Opinion Best "Smokey" Draftee in the last 5 years

[power09]

Pearce isnt bad for a rookie

 

[Boris the Contradiction]

Not all in the last 5 years but:

Harry O'Brien - Rookie (2004)
Sharrod Wellingham - Rookie (2006)
Nick Maxwell - Rookie (2002)
Dane Swan - Pick 58 (2001)
Paul Medhurst - Pick 56 (2001)
Dayne Beams Pick 29 (2008 - on performances alone should have been top 5 at worst)

A couple others....
Tarkyn Lockyer - Rookie (1998)
Ben Johnson - Pick 62 (1999)


On Heritier, he literally "applied" to the club, as in sent a resume, etc and a letter saying "I am Heritier O'Brien and although I haven't been drafted or possibly even spotted I am hard working and have a bit of ability, yada yada yada...." He paid his way over here, trained a couple of times and impressed enough to be picked up in the rookie draft at pick 21. The fact that he's from Rio is obscure enough.

His is a great story.

Honorable mention to the great hack in Matty Lokan who was spotted playing SANFL reserves.

 

[hawks_time]

Dayne Beams Pick 29 (2008 - on performances alone should have been top 5 at worst)

 

[Gazza_11]

Don't know if Aaron Davey has been mentioned. Completely overlooked in the 2003 draft, because apparently we weren't interested in small indigenous forwards after Davis's performance in the 2002 Grand Final, and given a life line in the rookie draft.

Gun pick, came second in the 04 Rising Star too

 

[Thewlis Dish]

Player who went at a later draft pick and came good and was a steal imo

 

[GHamsandwich]

Two words.

Stuart Dew.

That is all.

 

[BIGDAZR]

daniel cross pick 56 in 00
brian lake pick 71 in 01

 

[Rhombus]

Shane Mumford.

Was an obese bum playing for Bunyip 4 years ago.

 

[Strangled Cat]

James Podsiadly

 

[eld246]

I was going to say James Hird at 79 wasn't a bad pick haha but then I read last 5 years.

Podsiadly has to take the honours there. He will be the leading goalkicker in a premiership side in his first year.