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FREMANTLE, Carlton and St Kilda are all armed with dual top-10 picks in Friday night's NAB AFL Draft, which they hope will change their future for the better.

History shows that nailing multiple early selections propels clubs into premiership contention, but that is easier said than done.

The draft is riddled with examples where teams picked up one star and missed badly on the other, but when they get it right – really right – the pay-off is enormous.

AFL.com.au looked back on the past 31 drafts since the inaugural edition in 1986 to uncover the greatest heists.

The rankings take into account players' impact at the club that drafted them and exclude the expansion drafts where Greater Western Sydney and Gold Coast had numerous top-10 selections.

1. Hawthorn (2004) Jarryd Roughead (No.2), Lance Franklin (5) and Jordan Lewis (7)

This is the scenario every recruiter dreams of, but rarely plays out. The Hawks changed their trajectory in one fell swoop in an extraordinary draft, recruiting two key forwards in Roughead and Franklin and a hard-at-it but skilful midfielder in Lewis. Only Roughead, now club captain, remains at Waverley Park, but their combined Hawthorn achievements include the 2008, '13, '14 and '15 flags (Franklin missed the last two after joining Sydney), 699 games, 1254 goals, two best and fairests, three Coleman Medals and seven All Australian honours. Lewis is still going strong as a Demon.

2. Collingwood (2005) Dale Thomas (2) and Scott Pendlebury (5)

Thomas' career petered out – although there was a form spike in 2017 – after a high-priced move to Carlton. But these two made for a mighty combination in their heyday at the Magpies, and were pivotal in delivering the black and white the 2010 premiership after a two-decade wait. Collingwood also made the 2011 Grand Final and preliminary finals in 2009 and 2012. Pendlebury has served as Magpies captain since 2014, won five Copeland trophies and is a five-time All Australian, while some experts considered Thomas the game's best player for a brief period. The Drouin dasher was an All Australian in 2011.

3. Fremantle (1999) Paul Hasleby (2), Matthew Pavlich (4) and Leigh Brown (5)

Brown played 63 of his 246 matches as a Docker to push this trio slightly ahead of the next duo. However, do-it-all utility Matthew Pavlich and tough midfielder Paul Hasleby did the lion's share of the lifting. Pavlich was a champion: nine years as captain, six best and fairests, six All Australian nods in various positions and 700 goals across 353 matches. He also led Freo to the 2013 Grand Final. Hasleby packed the 2000 NAB AFL Rising Star award and a 2003 All Australian berth into his 208 games. They accepted seven Ross Glendinning Medals between them as best afield in the Western Derby.

4. St Kilda (2000) Nick Riewoldt (1) and Justin Koschitzke (2)

Riewoldt's career stacks up with anyone on the list, but this is a team game. The Saints' twin towers up forward helped transform the club into perennial contenders and were both part of the narrow flag misses in 2009 and 2010. Riewoldt is St Kilda's longest-serving captain, won six best and fairests, made the All Australian team five times and kicked 718 goals in 336 appearances. Koschitzke earned the 2001 Rising Star award – Riewoldt claimed the same honour a year later – and his best was possibly as good as his draft peer, but inconsistency plagued him. Still racked up 200 games and booted 247 goals to be a quality investment.

5. Essendon (1994) Scott Lucas (4) and Blake Caracella (10)

The 2000 premiership teammates deserve their lofty position. Lucas is perhaps underappreciated, having been unfairly cast as Matthew Lloyd's forward sidekick during his stellar 270-game career. The long-kicking lefty booted 471 goals, including 49 or more in a season on five occasions. Lucas also won two Bombers best and fairests and was their leading goalkicker in 2006. Caracella won a flag with the Brisbane Lions in 2003 after a controversial trade from Tullamarine – although that doesn't count here – following 151 goals in 126 outings. He was the quintessential silky skilled small forward.

6. Sydney (1998) Nic Fosdike (3), Ryan Fitzgerald (4) and Jude Bolton (8)

The Swans whiffed on Ryan "Fitzy" Fitzgerald – a promising tall forward cut down by injury – but can't complain about Bolton and Fosdike. They both played in the 2005 premiership, with Fosdike producing the match of his life with 26 disposals to be one of the team's best on the day. He played 164 games in total spanning a decade on Sydney's list, while Bolton is one of the club's modern greats and also played in the 2012 flag-winning side. The tackling machine and contested-ball beast made 325 appearances and kicked 196 goals before finally calling it a day in 2013. Bolton's attack on the ball epitomised the hard-nosed Swans' sides of that generation.

Scott Pendlebury, Ben Reid and Nathan Brown all came with top 10 selections. Picture: AFL Photos

7. Collingwood (2006) Ben Reid (8) and Nathan Brown (10)

The Pies had a couple of direct hits here with key-position prospects Reid and Brown, who each played in the 2010 premiership. Brown made the quicker impact of the two and effectively manned some of the best forwards in the game. His performances on St Kilda legend Nick Riewoldt in the 2010 Grand Final stalemate and replay were the crowning glory of his 130-match black-and-white stint. Reid played only eight games across his first three seasons, but enjoyed a breakout campaign in 2010 before earning All Australian selection a year later. He remains a dependable option down back or in attack, where he finished the past season.

8. West Coast (2001) Chris Judd (3) and Ashley Sampi (6)

There is a heavy reliance here on the Eagles' 2006 premiership captain, but Sampi did enough in his 78 games, despite overall being a disappointment, to ensure this partnership features. Sampi is best known for his 2004 Mark of the Year against Melbourne, but also played in the 2005 Grand Final and kicked 97 career goals. Judd ticked almost every box in his 134 matches for West Coast: 2004 Brownlow medallist, 2006 AFL Players' Association MVP, twice club champion and Norm Smith medallist in a losing side in 2005. He kept doing it once he left for the Blues at the end of 2007 and his parting gift was dual Coleman medallist Josh Kennedy.

9. Western Bulldogs (2012) Jake Stringer (5) and Jack Macrae (6)

The turbulent but at times brilliant Stringer era at the Kennel is over after 89 matches and 160 goals. It didn't have the longevity of others on this list, but certainly fits in for top-end quality. Stringer amassed 57 goals in the 2015 season to earn All Australian selection and a larger-than-life nickname, 'The Package'. He was dropped to the VFL a year later as he battled form, but still kicked 42 majors and played in the Doggies' fairytale flag alongside Macrae. As for Macrae, he has averaged 26-plus disposals since his second season and is an integral member of the Bulldogs' engine room. The 99-gamer is unerringly consistent and looks set for a fine career.

10. Western Bulldogs (2003) Adam Cooney (1) and Farren Ray (4)

Cooney is best known for his Brownlow Medal-winning 2008 season, which also saw him collect his sole All Australian nod. Was one of those genuine goalkicking midfielders, slotting 186 majors in 219 matches as a Bulldog, and boasted blistering pace at his best before a knee injury hobbled him. Ray played 75 of his 209 games in red, white and blue and was a good contributor in his last three seasons there after a slow start. His 27-disposal, two-goal star turn in the Bulldogs' 2006 elimination final win was a highlight, but he sought a trade two years later after being dropped in the post-season.