The National Draft has thrown up plenty of hits and misses over the years.
In many cases, top selections may not have fulfilled expectations while buried beneath the first and second rounds buried treasure has been unearthed.
Then there’s the Preseason Draft, of which the Sydney Swans have been experts in polishing recycled or overlooked players into absolute gems.
As the 2015 National and Preseason lotteries draw near, Swans Media takes a look at some drafts of the past to see what worked and what didn’t.
1997
The 1997 National Draft will be largely remembered for landing Sydney Swans champion Adam Goodes.
Classed as one of the biggest steals in draft history, Goodes was overlooked until Pick 43 despite being touted as one of the more promising youngsters in the talent pool.
The Swans selected Jason Saddington (Pick 11) and Fred Campbell (Pick 40) ahead of the North Ballarat utility who had just came off a six-goal performance in the TAC Cup Grand Final.
Saddington played 142 games for the Swans while Campbell managed five matches. Interestingly, 26 players picked ahead of Goodes wouldn’t reach 50 games of AFL.
“At about 193cm, and can play back and forward, that’s the biggest shock in my mind,” said Channel 7 commentator Kevin Sheehan during the broadcast.
It took a little bit of time for the eventual 372-gamer and two-time Brownlow Medallist to adjust to Sydney but, as the AFL world witnessed over 18 seasons, the wait was worth it.
Goodes was, up until his retirement in September, the only player still remaining from the 1997 National Draft.
Aside from welcoming a future champion to Sydney, a few other gems emerged during the trade and draft period.
Luke Vogels (left), Barry Hall (middle) and Jason Saddington (right) celebrate a goal in 2005.
As many Swans fans during the late 90s and early 2000s witnessed, Saddington was obviously no slouch during his eight seasons in the red and white.
Recruited from the TAC Cup’s Eastern Rangers, Saddington would earn a then Norwich Rising Star nomination in his debut season before injury held him back.
He was eventually traded to Carlton in exchange for Pick 51 in the 2005 National Draft, which was used on Mathew Laidlaw (1 game).
Wayne Schwass made a name for himself at North Melbourne and the Sydney Swans.
Hindsight is a beautiful thing when it comes to the Swans’ dealings during the ’97 exchange period.
The Swans welcomed four players - Wayne Schwass, Robbie Ahmat, Simon Hawking and Brent Green - via trades.
Schwass (98 games) became Club Champion within two seasons while Ahmat (42 games) was serviceable as a speedy goal-kicker.
Robbie Ahmat provided a few highlights in his short stint in Sydney.
Swans gave up Shannon Grant (who played 58 games for the Swans) to welcome Schwass.
Hawking and Green, former Brisbane teammates, were involved in the same trade. Sydney gave up Pick 31 for the duo that together played just seven games in the red and white.
Brisbane used Pick 31 on Simon Black.
In the next installment of our ‘Drafts from the past’ we visit 1998 where two eventual premiership stars were delivered.
