Christian Petracca (left), Jordan De Goey (middle) and Isaac Heeney are three of the most damaging players in the AFL and were all drafted in 2014. Photos: AFL MEDIA, AAP
With every draft from 1986 to 2021 having now been given the Footyology Redraft treatment, it is an opportune time to start having a look back at some of our own Redrafts over the years and freshen them up.
Given it’s probably too early to put the 2022 and 2023 drafts under the microscope, Footyology’s brand new Redraft Revisited series has been officially launched for this draft season.
And the first one of our Redrafts to be scrutinised is the 2014 edition which was published six years ago.
Back then, Melbourne superstar Christian Petracca slid five places from pick two, where he was originally drafted, down to seven.
But in the six seasons since, he has slingshotted himself up to No.1 after becoming an out-and-out superstar of the competition.
Since 2018, Petracca has exploded, winning four consecutive All-Australian jumpers from 2020-2023, a pair of best-and-fairests and a coveted Norm Smith Medal as he spearheaded the Demons’ charge towards breaking their famous 57-year premiership drought in 2021.
The goalkicking midfielder is a force to be reckoned with, whether he’s placed on the ball or sent up forward to wreak havoc.
Coming in at No.2 in the 2014 Redraft Revisited is Sydney star Isaac Heeney, who remains exactly where he was in 2018.
Heeney has taken his game to another level in the intervening six years, most notably last season when moved into the midfield to cover for injured duo Luke Parker and Callum Mills.
He absolutely thrived, so much so that in the first half of 2024, he was widely regarded as the best player in the league. A suspension ended his Brownlow dream, and he ultimately finished equal fourth with 28 votes, a long way behind winner Patrick Cripps (45).
He has earned All-Australian honours in two of the last three years and also won his first best-and-fairest in 2024 after averaging 25 disposals (12 contested), six clearances, five marks, five tackles, eight score involvements and 392 metres gained while also kicking 34 goals to lead his side to another grand final.
Rounding out the top three is dynamic Collingwood midfielder/forward Jordan De Goey who was installed at No.1 the first time the class of 2014 was analysed.
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While De Goey might’ve slipped a few spots in the last six years, make no mistake, he remains one of Collingwood’s most important and dynamic players, and played a massive role in their thrilling 2023 premiership. It’s no wonder that De Goey’s career-best year coincided with a Collingwood flag.
He has been an ultra consistent performer in the last four years and is a bona fide match winner who can change the course of a game singlehandedly.
Coming in at No.4 is Collingwood captain Darcy Moore, who moves up five places from nine, after skippering the Magpies to their recent flag and also earning two All-Australian jumpers in 2020 and 2023.
Rounding out the top five is another premiership captain in Harris Andrews who steered the Lions to the promised land this year and has also helped himself to a pair of All-Australian blazers since 2018 as well as a best-and-fairest.
After being overlooked in the original 2014 Redraft, Gold Coast talisman Touk Miller storms his way up to sixth, having earned himself an AFLCA Champion Player of the Year award in 2022 along with a couple of All-Australians and best-and-fairests to become probably the Suns’ best ever player behind Gary Ablett junior.
In the last six years, Melbourne premiership backman Jake Lever has slid from four to seven, three-time Richmond flag winner Kane Lambert also experienced a slight dip from fifth to eighth, Collingwood defender Brayden Maynard moves into ninth spot after originally being overlooked and St Kilda star Jack Sinclair rounds out the top 10.
From the original revised top 10, retired Demon Angus Brayshaw and attacking Carlton defender Adam Saad make way, as does Collingwood big man Mason Cox who rode the coattails of an unforgettable 2018 finals campaign into the top 10.
As for the actual top 10 that was selected 10 years ago, only Petracca, De Goey and Moore retain their spots.
Meanwhile, there were quite a few players who were unlucky to miss the cut, such as St Kilda captain Jack Steele, Richmond backman Jayden Short, new North Melbourne recruit Caleb Daniel and his former Bulldogs teammate Bailey Dale as well as Melbourne wingman Ed Langdon and fellow Demons premiership player Alex Neal-Bullen.
*Redrafts only take into consideration the first time a player was drafted
