Since the introduction of the Rookie Draft in 1996, North Melbourne has landed several players who’ve gone to on pave out successful AFL careers.
Initially, only players between the ages of 18 and 23 qualified for recruitment, with the AFL aiming to provide further opportunities for youngsters.
In 2006, the rule was changed, allowing clubs to select one rookie older than 23. But in recent years, the restrictions have been removed completely, with mature-age recruits like James Podsiadly and Michael Barlow making an immediate impact on the competition.
Of course, with the rookies sitting outside the primary list, there is room for some experimentation, perhaps with a basketballer turned footballer, or an overseas recruit, now labelled Category B rookies.
Looking back at North’s Rookie Draft history, things didn’t exactly start glowingly. From the 1996 crop, Julian Kirzner (pick 15) and Bryan Beinke (pick 13), only the former ever played for the club, albeit for just three games.
The following year, the trio of David Round, Craig Folino and Wade Kingsley didn’t manage a game between them in the royal blue and white.
The story was much the same until 2000, as it was for most clubs across the league, until a 19-year-old named Leigh Harding was selected with pick 13.
Having played for the Geelong VFL side, Harding didn’t take long to make an impact. He debuted in Round 17 of the following season.
He became a regular in the North team and topped the club’s goal-kicking list in 2003 with 33 goals.
In 2006, he underwent a knee reconstruction, missing 12 months of football, but fought back strongly to win back his spot. After 141 games and 157 goals, including perhaps his most famous one of all, the winning major in Jason McCartney’s final match, he retired in 2010.
A big season with Box Hill at VFL level was the catalyst for Michael Firrito’s selection in the 2002 Rookie Draft, and what a success story his turned out to be.
Firrito spent time as a tagger, but found his niche as a hard-nosed defender, often forced to play on the powerhouse forwards of the competition.
Through 13 seasons and 253 games, Firrito has to be considered one of the greatest ever Rookie Draft selections.
In 2003, the Roos landed both Josh Gibson (65 games, moved to Hawthorn) and Scott McMahon (124 games) as rookies, while 2006 saw Leigh Adams’ arrival at the club.
Among the other Rookie Draft bargains in recent years, Nathan Grima (86 games), Matt Campbell (82 games), Sam Gibson (85 games*) and Aaron Mullett (52 games*) have all pushed up from the rookie list to make their name.
North has signaled its intention to re-rookie Majak Daw on Friday morning, but another new player will have their name emblazoned on a locker at Arden Street. Could that player replicate the feats of the likes of Harding, Firrito and McMahon?
