The AFL national draft is done and dusted for another year and the class of 2015 have found their homes, scattered among the eighteen AFL clubs.

EVERY PICK OF THE 2015 DRAFT

Of course what every footy fan wants to know is, who did my club pick, and how many Brownlows are they going to win?

So here’s my look club-by-club at the players each team picked up, what kind of roles they play, and what my perception of the pick was. Did they go a bit early? Did they find a bargain? Or was the third bowl of porridge just right?

We won’t know until five or ten years in the future just how well each club really did of course. But we can wildly speculate, and that’s a lot of fun.

Adelaide
Pick 11 – Wayne Milera
Pick 17 – Tom Doedee

The Crows took a local boy at their first pick, half-forward Wayne Milera, who shows a lot of promise and has some versatility as someone who can play forward pocket, forward flank and wing. He’s an exciting player and a great selection – a Crows fan growing up, too.

However it was their next choice that turned heads as the Crows shocked the draft by picking up Tom Doedee, considered by most to be a second or third-round selection, with their other first-round pick.

Will the Doedee pick pay off? Possibly, and the Crows recruiters would want to really hope it does, because there was a lot of highly-rated talent left on the table when they made it.

Brisbane
Pick 2 – Josh Schache
Pick 14 – Eric Hipwood
Pick 24 – Ben Keays
Pick 39 – Rhys Mathieson
Pick 47 – Sam Skinner

The Brisbane recruiters should receive a rockstar welcome when they return north because this was an incredible draft for them.

Key-forward Schache, versatile tall Hipwood, and midfielder Keays – we knew they would be getting them all from a while out but to have their names officially on the list is something to celebrate.

The real surprise of the evening though was how late the bid came in for Ben Keays, with the Bulldogs bidding on him in the second round. This meant the Lions didn’t give up much to get him and had a pick left at the start of the third round to get Rhys Mathieson.

Mathieson, a ball-winning midfielder, was regarded as a likely first-round selection for much of the year and while concerns exist about his endurance he looks like an excellent value selection there.

Sam Skinner could prove a bargain pick up as well, he’s a tall player with some talent but was available late in the draft because he spent most of this year injured.

Carlton
Pick 1 – Jacob Weitering
Pick 10 – Harry McKay
Pick 12 – Charlie Curnow
Pick 23 – David Cunningham
Pick 53 – Jack Silvagni

The Blues went with Jacob Weitering as their first pick as expected and then picked up some great tall talent in Harry McKay and Charlie Curnow – brother of current player Ed – with their second and third.

Their fourth pick was spent on speedy midfielder David Cunningham which could prove to be a really good value selection, and they secured father-son pick Jack Silvagni late in the piece as well.

Going to be very interested to see how this all pans out for the Blues – no doubt they got some great talent through the door, but I leave the draft thinking I’m not sure if they absolutely nailed their picks.

Collingwood
Pick 32 – Brayden Sier
Pick 58 – Tom Phillips
Pick 63 – Rupert Wills
Pick 65 – Ben Crocker

The Magpies must rate their first pick Brayden Sier very highly because they passed on some genuine sliders to pick him up. At 190cm he’s that big-bodied type midfielder that clubs love but hasn’t got a lot of proven form.

Not much to be said about Tom Phillips or Rupert Wills, Wills a mature-ager. Ben Crocker looks like he could be a good late selection who can kick goals but time will tell.

Essendon
Pick 5 – Darcy Parish
Pick 6 – Aaron Francis
Pick 29 – Alex Morgan
Pick 30 – Mason Redman
Pick 54 – Mitch Brown
Pick 64 – Yestin Eades
Pick 68 – Michael Hartley

The Bombers went with midfielder Darcy Parish and 191cm-utility Aaron Francis as their first two picks and will be pretty happy there, although they probably neglected one of their major needs which is to find a key forward partner for Joe Daniher.

Their next two picks of Alex Morgan and Mason Redman were somewhat surprising as they ignored some sliding talent to pick them up, still, they look quality. Morgan’s a speedy medium defender, Redman a medium forward.

They then picked up former Geelong player Mitch Brown who could come in right away as a mature selection, he played some games for them in the NAB Challenge when some of their players were undergoing provisional suspensions and looked good. Key back or key forward.

Then they went the funny-name route with forward Yestin Eades – a small forward, and picked up another key back in Michael Hartley who was once on the Collingwood rookie list.

An interesting draft for the Bombers. There’s a lot to like but I wonder if they’ll eventually regret letting some of the more widely-rated names slip past with their picks at 29/30.

Fremantle
Pick 27 – Darcy Tucker
Pick 38 – Harley Balic
Pick 55 – Samuel Collins
Pick 61 – Shane Yarran

I would be very happy coming away with this draft if I were the Dockers, Darcy Tucker is a half-back flanker, Harley Balic a half-forward, and both were tipped as likely first-round selections – to get them in the second round is bargain pricing on both.

Sam Collins and Shane Yarran are both mature prospects, Collins a tallish defender from the Box Hill Hawks in the VFL and creative forward Yarran is one of the stars of the WAFL.

Geelong
Pick 59 – Ryan Gardner
Pick 66 – Sam Menegola
Pick 69 – Wylie Buzza
Pick 70 – Matthew Hayball

With nothing but late picks to use the Cats were never going to be more than bit players in the draft but might have found a few bargains here, Tasmanian Ryan Gardner was their first pick of the draft.

Sam Menegola has previously been listed with Hawthorn and Fremantle without ever making his debut, he dominated the WAFL this year and could make an immediate impact at AFL level.

Wylie Buzza is best known for having a magnificent name and hilarious hairdo, while Matthew Hayball isn’t far behind in the magnificent name stakes.

Gold Coast
Pick 8 – Callum Ah Chee
Pick 20 – Brayden Fiorini
Pick 34 – Joshua Schoenfeld
Pick 52 – Mackenzie Willis

The Suns made same odd draft choices, picking up small midfielder/forwards types with Callum Ah Chee and Brayden Fiorni in the first round, even though they’re not really lacking in that type on their list.

Schoenfield is a midfielder and Mackenzie Willis has two first names.

All things considered I’m not sure the Suns picked the right type of players needed to complement their current list, but we’ll see how it plays out for them.

Greater Western Sydney
Pick 7 – Jacob Hopper
Pick 13 – Matthew Kennedy
Pick 16 – Harrison Himmelberg
Pick 41 – Matthew Flynn

A great success story for recruiting via the academy system, the Giants took four players through their academy and no others – inside midfielders Hopper and Kennedy, a key forward in Himmelberg, and a ruckman, Flynn.

They would’ve been happy with how late the bid came for Kennedy, and a little peeved at how early the bid came for Himmelberg – it evens out in the end, they didn’t have to go into deficit. A good result for them.

Hawthorn
Pick 19 – Ryan Burton
Pick 22 – Kieran Lovell
Pick 44 – Blake Hardwick

Some bold moves made by the Hawks with their two first rounders. They may have snagged the steal of the draft with Ryan Burton at pick 19, a highly talented forward who just needs to get his body right and if he does could become an absolute star.

Kieran Lovell was something of a surprise, he dominated for Tasmania this year but at 173cm in height there’s got to be some questions over his ability to compete at AFL level. But hey, if the Hawks are happy to back him in, who am I to argue?

Blake Hardwick could be a good value pick, a medium-sized forward.

Melbourne
Pick 4 – Clayton Oliver
Pick 9 – Sam Weideman
Pick 42 – Mitch King
Pick 46 – Liam Hulett

The Dees made a big call to take Clayton Oliver with their first pick, knowing they were giving up Darcy Parish in doing so, but I really like this lad, and I reckon it will prove to be a good decision.

I reckon I’m going to spend the next ten years trying to remember if it’s Clayton Oliver or Oliver Clayton, though.

Sam Weideman could be huge for them – if he gets his ankle right and improves his overall fitness, he and Jesse Hogan could be a dominant key forward combination for years to come.

Not much to say on Mitch King – a ruckman – and Liam Hulett, but the pressure was on the Dees to nail their two first selections this year and at this early mark, I feel like they have.

North Melbourne
Pick 21 – Ben McKay
Pick 31 – Ryan Clarke
Pick 33 – Mitchell Hibberd
Pick 43 – Corey Wagner
Pick 60 – Declan Mountford

North were one of the beneficiaries of those sliding players with their picks in the 30s. They took Ben McKay maybe a little earlier than I would’ve thought with their first pick but off the potential he’s shown it could prove a great get.

Ryan Clarke and Mitchell Hibberd at 31 and 33 are just great value selections though, they both have the chance to be really good quality contributors for North in the future, Hibberd in particular I think could be an elite player with a bit of luck.

Corey Wagner and Declan Mountford could both add something to the club as the outside goal-kicking types North is looking for.

Port Adelaide
Pick 37 – Riley Bonner
Pick 45 – Aidyn Johnson

The Power only made two selections at the draft but I feel like they got great value with Riley Bonner at pick 37, I had him probably either late first round or very early second and they’ve gotten him almost at the very end of the second round.

He’s an excellent kick, defender who sets up the play, Grant Birchall-esque type which is something I think they lack a bit and he could be a really great component of their team. He’s a local boy too. Aidyn Johnson is a speedy medium forward.

Richmond
Pick 15 – Daniel Rioli
Pick 50 – Oleg Markov
Pick 67 – Nathan Broad

Some interesting picks for the Tigers here – they did a lot of bidding on academy prospects but didn’t manage to snag any of them away for the clubs they’re tied too.

Daniel Rioli has a few tricks up his sleeve and is the type of player that Richmond needs but I feel like they’ve reached for him a bit here when there were plenty of very promising options left on the board.

Oleg Markov shows some real athletic prowess great to see him get a chance after being overlooked last year. Nathan Broad is a mature 191cm defender.

St Kilda
Pick 18 – Jade Gresham
Pick 40 – Brandon White
Pick 49 – Bailey Rice

Interesting call form the Saints to pick Jade Gresham with their first selection, he has a lot of really great qualities, some versatility, and a great attitude, the only question mark is his height, at 177cm he may find the step up to AFL level tricky.

Brandon White and Bailey Rice are both medium-sized defenders, Rice a father-son pick.

Sydney
Pick 3 – Callum Mills
Pick 51 – Tyrone Leonardis
Pick 56 – Jordan Dawson

The Swans paid a lot to secure Callum Mills but no doubt it will turn out to be very good decision, he’s an elite contested-ball midfielder who could step right into AFL level next year.

The more interesting decision was choosing not to match Western Bulldogs’ bid for Josh Dunkley – they could have afforded it, points-wise, but decided to let it pass, and made history as the first club ever to not match a bid.

Still waiting for the official explanation on why they did that, but no doubt we will all now follow young Dunkely’s career with the Dogs with great interest. He’s got some good qualities and the Swans might be red-faced over this one in a few years time.

Speaking of red-faced, someone uncovered Tyrone Leonardis’ facebook page after the draft and he’s liked a few pages that say some not-so-kind things about Adam Goodes so I reckon he’ll be in for some social media education very early on in his career.

West Coast
Pick 28 – Luke Partington
Pick 36 – Tom Cole
Pick 57 – Kurt Mutimer
Pick 62 – Matthew Allen

The Eagles picked up some good talent with their first two picks, a midfielder in Luke Partington and a versatile player in Tom Cole – starting as a defender probably but could play anywhere. They might not be out and out stars but look really capable of being solid AFL players.

Mutimer and Allen look a bit more speculative but all things considered it’s a solid draft effort from the Eagles given where their draft picks fell.

Western Bulldogs
Pick 25 – Josh Dunkley
Pick 26 – Kieran Collins
Pick 35 – Marcus Adams
Pick 48 – Bailey Williams

The Bulldogs picked up some really good talent in this draft and I reckon they did a great job of addressing one of their biggest needs, which was to pick up a key defender or two.

They made history by bidding on Josh Dunkley and having that not matched by the Swans – now Dunkley is theirs, and we’ll surely follow his career with a lot of interest to see just who made the better call on that one.

Kieran Collins slid from a likely first round selection to being available at their picks and is really a perfect fit for them as someone who will probably be their first choice full back before too long and could play a fair bit of footy this year.

Getting Dunkley and Collins with those two picks I think more than justifies their decision to trade out pick 11 to secure them.

Marcus Adams too is a mature key defender from the WAFL and between him and Collins, they’ve really bolstered their defense. They didn’t find a ruck but I suspect they’ll look at the rookie draft for that. Bailey Williams is a prolific midfielder.