IT'S draft week here at PortAdelaideFc.com.au and we’ve been focusing towards our future drafts pick of 8, 9 and 16 by reviewing the history of these picks.
With the first two (pick 8 and pick 9) it’s time to turn our attention towards 16 which was one of the two picks Port Adelaide received from the Shaun Burgoyne deal.
Since 1996 pick 16 has unearthed two Premiership players - Stephen Gilham and Rick Ladson - both of whom played in Hawthorn's 2008 Premiership.
Since 1998, there has been amazing consistency with seven of the eleven players reaching 50 games or more, with several well on their way to great careers. The current player taken at pick 16 with the most games under his belt is Brett Burton.
There is an amazing amount of talent and potential at pick 16. People who are sure to soon make the leap and could well be the next young guns of the competition include the likes of Ryan Schoenmakers, Mitch Brown, Richard Douglas and the Power's very own Matthew Lobbe. There is much to be excited about Port’s final pick in the 2009 NAB National Draft.
Lobbe is looking forward to 2010, with an extremely impressive end of the season in the SANFL, and the retirement of club champion Brendon Lade.
Here’s a look at pick 16 since Port came into the AFL:
1996
Pat Steinfort - Richmond
Games 0
1997
Ben Walton - St Kilda
Games 0
1998
Brett Burton - Adelaide
Games 171
1999
David Haynes - West Coast
Games 65
2000
Scott Thompson - Melbourne
Games 155
2001
Rick Ladson - Hawthorn
Games 102
2002
Stephen Gilham - Port Adelaide
Games 63
2003
Josh Willoughby - Sydney
Games 0
2004
Adam Pattison - Richmond
Games 61
2005
Richard Douglas - Adelaide
Games 56
2006
Mitch Brown - West Coast
Games 24
2007
Matthew Lobbe - Port Adelaide
Games 0
2008
Ryan Schoenmakers - Hawthorn
Games 13
