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PLENTY of talk leading up to a draft focuses on which player will be selected first. But keen students of the draft should be taking note of the player selected six picks after this year’s No.1.
The No.7s from a host AFL drafts have become genuine stars of the game, with Geelong skipper Joel Selwood, four-time Hawthorn premiership play Jordan Lewis and triple-premiership Cat Andrew Mackie among them.
Melbourne has the seventh pick at this year’s NAB AFL Draft. Prior to the recent free agency and draft period, Collingwood ‘owned’ this year’s No. 7. But the Magpies traded the selection to Greater Western Sydney as part of a deal to secure Adam Treloar. The Giants then sent the pick the Demons as part of a swap for Tom Bugg.
Here’s a snapshot look at seven ‘Super Sevens’ from past AFL drafts.
JOEL SELWOOD
Drafted: 2006, Geelong
204 matches
Premierships: 2007, 2009 and 2011; best and fairest 2010, 2013-14; All Australian 2009-10, 2013-14; NAB AFL Rising Star 2007.
Joel Selwood was ready to play at AFL level the day he walked into Geelong. Champion full-back Matthew Scarlett declared his new teammate, the third of four Selwood brothers, a future club captain after meeting him for the first time as an 18-year-old.
A willingness to regularly put his head over the ball is characteristic of the way Selwood plays. That style, curiously, led to Jeff Gleeson QC, at an AFL Tribunal hearing, labelling him the “league leader of bleeders”.
His courage has never been questioned, and at times his approach has resulted in frightening moments. But it’s that desire to win that sets the standard at Geelong.
Perhaps the final quarter of the 2011 Grand Final typifies his desire. Selwood had been one of the best players on the ground to the last break, and in the first 10 minutes of the last term he wanted the ball more than anyone else. Crashing through packs and running to get to the next contest, Selwood was unstoppable.
Selwood was named captain at 23, his on and off-field leadership winning him the job ahead of his more seasoned teammates.
JORDAN LEWIS
Drafted: 2004, Hawthorn
240 games
Premierships: 2008, 2013-15; best and fairest 2014; All Australian 2014
Hawthorn’s recent successful run has partly been built on players being prepared to make sacrifices. There’s an emphasis on everyone “playing their role”, a style that sometimes results in very good players perhaps not receiving the accolades they genuinely warrant. In many ways, Jordan Lewis epitomises the Hawthorn way.
Only in recent seasons has Lewis played as a full-time midfielder. He spent plenty of time earlier in his career attempting to stop others or taking a breather forward, with his true value not widely recognised.
A hot-head in his early days and a play still known for occasional errant moments, Lewis has been at the forefront of Hawthorn’s so-called “unsociable” football. The Warrnambool boy has certainly matured and is now one of the Hawks’ genuine leaders.
Lewis’s 2014 season was superb and he capped off his third flag and All-Australian selection with his best and fairest award.
Selected in a draft that also saw the Hawks net Jarryd Roughead and Lance Franklin, Lewis sits comfortably among the game’s stars, and will finish his career a genuine Hawthorn champion.
ANDREW MACKIE
Drafted: 2002, Geelong
235 games
Premierships: 2007, 2009 and 2011; All Australian 2013
Andrew Mackie started as a forward and his initial struggles saw many question whether the Cats had wasted a high draft pick. But the concerns were unfounded as Mackie soon found his niche down back.
In the great Geelong teams of the mid-to-late 2000s, Mackie was a genuine weapon with his ability to both stop others and act as a playmaker when the Cats were on the move. Tall and lean, he played on opponents of all sizes. His rebound from the defensive 50 would often have opponent chasing.
In 2010 he was dropped from the semi-final team that would defeat Fremantle. He didn’t regain his spot for the pounding the Cats would cop in the preliminary final against Collingwood. Instead of pouting, Mackie rebounded the next year and played a vital role in Geelong’s premiership.
In the decider against the Pies, Mackie played in defence and on the wing. Time and again, he won important contests, made desperate smothers, spoiled larger opponents and put in repeat efforts.
CHRIS JOHNSON
Drafted: 1993, Fitzroy
264 games for Fitzroy and Brisbane Lions
Premierships: 2001-03; All Australian 2002, 2004; Indigenous Team of the Century
Chris Johnson was a class act in the Brisbane Lions’ ruthless defence when the club won three straight flags from 2001.
In the 2001 Grand Final, with Essendon leading by three points midway through the third quarter, Blake Caracella kicked the ball to Mark Mercuri, who was running towards Essendon’s forward 50. It was Johnson who stopped the foray, leaving his man to intercept the ball, before running through the middle and finding Craig McRae with a brilliant right boot kick. A Jonathan Brown goal ensued and the Lions would hold the lead until the final siren.
The dash and dare that Johnson showed in that play were his trademarks. He could afford to be aggressive from the last line of defence because his kicking was so precise. A behind for the opposition presented an opportunity for Brisbane, because Johnson’s exquisite kicking meant he almost always found a teammate from the kick-in.
But to remember only his attacking prowess would be unfair. Johnson, named in the back pocket in the Indigenous Team of the Century, was a ferocious competitor. He was comfortable playing deep in defence and excelled in one-on-one battles.
JOSH CARR
Drafted: 1998, Port Adelaide
207 games for Port Adelaide and Fremantle
Premiership: 2004
Many will cite Josh Carr for his niggling style and ability to start a blue. But to focus solely on those aspects would be unfair for he was a skilled and smart footballer.
By his early 20s, Carr had emerged as one of the AFL’s pre-eminent taggers. Opposition stars knew they wouldn’t be seeing much of the ball when Carr was standing beside them.
When Kane Cornes emerged as a Port regular and took on more tagging roles, Carr’s morphed into a dangerous attacking player.
Carr was named vice-captain in 2004 – the year Port Adelaide’s won its inaugural AFL premiership. His leadership was important in the Grand Final. Carr’s ability to break a Nigel Lappin tackle and kick the opening goal on the run helped set the tone for the day.
Carr grappled with Jonathan Brown that day and never took a backward step, despite giving up height and weight. The moment symbolised his attitude.
LEON CAMERON
Drafted: 1988, Footscray
256 games for Footscray/Western Bulldogs and Richmond
Best and fairest: 1993. Coach of GWS since 2014
Leon Cameron was a forerunner to the modern play-making defender, his precise field kicking and ball-handling skills features of his game. He was also brilliant around goal.
The sight of Cameron sending the ball forward after a dashing run was a regular occurrence during his time with the Bulldogs and Tigers.
Playing for Richmond in the 2001 semi-final against Carlton, it was Cameron’s class that helped the Tigers secure their first win in a final in 19 years. With the Tigers up by just eight points at the main break, Cameron was on the end of some quick ball movement early in the third quarter. He steadied and kicked a critical goal from 55 metres out.
DANIEL RICH
Drafted: 2008, Brisbane Lions
122 matches for the Lions
NAB AFL Rising Star 2009
Daniel Rich was a convincing winner of the NAB AFL Rising Star award in 2009, beating the likes of Patrick Dangerfield, Dayne Beams and Callan Ward.
The Lions reached the finals that season for the first time since 2004. Hosting Carlton at the GABBA in an elimination final, Brisbane trailed by 30 points in the last quarter. Rich’s left foot goal from 50 metres brought the margin back to four, and he had a hand in the goal from Daniel Bradshaw that won the Lions the game.
In the Lions’ famous comeback win against Geelong in 2013 (after trailing by 52 points), Rich again played a key role. Late in the game, he kept his eyes on the ball running back with the flight, won it and wheeled around before guiding the ball through for a major that drew the teams level.
