The Best 10 Players to be Drafted after Pick 50: 10. Robbie Gray - Pick 55 2006 Gray managed to slip late in the draft after a dominant year in the TAC cup in 2006 when he kicked 51 goals and averaged 20 disposals a game. He was also a solid contributor for VIC Metro in the championships, yet only attracted interest from 1 club, Port Adelaide. Gray has suffered set backs with injury over the years and is only just starting to show his true colours in what has been his best season in 2014. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 9.Cameron Mooney Pick 56 - 1996 Moons was drafted out of Wagga Wagga NSW by the Kangaroos as a potential key forward in their premiership year but with players such as Wayne Carey and Corey McKernan running around it was always hard for him to get a game, ultimately waiting 3 years to debut for the Kangaroos in 1999. The same year, with just 10 games experience, Mooney managed to be part of the 1999 premiership side much to the disaster of not getting a disposal. After the premiership, the Kangaroos offloaded him to the Cats in 2000 where he was still finding his way as a forward in the game. By 2004, Mooney blossomed into a key target and was a regular goal scorer for the Cats often getting a key defender. In 2007, Moons played his best ever year booting 55 goals, making the All Australian and winning a Premiership which meant a whole lot more then the first. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 8. Daniel Cross - Pick 56 2000 Daniel Cross only managed 2 disposals on debut in 2002 and was given a chance the following week where he was even worse, not gathering a touch all game. The following year, Cross struggled again at the top level to make an impact and was subsequently sent back to Werribee at VFL level. After a good finish to the season, Cross was given his last chance at AFL in the final round in 2003 where he managed 18 touches and a 1 year contract extension. After a slow start in 2004, Cross persisted to put in the hard hards when finally he broke through and managed 29 disposals one afternoon which followed 5 consecutive 25+ disposal appearances, giving Cross yet another contract extension. By 2005, Cross was averaging 26 disposals a game, one of the highest in the AFL and only managed under 25 touches once that year. Over the following years, Cross became a ball magnet and was known for his attack on the footy. To this day, Daniel Cross is still regarded as one of the more courageous and persistent midfielders in the game and will always give 110%. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 7. Nick Malceski - Pick 64 2002 Malceski was regarded by recruiters as the greatest kick in the draft, whilst having exceptional skill on both sides of the body yet nobody wanted him early due to his attack on the football as a junior which has recruiters thinking twice about this highly talented kid. After a fantastic debut season in the reserves, Malceski was hopeful of a start up at Senior level, until his ruptured his ACL, ruling him out of action for 12 months. After fully recovering, Malceski scored his debut in the Swans premiership season and managed a further 5 games that year, but narrowly missed out on selection come the big day. By 2007, Malceski was regarded as the best kick at Sydney and continued to impress and after his breakout year a NAB Cup match in 2008 was yet another ACL injury, this time Malceski opted for LARS Synthetic ligament which saw him back that year. In 2011, He yet again for a 3rd time tore his ACL and again opted for LARS which would see him recover yet again much quicker. Malceski seems to be playing better football then ever at the moment and is looking like potentially becoming a dual premiership player. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 6. Dom Cassisi - Pick 50 2000 It took Dom 2 years at the Power before he would make his debut but from that day in 2002 he born leader and was highly respected by the playing group and impressive on debut. Cassisi managed 228 games for the Power over his 14 seasons in the system which include a premiership, 4 x club best and fairest, showdown medalist and 4 year club captain. In 2008, Cassisi played his best year of footy and was renown for his physical pressure at stoppages along which his high clearance rate which made him a dangerous midfielder for opposition. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 5. Brian Lake - Pick 71 2001 Lake was thrown a chance by the Doggies in 2001 after having no interest from any other club. Scott Clayton (Bulldogs recruiting manager at the time) said he had potential development as a defender but needed work in many areas. After debuting the following year, it was clear Lake needed a fair bit of time in development, getting big bags kicked on him week after week, but within 3 years, Lake became one of the best defenders in the AFL with less then 80 games experience and gained himself some creditability when he held dual Coleman Medalist Fraser Gehrig to not a single disposal for the match. In 2007, Lake won the Dogs B&F from Full Back & By 2009 Lake was the hardest defender in the AFL, with a lower goals conceded ave then greats like Matthew Scarlett & Darren Glass which earns him All Australia selection. Lake has since won a Premiership and Norm Smith medal for the Hawks. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 4. Alastair Lynch - Pick 50 1986 The Tasmanian Born defender was drafted to the Fitzroy Lions as a FB/CHB. In his early days, Lynch went to battle with players like Tony Lockett, Gary Ablett Snr & Paul Salmon. In 1993 Lynch was moved forward and kicked 68 goals, winning the Club Goal kicking and best and fairest. The following year, Lynch was a big recruit to the Brisbane Bears who were struggling at the time much like Fitzroy but made no impact for 2 seasons due to injury. The Bears ended up merging with his old club and Lynch was named Co-Captain, going on to win 3 Premierships and 4 Club leading goal scorer awards. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 3. Chris Grant - Pick 105 1988 Grant is one of the favourite sons to ever come out of the kennel and its no wonder why. Grant was drafted out of Daylesford as a tall skinny forward who waited two years to debut and kicked 51 goals in his first year winning the club goal kicking in 1990. Grant went on to make a name for himself & by 1997 was regarded as one of the best Forwards in the AFL, even polling the most votes in the 97 Brownlow Medal, unfortunately being ineligible due to a soft 1 week ban for striking Nick Holland of Hawthorn. Chris Grant played a massive 341 games winning 2 club best and fairest awards, 3 time All-Australian, Club captain and also a AFL Hall of Fame inductee. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 2. Darren Jarman - Pick 55 1986 After being a club champion in the SANFL during the 80s, Jarman was drafted to the Demons however choose to stay in his home state and continue to play for North Adelaide. 3 Years later, Brisbane elected to draft him, however yet again Jarman declined and stayed in SA. The following year the Adelaide Crows were born however Jarman elected to not go to the Crows as he had friction with the Football manager Neil Kerley. After winning a flag, a club best and fairest, 3 All Australians and a 2nd in the 1995 Brownlow Medal, Jarman elected to head home to the Adelaide Crows where he is still regarded as one of the best players to ever play for the club winning 2 premierships, 3 leading goalscorer awards and is an AFL Hall of Fame inductee. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1. James Hird - Pick 79 1990 After always being regarded a top 10 pick, Hird slipped dramatically due to an ongoing hip injury and Essendon were lucky enough to snap him up with their 2nd last pick. That year, the Bombers drafted 8 players, 6 never made an AFL debut. Hirds list of accolades are enormous. 2x Premiership player, Essendon Team of the century, Brownlow Medalist, Norm Smith Medalist, AFL Hall of Fame inductee, 5 x All Australian, 2 x Leading goalscorer, 3 x Anzac Day Medalist and 5 x Club best and fairest, its safe to say why he is the Favourite Son. Tomorrow we will be writing about the 10 Biggest 1st Round Draft Flops. So make sure you LIKE Betjam AFL Best Bets and click Get Notificiations.
Posted on: Tue, 05 Aug 2014 10:46:46 +0000
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