Did you know that Travis Boak, Justin Westhoff and Robbie Gray were all drafted in the same year by Port Adelaide?

Did you know that Joel Patfull could still be wearing Port Adelaide’s colours if the Power had kept him on their rookie list?

Did you know Port Adelaide have never had the number one draft pick in the AFL draft?

Well, read on then.

If you’ve read my previous scouting reports on the some of the other AFL clubs, you’ll know the draft selections below will be labelled either sweet or sour depending on how that player’s career turned out.

This could include playing 250 games, asking for a trade, captaining the side or being delisted after two games.

They didn’t stop until they were top in 2004, but since then, it’s been a tough ride for Port. But how has their drafting fared since 2001? Let’s find out.

Top five sweets

1. The 2006 draft
Three words: Boak, Westhoff and Gray. Next. OK, sorry that was four words. In 2006, the Port Adelaide Power hit the draft jackpot. Let’s start with the captain.

With pick five in 2006, the Power selected Travis Boak. Boak has been a star ever since he stepped foot into the AFL. Having played 165 games, he is the Port Adelaide captain, a two-time All-Australian, a best and fairest winner and one of the premier midfielders in the game.

Boak leads by example, he demands everything and anything from himself and his teammates, and he is an incredibly skilled, composed player. He has definitely delivered for a pick five in the draft.

Next in line is Robbie Gray, who Port selected with the 55th pick in 2006. Robbie Gray has been a warrior for Port Adelaide. Season-ending injuries and inconsistencies in form have seen him bounce in and out of the Power line-up and only manage 124 games in almost ten seasons. But the last few years has been the Robbie Gray show up in South Australia.

A small forward for most of his career has seen him notch 169 goals, but Gray’s creativity, body strength and skill have seen him push up into the midfielder and play a crucial role in Port’s revival. In 2014, not only was he a favourite for the Brownlow, but also he was named All-Australian, the AFLCA’s Player of the Year and elevated himself to the elite bracket. He plays smart, he’s a team player and is a fan favourite.

Lastly, the Hoff. Justin Westhoff was drafted with the 71st pick in 2006. Like Gray, Westhoff is another Port player who journeyed through the early part of his career, and wasn’t able to display his full potential to his team. But alas, 169 games and 212 goals later, Justin Westhoff could very well be the AFL’s most versatile player and Port’s most valuable weapon.

Consistency has always been the knock on Westhoff until the past few seasons where he has really shone as Port’s swingman. He’s a great mark, a quality shot for goal and is another in Port’s forward line who puts the team before the player. You’ll see him up forward, down back and possibly on the wing all in one quarter.

A stunning collection of players for Port who also drafted Paul Stewart, Nathan Krakouer, and added David Rodan to their list in 2006.

2. Chad Wingard
Wingard is 77 games into his AFL career and could very well be the best drafting decision Port Adelaide has ever made once he calls time on his career. Simply put, he will have 300-plus games for the Power if the injury spell doesn’t hit him severely.

Port took him with Pick 6 in 2011, and if Greater Western Sydney were selecting again, I guarantee Chad Wingard would feature in their top two selections (they had the first five remember).

A South Australian product, born and raised, Wingard’s career with Port could not have started out better. He’s already an All-Australian and best and fairest winner, he’s kicked over 100 goals, he took Mark of the Year last season and is one of the AFL’s most exciting and creative small forward/midfielder players.

Think of the sweetest lolly you’ve ever had Port fans. Was it named Chad Wingard by any chance?

3. The 2008 draft
If you thought the three names Port drafted in 2006 were sweet, here’s what they did two years later. Hamish Harlett with Pick 4, Jackson Trengove with Pick 22, and Matthew Broadbent with Pick 38. When all are healthy, all three are sure things in Port’s line-up each week.

They’ve all now played more than 100 games for the Power, and are just hitting the best parts of their careers. Hartlett is hard at the contest, gives a tough edge to Port’s midfield, has a deadly long kick and knows where the goals are. Broadbent plays the sweeping role across half back as well as anyone in the competition when Port is on top of their game.

And Trengove is one of the two defensive, reliable pillars that orchestrate Port’s back six. There is obvious expectation for Hartlett to become one of the best in the business, considering his high draft price tag.

4. Ollie Wines
The only person who will be competing with Chad Wingard for the next 10 years to be named the highly sought after title of ‘the sweetest draft pick in Port Adelaide’s history’, will be Ollie Wines.

There is no doubt in my mind, that if the 2012 draft was re-held tomorrow, that Ollie Wines would be the first pick in the draft. How did he slip to seventh? How? Oh, that’s right, Melbourne passed on him, despite him being best friends with Jack Viney. Port Adelaide fans, I’d suggest to keep counting your blessings. You got a sweet one in 2012.

Fifty-five games in and Wines could very well be one of Port Adelaide’s most important players. He’s tough, he’s powerful, he wins his own ball and he isn’t afraid of the big stage.

Any club would want Ollie Wines in their midfield group. Don’t be surprised if by the time he hits 100 games, he already has a best and fairest medal, an All-Australian selection and a collection of Brownlow votes on his resume.

5. Alipate Carlile
It’s hard to believe that a player with a unique name like Alipate, goes often unspoken of when discussing the best fullbacks in the game.

But don’t worry Port fans, I’ll talk highly of him. Drafted back in 2005, Carlile joined Port via the 44th selection in the draft. Ten years on and 162 games for the Power later, and Alipate has been Port’s most reliable defender since the retirement of Darryl Wakelin.

He is the stalwart of Port’s back half and often gets the toughest defensive assignment each week. With Trengove, he forms a trustworthy and hard to beat brigade in defence.

He has had an up and down career in terms of injuries and fitness, but Alipate has very rarely put a wrong foot forward on the pitch for the Power. Not the most expensive lolly in the shop, but one of the sweetest.

Worthy mentions
Brett Ebert (F/S #42, 2002 ND), Troy Chaplin (#15, 2003 ND), Michael Pettigrew (#46, 2003 ND), Jacob Surjan (#10, 2003 PD), Danyle Pearce (#16, 2004 RD), Matt Thomas (#8, 2005 PD), Tom Logan (#52, 2005 RD), Paul Stewart (#23, 2006 ND), Matthew Lobbe (#16, 2007 ND), Jasper Pittard (#16, 2009 ND), Aaron Young (#36, 2010 ND), Cam O’Shea (#52, 2010 ND), Tom Jonas (#16, 2010 RD), Kane Mitchell (#5, 2012 RD) and Jarman Impey (#21, 2013 ND).

Top five sours

1. Adam Thomson
When you’re a SANFL product, a talented junior and the 11th pick in the 2004 AFL draft, only playing 32 career games effectively makes you a bust, or in this case, a sour draft pick.

28 games for Port, before being traded to Richmond and only playing four games for them, left Adam Thomson with a fairly disappointing AFL career.

2. Ben Jacobs
Ben Jacobs is not a name that Port Adelaide fans like to hear. I’ll set the scene. He was a highly touted draft prospect after showing a lot of promise as an Under-18s player. Port used their first draft selection (#16) to draft Jacobs in 2010. They gave him the treasured number 16 guernsey, which the retired club legend, Warren Tredrea, wore for most of his decorated career.

Twenty-six games and one season into his Power career, Jacobs requested a trade to North Melbourne. It was rebuffed but Jacobs entered the 2012 AFL Draft anyway and was drafted by North. Just to really add salt to the wound, I’ll casually mention that Luke Parker, Isaac Smith and Cam Guthrie were other midfielders who were drafted after him.

3. Barry Brooks
Barry Brooks. Heard of him? Unless you’re a Port Adelaide fan, it’s unlikely. However, if the name does sound familiar, it’s probably because Brooks was drafted by Port in 2001, with the 15th pick in the draft.

Now as we all know, 2001 was the infamous super draft. But Brooks failed to leave an impression on the game. He never debuted for Port and was traded to the Saints one year after being drafted. He managed only eight career games. That’s on the warhead scale of sourness.

4. Stephen Gilham
You’re probably more familiar with Stephen Gilham as a Hawk. Ninty-eight games and a premiership player in 2008 with the brown and gold. But did you know he was originally drafted by Port Adelaide in 2002 with the 16th pick? In three years with the Power, he managed only one game. It wasn’t the deepest draft, but one game for a high draft pick isn’t the sweetest of turnouts.

5. Steven Salopek
For the average AFL player, 121 games and playing in a Grand Final (despite losing to Geelong in 2007) wouldn’t be a bad career. But for a former Pick 6 in the 2002 AFL Draft, it doesn’t get a pass mark with me. It’s a harsh call, mainly because Salopek’s nine-year career with the Power was hampered by injuries.

But for the Port fans who may be outraged by this sour inclusion, would you be satisfied if Chad Wingard (Pick 6 as well), finished his career with 100 and something games and retired, only leaving a minimal impact on the club?

(Not) worthy mentions
Joel Patfull (#14, 2002 RD), Brad Symes (#30, 2003 ND), Luke Peel (#34, 2003 ND), Robert Foster-Knight (#39, 2003 ND), Ryan Willites (#19, 2004 ND), James Ezard (#34, 2004 ND), Fabian Deluca (#35, 2004 ND), Nick Lower (#30, 2005 ND), Jonathon Giles (#70, 2005 ND), Marlon Motlop (#28, 2007 ND), Matthew Westhoff (#33, 2007 ND), Mitch Farmer (#49, 2007 ND), Mitchell Banner (#42, 2008 ND), Jarrad Redden (#54, 2008 ND) and Ben Newton (#35, 2010 ND).

Both sweet and sour: John Butcher and Andrew Moore
It’s the 2009 AFL draft. Port Adelaide has picks eight and nine – an incredible opportunity to scoop up two of the best young talents in the country.

They select John Butcher at eight, and Andrew Moore at nine. Moore has played 50 games, while Butcher has only played 24. Now it’s not all about games, but compare Wines’ and Wingard’s impact on the club within their first 50 games and it’s not looking good for the pair drafted in 2009. So Port Adelaide, it’s your call. Are these two draft picks sweet or sour?

Final words
Port’s drafting in 2004 was horrible. Besides Danyle Pearce, the club would have to be disappointed with the results. On the other hand, their drafting in 2006 and 2008 was inspiring and brilliant.

They’ve fluffed a few mid-late first round draft picks, but Port’s ability to snare a gem in the late rounds and in the rookie draft would have to be up there with the best in the AFL.

The time is now for Port. Their premiership window is open. Can their young talent, (the ones who have been recently drafted) develop and carry the torch for Port Adelaide fans into the future?

It’s been a noteworthy drafting effort since 2001 for the Power, and the proof is in the pudding, considering their rise to the top in the last few years. But can they sustain it?