As we wait for another blockbuster meeting between Geelong and Hawthorn this Easter Monday, I can’t help but be reminded of the super draft of 2001.
It will surely go down as the greatest draft year in the history of the game. We could debate the second best draft class (Probably between year 2006 and year 2008) but for number one there is no question.
Year 2001 has so far produced a whopping 29 premierships, 5 Norm Smiths and 4 Brownlow medalists.
To put that into comparisonm the two drafts either side of 2001 don’t have any Brownlows or Norm Smiths and have 31 premierships combined.
And It was Geelong and Hawthorn (along with St. Kilda) who benefited most out of this draft.
The Hawks picked up two premiership winning captains in Luke Hodge and Sam Mitchell, while also adding Campbell Brown.
The Cats did even better.
They picked up a bloke by the name of Gary with the help of the father/son rule (father also named Gary) while also managing to pick up Jimmy Bartel, Steve Johnson and James Kelly.
That is an unfathomable result from one draft.
They weren’t however the only teams to strike gold that year.
Check out these names all from 2001 – Chris Judd, Dane Swan, Luke Ball, Nick Dal Santo, Leigh Montagna, Brent Reilly, Jarrad Waite, Jason Gram and Brian Lake.
The rookie draft produced Aaron Sandilands, Matthew Boyd and Ben Rutten, just to name a few.
One could argue that the five most influential players of the past decade were all taken in the draft class of 2001 and they would be in my opinion Ablett, Judd, Swann, Bartel and Hodge.
Even before the draft , 2001 was widely thought of as being a very special year. But somehow the Fremantle Dockers thought it was a good idea to trade away the number one pick that year for Trent Croad.
That is a truly mind boggling decision and one that still haunts them to this day.
But the majority of clubs came away feeling pretty good after the draft of 2001 and Hawthorn and Geelong continue to reap the rewards.
So while we enjoy no doubt another thrilling encounter between the two giants of our sport, let’s take a second to ponder just how significant 2001 was for both clubs.
For what it’s worth here is my best 22 from the draft class of 2001:
FB: B.Reilly B.Lake N.Bock
HB: J.Gram B.Rutten L.Hodge
C: N.Dal Santo C.Judd L.Ball
HF: D.Swan J.Waite S.Mitchell
FF: S.Johnson J.Podsiadly L.Montagna
F: A.Sandilands G.Ablett J.Bartel
Bench: J.Kelly D.Hale A.Carrazzo M.Boyd
Ryan
Guest
I can only assume you are talking about Lonergan and Suckling. I guess Lonergan is fair enough considering they played around with him (delisting) before taking him in the rookie draft. Suckling as well, originally came through rookie draft and later got picked up in 09. I though they could be included because well, we are including Posiadly as 2001? Technically, as far as I am concerned, all these players have come through the 2006 AFL Draft. Next time before you chime in which remarks that add nothing to the conversation, check what your about to say. Maybe you could indicate what is wrong with a post? you know, actually provide some information yourself? contribute? rather than just sound smug. If there are 2 players that were drafted in 1994 is this side, than that would make approximately 9% of this side wrong, which would of needed simple correcting and taken nothing away from the comment itself.
Tony Loedi
Roar Guru
It just shows the depth of this draft, here are some more names from 2001 - G.Polak, X.Clarke, A.Sampi, M.Maguire, M.Seaby, L.Roberts-Thompson, A.Welsh, P.Medhurst, A.Hansen, M.Jamar, B.Thornton, M.Mattner.
Jeffery
Guest
What? He was drafted in 2001
Jeffery
Guest
The fact that you have not 1, but 2 players on that team who were not drafted in 2006 shows you didnt do your research. Dont make a list of people from a specific group without double checking they all actually are part of it
Avatar
Roar Guru
Who could not forget him. A wonderful player at both Sydney and St Kilda, he almost became a two-time premiership player with two different clubs!
Nick Inatey
Guest
Dont forget premiership player and a whopping 5 time grand finalist Adam Schneider. Pick 60.
Chris
Guest
Great team but i agree that Podsiadly shouldn't be there. Didn't get on the senior list, went to collingwood and didn't get on the senior list and then was in the VFL for 8 seasons. Would have Quinten Lynch in there over both Pods and Jarrad Waite.
Ryan
Guest
Incredible year of talent to all emerge at once; comfortably the best year. One of those years it clearly payed to have good recruitment and development structures in place. Just to show some comparison, the 2006 AFL year was considered one of the strongest ever, here is a very quick, rough best 22; FB: J Frawley T Lonergon N Brown HB: M Suckling B Reid J Harbrow C: S Wellingham T Boak B Gibbs HF: R Gray K Tippett J Westhoff FF: J Reiwoldt T Hawkins L Thomas F: T Goldstein J.P Kennedy J Selwood I/C: S Jacobs C Jones L Hansen B Houli Obviously has a lot more holes and lacks the depth i.e Boyd on the bench. Shows the class that was present in the 2001 draft but this is still a solid outfit. Interesting enough, the 2001 teams front 4 lines look almost most full of midfielders and the 2006 team has a lack of midfielders but a rather potent forward line. This year lacked the quantity gun midfielders, but has some good key position players.
Winston
Guest
Wow, just wow. Look at that best 22! And the best thing is you even managed to fit all those players into their usual playing positions. This team will win you 99.9% of games of football. Look at that midfield - every player there is capable of getting 40 touches and 5 goals per game!
Adam Julian
Roar Guru
Great article!
Cat
Roar Guru
including Jpod in that class is drawing a bit of a long bow since it wasn't until he was redrafted years later that he made an impact.
Minz
Guest
As a Freo supporter, I'll forever regret that draft! Except for Sandi, he's awesome.
Johnno
Guest
It was a really beautiful time wasn't it. Good memories,some really fine AFL talent back in 2001 came on to the scene and the AFL has never looked back.