
Alex Grima – AFL Rookie Draft (No.42)
Cameron Stokes – AFL Rookie Draft (No.54)
Notes:
* For players who have been recruited by Hawthorn or another club more than once, it includes their most recent draft/trade acquisition
* Croad was originally drafted in the 1997 AFL Draft (No.3)
* Osborne was originally drafted in the 2000 AFL Rookie Draft (No.11)
