So, with the 2008 NAB AFL Draft less than two weeks away portadelaidefc.com.au presents part two of its four–part review of the Power’s biggest hits (and misses) in drafts gone by.
1999 AFL Draft
This was a largely forgettable draft for the Power, but thankfully they made up for it with their activity in trade week. Port Adelaide took a punt on Paul Koulouriotis with its first pick at number 12, but went unrewarded after he managed just three games with the club.
Ruckman Cain Ackland was taken with the Power’s second-round pick (27) with Brent Guerra (28) and Steven Brosnan (57) rounding out their selections.
Guerra chipped in with 65 games for Port Adelaide, but it was the recruitment of defensive duo Matthew Bishop and Brent Montgomery, who were secured in exchanged for pick 42 and Nathan Eagleton respectively, that would help shape the club’s first premiership side.
Best picks of the draft overall…
Collingwood chose ruckman Josh Fraser with its prized number one pick, leaving Matthew Pavlich to go to Fremantle at pick number four, Joel Corey to Geelong at pick number eight, Darren Glass to West Coast at pick number 11 and Robert Murphy to the Western Bulldogs at pick 13.
Cats Cameron Ling (pick number 38) and Corey Enright (number 47), as well as Bulldog Lindsay Gilbee (43) and Collingwood livewire Leon Davis (34), were other brilliant pick-ups.
2000 AFL Draft
The 2000 draft was responsible for delivering nearly half of Port Adelaide’s current leadership group and must be considered its most successful to date.
The Power used four selections in 2000 and picked up Shaun Burgoyne with number 12, which the club received from Adelaide in exchange for Matthew Bode, and also Kane Cornes (number 20), Allan Murray (number 35) and Dom Cassisi at pick number 50.
Port Adelaide sacrificed pick number four to lure Darryl Wakelin back to the club from St Kilda. He proved his worth alongside Burgoyne, Cornes and Cassisi with a premiership medallion in 2004.
Best picks in the draft overall…
St Kilda duo Nick Riewoldt and Justin Koschitzke headlined the 2000 NAB AFL Draft, which also produced such talents as Alan Didak, Daniel Motlop, Daniel Kerr and Scott Thompson. But it’s fair to say the Saints got it right with superstar Riewoldt at number one.
2001 AFL Draft
The Power had only three picks in the 2001 ‘super’ draft and experienced mixed success. The Port Adelaide recruiters and coaching staff tossed up between taking Barry Brooks or Rick Ladson at pick number 15 with Brooks, who failed to play a game for the club, eventually winning out over the Hawks premiership player.
The Power opted for Damon White (pick number 62) and Jared Poulton (76) with their latter picks, and also elevated eventual premiership ruckman Dean Brogan from its rookie list.
Best picks of the draft overall…
The 2001 ‘super’ draft produced some of the finest footballers in the game today, including Brownlow Medallists Chris Judd (pick number three) and Jimmy Bartel (number eight), as well as Norm Smith Medallist Luke Hodge (number one).
The Cats also scored Gary Ablett Jr (Father-Son), James Kelly and Steve Johnson in this talent-laden draft.
The views in this story are those of the author and not necessarily those of the club.
