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The 2010 AFL draft was the last point of business for the Gold Coast Suns to tick off before beginning their inaugural season in the AFL in 2011.
I wrote down 33 names from the draft, all of whom have become worthy players in the AFL today. However, that list will be reduced to 10 as I redraft the class of 2010.
Since this draft is only starting their fifth season in the AFL, the list of players I choose will be a combination of existing value, future potential, and a little bit of ‘which 10 players I would pick to build my team’.
Obviously Gold Coast dominates the top 10 picks, but keep your eyes peeled for some eye-catching draft picks by West Coast, Hawthorn and the Western Bulldogs.
2010 draft
Pick 1: David Swallow (Gold Coast)
Pick 2: Harley Bennell (Gold Coast)
Pick 3: Sam Day (Gold Coast)
Pick 4: Andrew Gaff (West Coast)
Pick 5: Jared Polec (Brisbane)
Pick 6: Reece Conca (Richmond)
Pick 7: Josh Caddy (Gold Coast)
Pick 8: Dyson Heppell (Essendon)
Pick 9: Dion Prestia (Gold Coast)
Pick 10: Daniel Gorringe (Gold Coast)
Redrafted
Pick 1 (Gold Coast) – Dyson Heppell
Heppell is a player every team wishes they had. He is an intelligent footballer who rarely wastes a possession. The Essendon recruitment team should have got a big pay rise after they snared Heppell with the eighth pick in this draft.
From the minute he debuted in 2011, Heppell put the competition on notice that there was a new star in town. He plays with composure, flair and is a very well-liked player.
In just his fifth season, Heppell is already averaging 24 disposals, five marks and four tackles a game. He won the AFL’s Rising Star Award in 2011, as well as almost winning Essendon’s best and fairest in his debut season.
2014 was the year he confirmed his superstar credentials, being named an All-Australian and winning his first best and fairest medal.
An incredibly consistent player who’ll play his 100th game this season and could even win the Brownlow Medal if all goes well.
Pick 2 (Gold Coast) – Luke Parker
How did Luke Parker get drafted at pick 40 in this draft? Gold Coast? Anyone have the answer?
Parker was an amazing get for the Swans. Like Heppell, Parker is a mature-minded, mature-bodied midfielder. A hard-hitting inside ball-winner, he will tackle, mark, kick goals all day long, and has established himself as one the up-and-coming midfielders in the competition. He’s an emerging leader at the Swans and extremely courageous as well.
Parker is another player you would just love to have lining up in your midfield every week. He averages 20 touches, three marks and four tackles over his 84 games and he’s kicked an impressive 60 goals to go along with that.
2014 was a super year for him, he picked up the best and fairest honours at Sydney and was stiff to miss out on an All-Australian selection. Finally, he’s also a premiership player in 2012.
Pick 3 (Gold Coast) – Tom Liberatore
Technically, this wouldn’t have happened, because Liberatore was a father/son selection for the Western Bulldogs, taken at pick 41. However, he is still my third pick in this redraft.
Liberatore has quickly emerged as the Bulldogs’ best and most important midfielder, as well as one the AFL’s premier inside midfielders. Liberatore is tough, loves the contest, and is a stoppage and tackling machine. In just 77 games, Liberatore has lived up to his famous surname. His career averages read 23 disposals, three marks and six tackles a game.
2014 was a breakout year for him – he led the league in tackles and clearances, finished eighth in contested possessions, won his first best and fairest at the Bulldogs, and also was nominated for an All-Australian selection.
He will be sorely missed in 2015, but will no doubt lead the Bulldogs to much-desired finals success in the future.
Pick 4 (West Coast) – Brodie Smith
Smith, selected by the Adelaide Crows with the 14th pick in this draft, was the breakout player in the competition last season.
A running half-back who is responsible for rebounding the ball off Adelaide’s defensive 50, Smith is Adelaide’s counter-attack; he kicks the ball long and efficiently, rarely missing a target. Some are saying, along with Shannon Hurn, that he could be the most penetrating kick in the AFL.
He was fairly unknown until last year, when he was named in the 2014 All-Australian team and finished fourth in Adelaide’s best and fairest.
Injuries have limited him to 78 career games, but if his game against Collingwood was anything to go by, Smith could very well turn himself into the best rebounding defender in the game.
Pick 5 (Brisbane) – Paul Puopolo
Paul Puopolo is arguably the most under-appreciated, underrated player in the competition, unless you are a Hawthorn supporter (and I’m not for those wondering).
Hawthorn proved once again they might be the best recruiters in the country when they selected Puopolo with pick 66 in 2010. In his 90 games, it’s hard to remember a time when Puopolo hasn’t chased, tackled, pressured, corralled, assisted in goals, kicked clutch goals, crumbed the ball and done all the one percenters that are required.
He has cemented his spot in the team because he is a selfless, hard-working player. He’s kicked 74 career goals and is a two-time premiership player. He doesn’t mind a spectacular pack mark either does he?
I’m not saying Brisbane should’ve taken him, but they wouldn’t be happy with their original pick, Polec, who flew off to Port Adelaide as soon as he could.
Pick 6 (Richmond) – Jack Darling
Another unlikely scenario, as Richmond were targeting a defender, and Jack Darling came up through the WAFL, but that doesn’t mean he isn’t worthy of sixth pick.
After some off-field behavioural issues, Darling fell to the West Coast Eagles at pick 26. Darling is a wonderful young centre half forward who couldn’t complement Josh Kennedy any better.
In 90 games, Darling has kicked 158 goals, leading West Coast’s goal kicking in 2012 with a career-best 53 goals. Not only is he a very accurate kick in front of goal, he works hard to keep the ball inside the Eagles’ forward 50 with his defensive pressure. Darling plays his role brilliantly; he gives West Coast structure, and can be used all around the ground because of his flexibility, athleticism and stamina.
Pick 7 (Gold Coast) – David Swallow
Taken at number one overall in 2010, Swallow hasn’t yet lived up to the hype (hindsight again is a wonderful thing), but he’s only four years into his career. Swallow reminds me of Dustin Martin, where he’ll burst through packs and kick a goal from 50.
Swallow had a lot of pressure on him early on, but the arrival of Gary Ablett and Michael Rischitelli eased the weight of expectations and helped his development. Injuries have limited him to 75 games, but the exciting midfielder has still averaged 20 disposals and four tackles a game.
He is a hard-running, contested ball player whose career you should be following. He has a paddock of untapped potential which will really elevate his game.
Pick 8 (Essendon) – Isaac Smith
Hawthorn used their first pick (pick 19) in the 2010 draft on VFL player Isaac Smith. Smith is an elite runner in the AFL, who provides some of the most exciting, effective, game-changing run-and-carry in the competition. He can have a spell in the contest, or even up forward, but is at his best when he is released onto the wing, using his pace and damaging disposal.
He is a product of a good team, but he should not be undervalued because of that. He holds his own in that Hawthorn line-up and it is rare not to see him pencilled in the best 22 since his debut season. He’s played 88 games, kicking 79 goals, as well as being a two-time premiership player.
There have been a few noteworthy occurrences in his career where he has kicked the clutch goal from 50 metres. His career averages are no sleeping point either, 20 disposals, three tackles, five marks and almost a goal a game is not a bad day’s work for a predominant wing player.
Pick 9 (Gold Coast) – Andrew Gaff
West Coast drafted Gaff with the fourth pick in the 2010 draft, and he has slowly built his game up to be considered one of West Coast’s most dynamic midfielders.
The rest of the competition is only now starting to appreciate what Gaff can do on a footy field, but West Coast supporters have been waiting patiently for this player to take over. Gaff is a speedy ball magnet who always seems to be in and around the contest, ready to explode. He uses the ball well and is often a key part of West Coast’s counter attack from defence.
Gaff has played 86 games and kicked 32 goals. He is just starting to realise how good he can be, and he can elevate himself to one of the best running, ball-carrying midfielders in the AFL in less than three seasons.
Pick 10 (Gold Coast) – Jeremy Howe
Melbourne drafted Howe with the 33rd selection in 2010, and he has become a fan favourite, yet he manages a lot more than the spectacular high-flying mark each game. He reads the play exceptionally well and almost always makes an impact when he is on the ground.
Playing as a forward for most of his 80 career games, Howe has kicked 70 goals and probably averaged a specky a game. But in 2014, he was moved into defence because of his ability to read the play.
He’s a player you would love at your discretion as he can play at both ends of the ground, and could probably take out a few bodies in the midfield.
He hasn’t ‘done’ as much as others in this draft, but the Mark of The Year winner in 2012, and Melbourne’s leading goalkicker (28) in 2013 is one of the most talented players from 2010.
My next three redrafted picks:
Pick 11: Dion Prestia (originally pick 9)
Pick 12: Harley Bennell (originally pick 2)
Pick 13: Tom Lynch (originally pick 11)
I’d be very surprised if we weren’t still talking about the players from this draft in 10 years to come. There is pure quality and talent sprinkled throughout this draft.
Obviously Gold Coast was privy to the cream of the crop, but plaudits to West Coast and Hawthorn who recruited brilliantly.
Mitch Wallis and Jared Polec are the players from this draft that I am keeping my eyes on this season.
2010 was a beauty. Did I get this right? Who would you redraft with the top 10 picks in the 2010 draft?
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