It was back in 1986 when the inaugural AFL Draft was held, and the Brisbane Bears took Port Adelaide Magpie Martin Leslie with the No.1 pick. Now, in 2010, the Draft is one of the most important days on the football calendar.
Melbourne’s first selection in 1986 was at No.3. It proved to be an outstanding choice: Steven Febey.
The Tasmanian went on to play 254 matches from 1988-2001. Only David Neitz (306 matches), Robert Flower (272), Adem Yze (271) and Jim Stynes (264) have made more appearances for the Demons. From the ‘main’ draft, Yze has played the most matches by a Demon.
Current chief executive officer Cameron Schwab was Melbourne’s recruiting manager in the first Draft, and again in 1987.
In an era when the draft was somewhat speculative - and it was at times difficult to lure prominent players from the SANFL and WAFL - Schwab selected the Febey twins and Darren Jarman in the first Draft.
Matthew Febey played 143 matches for the Demons, but Jarman - a brilliant player for Hawthorn and Adelaide - couldn’t be lured from South Australia.
In 1987, the Demons backed their form up with Andrew Obst (150 matches), Stephen Tingay (162) and Jay Viney (23) from five picks. The talented Tim McNeil - Melbourne’s first pick that year at No.11 - never played a game, due to a serious achilles injury.
Interestingly, from those first two Draft meetings in 1986-87, only one Victorian player (Tingay) was plucked from 10 picks (five each year).
The first four players selected in 1986 were from Tasmania, with the rest coming from South Australia.
More than a decade later, the 1999 Draft proved to be one of Melbourne’s most successful, with 730 matches so far coming from that meeting.
Brad Green has played 220 games and will add to that in 2010 and beyond, while Paul Wheatley played 135 games, Michael Clark (one), Matthew Whelan (150) and Cameron Bruce (224). Shannon O’Brien was the only one from that Draft who didn’t play a senior game.
Melbourne has had the No.1 draft choice three times - selecting Travis Johnstone (1997), Jack Watts (2008) and Tom Scully (2009).
Other top 10 picks include: Jack Trengove (No.2 in 2009), Colin Sylvia (No.3 in 2003), Cale Morton (No.4 in 2007), Allen Jakovich (No.6 in 1990) and Martin Pike (No.9 in 1992).
The Demons have never had a pick at No.7 or No.8, but have selected a player at every step, from pick No.9 through to No.27.
Father/son choice Tom Kavanagh, claimed at No.111 in 1988, played is the highest Melbourne draftee to play an AFL match. He played two games for the Demons in 1989, before adding eight with Fitzroy.
Damon Munt, who never played an AFL match, was Melbourne’s highest selection, at No.122 in 1992.
Interestingly, pick No.50 is set to become Melbourne’s most utilised selection at this year’s Draft.
Previously, Tingay (1987), Luke Ottens (1997), Matthew Whelan (1999) and Jack Fitzpatrick (2009) have come from No.50.
Entering this year’s Draft, Melbourne has 21 players on its list claimed by former recruiting manager Craig Cameron via the various drafting mechanisms.
Another 15 have been selected by current national recruiting manager Barry Prendergast, who has chosen 12 via the NAB AFL Draft.
By the selection numbers, here is every Melbourne player to be selected via the NAB AFL Draft since 1986 …
1 - Travis Johnstone (1997), Jack Watts (2008), Tom Scully (2009)
2 - Jack Trengove (2009)
3 - Steven Febey (1986), Darren Kowal (1991), Colin Sylvia (2003)
4 - Cale Morton (2007)
5 - Jason Norrish (1991), Brock McLean (2003)
6 - Allen Jakovich (1990)
9 - Martin Pike (1992), Luke Molan (2001)
10 - Andrew Lamprill (1991), Trent Ormond-Allen (1993)
11 - Tim McNeil (1987), Donald Cockatoo-Collins (1995), Brent Grgic (1996), Jordan Gysberts (2009)
12 - Nathan Jones (2005), James Frawley (2006), TBC (2010)
13 - Darren Bennett (1989), Chris Lamb (1998), Matthew Bate (2004)
14 - Daniel Bell (2002), Jack Grimes (2007)
15 - Nicholas Smith (2002), Lynden Dunn (2004)
16 - Matthew Febey (1986), Adem Yze (1994), Scott Thompson (2000)
17 - Sam Blease (2008)
18 - Luke Tapscott (2009)
19 - Garry Merritt (1990), Phil Gilbert (1991), Brad Green (1999), James Strauss (2008)
20 - Paul Wheatley (1999)
21 - Addam Maric (2007)
22 - Alistair Nicholson (1996), Troy Longmuir (1997)
23 - Matthew MacKay (1991)
24 - Mark Ducker (1987), Brett Jeffrey (1992)
25 - Paul Rouvray (1989), Steven Armstrong (2001)
26 - Aaron Rogers (2001), Jared Rivers (2002)
27 - Rod Keogh (1988), Brad Hall (1993)
29 - Craig Walker (1986)
30 - Hayden Lamaro (1996), Ricky Petterd (2006)
31 - Haydon Kilmartin (1991)
32 - Micah Berry (1991)
33 - TBC (2010)
34 - Michael Polley (1994), Max Gawn (2009)
35 - Jamie Bennell (2008)
36 - Jason Dullard (1991), Chris Johnson (father/son - 2003)
37 - Andrew Obst (1987)
39 - Matthew Kluzek (1992), Matthew Blake (1997), Gary Moorcroft (2002)
40 - Nick White (1991)
41 - Michael Hobbes (1988)
42 - Andy Lovell (1986), Michael Prentice (1993), Michael Clark (1999)
43 - Michael Newton (2004)
45 - Clayton Gardiner (1996)
46 - Colin Garland (2006)
50 - Stephen Tingay (1987), Luke Ottens (1997), Matthew Whelan (1999), Jack Fitzpatrick (2009), TBC (2010)
51 - Clay Sampson (1994), Neville Jetta (2008)
53 - Simon Buckley (2005), Kyle Cheney (2007), TBC (2010)
54 - Daniel Clarke (1992), Cameron Hunter (2002)
55 - Darren Jarman (1986), Andrew Ford (1988), Mark Bradly (1995), Brad Miller (2001)
57 - Tim Moreland (1989)
59 - Anthony McDonald (1996)
60 - Darren O’Brien (1995), Luke Speers (1998), Clint Bartram (2005)
62 - Daniel Breese (2000), Isaac Weetra (2006)
63 - Jay Viney (1987), Fabian Francis (1990), Shannon O’Brien (1999)
64 - Cameron Bruce (1999), Rohan Bail (2008)
66 - Nathan Brown (1997), Ryan Ferguson (2002), Tom McNamara (2007)
68 - Luke Norman (1994), Russell Robertson (1996), Heath Neville (2005)
69 - Matthew Mahoney (1988), Scott Simister (1992)
71 - Glenn Wilkins (1989)
72 - Ashley Gehling (1995), Luke Taylor (1998)
73 - Ross Funcke (2000)
75 - Robert Panozzo (1990), Mark Winterton (1996)
76 - Todd McHardy (1994)
77 - Niall Buckley (1990), Guy Rigoni (1997)
80 - Mitchell Craig (2000)
82 - Duncan O’Toole (1996)
83 - Brian Stynes (1988), Ashley Gehling (1996)
84 - Damien Gaspar (1992)
85 - Anthony Tohill (1989)
97 - Tom Grehan (1988)
99 - Jeff Hilton (1992)
111 - Tom Kavanagh (father/son - 1988)
122 - Damon Munt (1992)
