The views in this article are those of the author and not necessarily those of the AFL or its clubs.
AFL national and international talent manager Kevin Sheehan has nominated St Kilda champion Nick Riewoldt as the best ever No.1 selection, as part of a list to celebrate 30 years of the draft.
In the lead-up to this year's NAB AFL Draft on Tuesday November 24, Sheehan has nominated his best performed player for each pick from No.1 to No.30 since the first draft in 1986.
Riewoldt (drafted in 2000) pipped Hodge (selected in 2001) as the best No.1 draft pick, while Brisbane Lions premiership hero Jonathan Brown rounds out the list, nominated as Sheehan’s best No.30 selection (father/son 1999).
Sheehan said little separated Riewoldt and Hodge.
"Nick is a six-time best and fairest at St Kilda, five-time All Australian and an enormously respected captain, and ultimately I have him just ahead of Hodge, despite his obvious credentials, including being a four-time premiership player and a dual Norm Smith medallist," he said.
"Players such as Scott Pendelbury (No.5 in 2005), Robert Murphy (No.13 in 1999), Drew Petrie (No.23 in 2000) and many others are also entitled to feel unlucky not to be nominated but what this exercise illustrates is that champions can emerge from any draft pick.
"A total of 2,289 players have been given their first chance at playing at the elite level through the national draft, a system designed to equalise the distribution of talent across the competition."
Kevin Sheehan’s top 30
Best No.1: Nick Riewoldt (St Kilda, 2000)
Best No.2: Jarryd Roughead (Hawthorn, 2004)
Best No.3: Chris Judd (West Coast, 2001)
Best No.4: Matthew Pavlich (Fremantle, 1999)
Best No.5: Lance Franklin (Hawthorn, 2004)
Best No.6: Chad Wingard (Port Adelaide, 2011)
Best No.7: Joel Selwood (Geelong, 2006)
Best No.8: Jimmy Bartel (Geelong, 2001)
Best No.9: Chad Cornes (Port Adelaide, 1997)
Best No.10: Patrick Dangerfield (Adelaide, 2007)
Best No.11: Brad Johnson (Western Bulldogs, 1993)
Best No.12: Shaun Burgoyne (Port Adelaide, 2000)
Best No.13: Shane Crawford (Hawthorn, 1991)
Best No.14: Adam Simpson (North Melbourne, 1993)
Best No.15: Brady Rawlings (North Melbourne, 1998)
Best No.16: Scott Thompson (Melbourne, 2000)
Best No.17: James Kelly (Geelong, 2001)
Best No.18: Anthony Stevens (North Melbourne, 1988)
Best No.19: Barry Hall (St Kilda, 1995)
Best No.20: Nat Fyfe (Fremantle, 2009)
Best No.21: Hayden Ballantyne (Fremantle, 2008)
Best No.22: Scott Selwood (West Coast, 2007)
Best No.23: Michael Long (Essendon, 1988)
Best No.24: Steve Johnson (Geelong, 2001)
Best No.25: John Barker (Fitzroy, 1992)
Best No.26: Darrin Pritchard (Hawthorn, 1986)
Best No.27: Ted Richards (Essendon, 2000)
Best No.28: Jason Johnson (Essendon, 1996)
Best No.29: Wayne Campbell (Richmond, 1989)
Best No.30: Jonathan Brown (Brisbane, 1999)
Sheehan said much had changed since the first draft in 1986, held at VFL House in Jolimont with little more than 30 League and club staff in attendance.
"The 1986 draft was a key component in a period of enormous change in our game, with West Coast and the Brisbane Bears poised to enter the competition the following year," he said.
"A total of 65 players were chosen in the first ever draft, with Port Adelaide’s Martin Leslie chosen at the inaugural No.1 pick after impressive form in not only the SANFL but representing South Australia at State of Origin level."
