Two premiership players selected after pick 80 in a National Draft; it was an impressive achievement by the North Melbourne recruiting staff in 1998.
Coming off a heartbreaking Grand Final loss to Adelaide, the Kangaroos had an uncharacteristically quiet trade period. No transactions, for the first time in almost a decade meant all the focus was on the seven National Draft selections.
There was significant space on the senior list after the end of season delistings and retirements. Darren Crocker called time on his 14-year, 165-game career, while Anthony Rock and Glenn Freeborn found new homes at Hawthorn and Collingwood respectively.
Luke McCormick, Chris Groom, Josh Robertson and Damian Houlihan were delisted, while Kent Kingsley was re-rookied. He would eventually play his first AFL game in 1999. He debuted with a bang, kicking six goals against Port Adelaide.
Before North had its first selection, there were two picks that would later become standouts. Both from NSW, Jude Bolton (Sydney, Pick 8) and Lenny Hayes (St Kilda, Pick 11) went on to play 622 games between them, collecting almost every individual honour available in the game.
There were also the customary selections who failed to live up to expectations in the first round. Murray Vance (Carlton, Pick 6), Brandon Hill (West Coast, Pick 10) and Chris Lamb (Melbourne, Pick 13) played 26 games between them.
On the clock with Pick 15, North selected a Tasmanian - Brady Rawlings. Joining his older brother Jade in AFL ranks, the new Roo immediately made an impact. He played 13 games in his first season at Arden Street but ultimately missed out on a spot in the 1999 premiership.
Having to wait until Pick 31 for its second selection, North opted to take a player with prior AFL experience - Gary Dhurrkay.
Part of the original Fremantle side in 1995, Dhurrkay had spent most of 1998 in the WAFL before being delisted at the end of the season. At 181 centimetres, he possessed great pace and had the potential to slot straight into North's midfield.
He showed promise in his 18 months at the Kangaroos, but half-way through 2000, Dhurrkay abruptly called time on his AFL career. From Nhulunbuy country in North Eastern Arnhem Land, the pull of family was strong.
"I retired for personal reasons," Dhurrkay said years later.
"I was missing my family and missing my country.
"A lot of people at the time said to me that I was too young to retire. I was 26 and probably could have played for another four or five years, but when I look back I don't regret it, because I'm back home now, surrounded by all my family."
In the five years after his retirement, Dhurrkay was a leading figure in his community, becoming the chairman of an association aimed to improve the plights of the Yolngu people.
In August 2005, he was tragically involved in a car accident and passed away at the age of 31.
North's third and fourth selections didn't appear in a senior game - Nick Lowther and Tim Van Der Klooster finding it tough to break into a strong side.
As clubs started to pass on selections and the draft went well into the 70's, the Kangaroos still picked up three players who would play senior football the next season.
Adam Lange had spent time in both the WAFL and SANFL by the end of 1998. Only 19-years-old, the key-position prospect captained Western Australia in the Teal Cup (Under 18's) before playing at Subiaco in 1996 and 1997.
12 games at Sturt and a Grand Final appearance in 1998 proved impressive enough for North to take him with pick 74.
With the last pick of the sixth round, North selected another indigenous player - Shannon Motlop.
The skilled left-footer had moved to South Australia from the Wanderers Football Club in the Northern Territory. It made for another pick from South Australia, following on from Lange in the fifth round.
Shannon would be the first of many Motlops to enter the AFL. Younger brother Daniel was also drafted by North Melbourne in 2001, while Steven is currently a key component of Geelong's side. Marlon - Shannon's cousin - spent four years at Port Adelaide from 2008 to 2011.
The seventh selection and final pick of the entire 1998 National Draft brought a player with prior AFL experience, Shane Clayton.
Clayton's first three seasons in the system had spanned two clubs. A member of the final Fitzroy side in 1996, he was one of the players who made their way up to Brisbane. However the next two seasons only resulted in five games.
Delisted by Brisbane, Clayton nominated for the draft where North selected him with pick 90. Against the odds, the utility came straight to Arden Street and was a member of the best 22 immediately.
Playing all 25 games in 1999, he was a valuable player, often coming off the interchange to play his role in the side.
| Pick | Player | Recruited from | Games for North |
| 15 | Brady Rawlings | Tasmania U18 | 245 |
| 31 | Gary Dhurrkay | Fremantle, WA | 21 |
| 47 | Nick Lowther | Preston U18, VIC | 0 |
| 62 | Tim Van Der Klooster | Geelong U18, VIC | 0 |
| 74 | Adam Lange | Sturt, SA | 28 |
| 85 | Shannon Motlop | North Adelaide, SA | 47 |
| 90 | Shane Clayton | Brisbane, QLD | 99 |
