The 2008 National Draft is over and this would have to be one of the most anticipated drafts since the super draft of 2001, add to the fact that this is the last non-compromised draft with the Gold Coast coming in 2010.

So how did your AFL club go in the draft? Are you happy with their picks? Only three delisted players found another home in Leigh Brown, Colm Begley and Thomas Hislop which means no one picked up Ben Cousins. Richmond, Melbourne, Port Adelaide, Essendon and Brisbane all have pre season picks and could well still pick him up.

I have twice dissected what your AFL club needs during the Trade Week and afterwards for the National Draft. Now lets see how your club met their needs.

Adelaide Crows Draft Picks

Phil Davis - Will fit nicely in their forward and defense line up to fill up the holes there.
Shaun McKernan - Brother of North and Carltons Corey McKernan and while recruited as a Ruckman will probably play forward.
Rory Sloane - Midfielder to help add some youth into their aging midfield.
Thomas Lee - Another forward who can ruck.
William Young - Center half-forward in the making

Adelaide have recruited mainly tall forwards who can play back or Ruck. Still need some youth in the midfield.

Brisbane Bears Draft Picks

Daniel Rich - A steal at 7, was tipped to be a top 3. Voss would love this kid and expect him to star this year.
Jack Redden - Midfielder who can play forward.
Todd Banfield - Fast midfielder who will add pace and excitement.
Aaron Cornelius - Tall Forward that looks more like a project player.
Bart Mculloch - Have lost a few ruckman in the past few years and will add some depth to their ruckman stocks.
Kieran King - Has an athlete running background and will add even more pace.

Concentrated on midfielders with Lappin retiring and Black and Johnstone towards the end of their career. Probably still need a defender or two.

Carlton Blues Draft Picks

Chris Yarren - Yarren could be anything and will be a nice addition to the Blues forward line to help Fevola and Betts.
Mitchell Robinson - Will add more depth to their midfield.
Rhys O’keefe - Will strengthen up their defense which is leaky at best.
Caleb Tiller - Another mid sized midfielder who will be a development player.

Yarren will keep Carlton happy as he could easily provide another avenue for goals with 20-40 goals a year.

Collingwood Magpies Draft Picks

Steele Sidebottom - Star in the making and is a BIG GAME player which Malthouse looks for.
Dayne Beams – Rejected the option to play for the Gold Coast to be recruited by Collingwood. Will add variety to the squad and can play midfield, forward and back and wins plenty of the ball.
Jarrad Blight - Will be a development midfielder who will be a player.
Luke Rounds - Wears a helmet and looks like a typical footballer.
Leigh Brown - Surprise pick by many but adds depth and experience to a light defense.

Brown adds depth to their defense and the rest of the 4 picks will add depth and ability to their midfield which was a bit light on.

Essendon Bombers Draft Picks

Michael Hurley - They needed a quality defender with Michael retiring and Fletcher getting old and they got a future star.
David Zaharakis - Will add to their midfield.
Michael Still - Will be a back up forward player with Lloyd and Lucas getting on.
Tyson Slattery - Will provide run from defense which will fit in with coach Knights game plan.

They needed defenders as they leaked a lot this year and Slattery and Hurley will help.

Fremantle Dockers Draft Picks

Steven Hill - Could be anything and Freo must know something the rest do not as they by paced Rich. Looks very similar as a Headland which could be a worry.
Hayden Ballantyne - Medhurst type player and could help release pressure from Pavlich.
Nick Suban - Good kick and can play midfield or running off the backline.
Zachary Clarke - Freo needed a Ruckman and Clarke will provide some depth.
Michael Walters - Midfielder who can play forward and kick goals.
Benjamin Bucovaz - Versatile who can play forward and back.
Tim Ruffles - Another small forward which will add depth and more variety in their attack.
Chris Hall - Development player who will add depth to their developing midfield.

Fremantle needed some variety in their forward line with them being one dimensional focusing on Pavlich and loosing Medhurst and Farmer in the last two years. Ballantune, Walters and Ruffles will hopefully be the answer.

Geelong Cats Draft Picks

Mitchell Brown - Cam Mooney is getting on and Brown will add even more depth to their forward line.
Thomas Gillies - Will add depth to their defense as Scarlett and Harley age.
Steven Motlop - Another Motlop and another mercurial forward flanker on the Geelong team.
Taylor Hunt - Milburn again is not getting any younger and Hunt could well be a replacement.

Geelong have just recruited for the next 3 or 4 years when eventually their current Key Position stars look to retire.

Hawthorn Hawks Draft Picks

Ryan Shoenmakers - 190 odd cm and can play as a medium or tall forward or backman.
Liam Shiels - A development midfielder who will finish his high school in 2009.
Jordan Lisle - Again will add even more depth to their forward line.
Luke Lowden - Tall tap ruckman.
Shane Savage – Fast midfielder who will add even more depth and pace.

I would have thought the Hawks would have focused on their defense with Croad injured and lacking in the defender key position positions.

North Melbourne Kangaroos Draft Picks

Jack Ziebel - Will be happy to get Ziebel who will add depth and quality to their midfield.
Samuel Wright - Could play as a wingman or lead up forward.
Liam Anthony - Mature age (21) but like Dalziel last year will play senior footy next year and will impress.
Nathan O’keefe - Raw type of player but will add class and depth to their defense and can kick goals.
Warren Benjamin - Small classy fast forward pocket who can play midfield.

North needed midfielder with their best nearing or over 30 with Harvey and SImpson.

Melbourne Demons Draft Picks

Jack Watts - Replacement for David Neitz and hopefully the saviour for their forward line
Sam Blease - Classy midfielder but may take another year to mature and play senior football.
James Strauss - Good kick and will add more depth to their young but developing midfield.
Jamie Bennell - Small forward crummer who will add class, pace and some dynamicness.
Neville Jetta – Another forward crummer to go along with Davis, Bennell and Wonaeamirri.
Rohan Bail - Bit of a risk in the sense that he is unknown but is a good runner and could add some depth.

Will have a good forward line with the inclusion of Watts, Benell and Jetta and Blease will help them as they develop their midfield.

Port Adelaide Power Draft Picks

Hamish Hartlett - Will add midfield depth and will be a star for Port Adelaide.
Jackson Trengove - Port Adelaide would be happy to pick him as he can play Ruck, Forward or even Back.
Matthew Broadbent - Local boy who runs hard with good decision making from defense.
Mitchell Banner - Small midfielder but hugely talented and skilled.
Jarrad Redden - Another ruckman who will take time to develop.
Glenn Dawson - Another mid sized high marking forward in the vein of Motlop and Ebert.
Jason Davenport - The third ruckman Port have picked up in this years draft.

Picked up a few local boys and would be happy to have added talent, youth and filled in a few obvious weaknesses in their squad.

Richmond Tigers Draft Picks

Tyrone Vickery - His father works for the Tigers and will add depth and be the future for their Ruck stocks.
Jayden Post - Tall defender who will cover for injured Polak.
Thomas Hislop - Ex Bomber recruit and while talented has a few attitude issues. Being delisted could be the making of him.

While only had three picks, Richmond picked players they need to help them play finals in 2009.

St Kilda Saints Draft Picks

Tom Lynch - Will allow Kosi to play Ruck (his best position) to provide another target in the Saints forward line.
Rhys Stanley - Ruckman who can go forward and will be eyed off as a replacement for Steven King.
Nichloas Hayne - Hyped as the next Steve Johnson.
Alistair Smith - Fast and can run all day, could be a good replacement for Harvey.
Paul Cahill - Another tall forward who can play back.
Colm Begley - Delisted by Brisbane but will be a handy pick up.

Added a nice selection of talls and smalls to provide depth and will only make them stronger. Still need some cover down back with Maguire and Hudgton being held together by sticky tape.

Sydney Swans Draft Picks

Lewis Johnston - Key position player who will add depth and provide cover for the aging Hall and O’Loughlin.
Daniel Hannebury - Can run all day with a good football brain.
Campbell Heath - Young and will be a development player but adds pace and midfield strength to the Swans.

One of the three clubs to have minimal picks this year but would be happy to add pace, youth and talent to their aging squad.

West Coast Eagles Draft Picks

Nicholas Natianui - Nit Nat as he is known, could be anything. Some say a risky pick but they said the same about Buddy Franklin.
Luke Shuey - One of the nice guys and will be a good midfielder who has pace.
Tom Swift – Injuries have hurt him but was once compared to Chris Judd.
Ashley Smith - Quick, stocky (in a good way) and versatile and can play back or even in the midfield.
Jordan Jones - Bit of a development player who has courage and takes a good mark.

Swift and Nit Nat could be the picks or the duds of the year. Still need a crummer who can add magic and the x-factor but have added some pace with Shuey, Nit Nat, Swift and Smith.

Western Bulldogs Draft Picks

Ayce Cordy – Father/ Son pick but would have been a top 10 pick easily. More of a ruckman but can play forward.
Jordan Roughead – Another Ruckman/ Forward and cousin of Hawthorns Roughead.
Liam Jones - Tall forward who is a likely player and could help solve the forward problems down at Doggie land.

When one of these and last years draftes can kick 40 to 50 goals in a year, watch out of the Dogs.

Which AFL Club picked up the best?

Every club would be happy with their picks but in my opinion Collingwood, Melbourne, Fremantle, Adelaide and Brisbane would be regarded as winners.

Which club do you think picked up some gems and what about your club? You happy with who was picked up? Also who missed out and will they picked up in the Pre Season Draft or the Rookie Draft?

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