The AFL NAB National Draft is just around the corner and for the first time since 1988, the number four pick lays with North Melbourne.

Of course, not every player taken with selection four has become a star, but in the past 30 years the pick has started the AFL careers of the likes of Justin Leppitsch (Brisbane), Mathew Pavlich (Fremantle) and more recently Josh Kennedy (Carlton & West Coast Eagles). Between the trio the accolades are astonishing; seven best-and-fairests, 11 All-Australian selections and 1,413 goals in 787 games.

Jason McCartney started his career at Collingwood after arriving with pick four in 1990, going on to play 182 games, including 107 with North.  

Farren Ray was the most recent number four selection to play at Arden Street.

Drafted to the Western Bulldogs and going on to play seven seasons with St Kilda, including three Grand Finals, he retired in 2016. 

Current top four draft picks at AFL level include Marcus Bontempelli (Western Bulldogs), Clayton Oliver (Melbourne) and Andrew Gaff (West Coast Eagles). The trio of midfielders have stamped their name on the competition at their respective clubs.

As was the case in the early days of the draft, many selections didn't necessarily yield players who'd make a mark at the highest level. Drafted as a 16-year-old in 1988, John McNamara never played a game or North.

He later joined both Geelong and Essendon, but finished his career without a senior game, despite his obvious talent as a key-forward.

History of pick 4

2016 - Ben Ainsworth - 13 games*
2015 - Clayton Oliver - 35 games*
2014 - Jarrod Pickett - 10 games*
2013 - Marcus Bontempelli - 85 games*
2012 - Jimmy Toumpas - 37 games*
2011 - Will Hoskin-Elliott - 74 games*
2010 - Andrew Gaff - 156 games*
2009 - Anthony Morabito - 26 games
2008 - Hamish Hartlett - 148 games* 
2007 - Cale Morton - 76 games
2006 - Matthew Leuenberger - 135 games*
2005 - Josh Kennedy (Carl/WCE) - 207 games*
2004 - Richard Tambling - 124 games
2003 - Farren Ray - 209 games
2002 - Tim Walsh - 1 game
2001 - Graham Polak - 111 games
2000 - Luke Livingston - 46 games
1999 - Matthew Pavlich - 353 games
1998 - Ryan Fitzgerald - 18 games
1997 - Mark Bolton - 124 games
1996 - Mark Kinnear - 6 games
1995 - Scott Bamford - 59 games
1994 - Scott Lucas - 270 games
1993 - Glenn Gorman - 2 games
1992 - Justin Leppitsch - 227 games
1991 - Andrew McGovern - 83 games
1990 - Jason McCartney - 182 games
1989 - Peter Matera - 253 games
1988 - John McNamara - 0 games
1987 - Andrew Brockhurst - 38 games
1986 - Richard Anderson - 0 games
1982 - Baden Harper - 0 games
1981 - Mark Naley - 0 games

* Currently on AFL list