Charlie Curnow (left), Clayton Oliver (centre) and Jacob Weitering spearhead a stellar crop of players from the 2015 draft. Photos: AFL MEDIA
It has only been four years since Footyology cast its eye over the 2015 AFL Draft, but in that short period of time there have been considerable changes made to the Redraft.
In the final instalment of the new ‘Redraft Revisited’ series for the year, we are given one of the best examples of how quickly things can change in a matter of seasons.
Since the first 2015 Redraft was published in 2020, almost half of the top 10 has already been altered with a whopping four changes made.
In come potent Carlton forward duo Charlie Curnow and Harry McKay as well as new Collingwood defender Dan Houston and Adelaide captain Jordan Dawson.
That quartet replaces premiership Brisbane forward Eric Hipwood, Essendon’s Jade Gresham, Richmond midfielder Jacob Hopper and retired Bombers fan favourite Anthony McDonald-Tipungwuti.
But amidst all the upheaval that has taken place in the past four years, the top dog of the 2015 Redraft has not changed.
Melbourne superstar Clayton Oliver continues to reign supreme, as he did in 2020, even after the most tumultuous 12-month period of his career, which almost resulted in him being traded to Geelong.
Nevertheless, despite all the well-documented dramas that have dogged him off the field in recent times, the former No.4 draft pick further consolidated his standing as the best player of this crop over the last four years.
During that time, Oliver has earned another two All-Australians (for a career total of three), won back-to-back AFLCA champion player of the year awards, clinched two more best-and-fairests and, of course, helped guide the Demons to their drought-breaking premiership in 2021.
By winning the 2022 Keith ‘Bluey’ Truscott Trophy, Oliver joined club legends Allan La Fontaine and Jim Stynes on an equal-club record four.
With a full pre-season, a clear mind and a healthy body, there’s no reason why the 27-year-old can’t reach those dizzying heights once again in 2025.
Coming in at No.2 in the 2015 Redraft Revisited is dual Coleman Medalist Curnow, which is a real testament to his character given he spent more than two years on the sidelines due to multiple knee injuries.
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After finally getting a clear run at it, Curnow has shown the footy world in the last three years why he was so highly-regarded when he was drafted. With 202 goals in that period from just 69 games at a very healthy average of three per match, it hasn’t taken long for the star Blue to establish himself as one of the very best players, let alone forwards, in the AFL since his return from his long layoff.
Since the 2015 Redraft was last done, the former No.12 pick has claimed two Coleman Medals and two All-Australian nods to not only burst his way into the top 10, but make it all the way up to second spot.
Coming in at third spot is Curnow’s fellow Carlton bookend Jacob Weitering who has become one of the pre-eminent key defenders in the league.
After four consecutive entries into the All-Australian squad, it was a case of fifth time lucky for the former No.1 draft pick as he was finally rewarded with a green blazer this season.
And deservedly so, because the two-time best-and-fairest is one of the hardest backmen to play on and routinely makes life very tough for the game’s best key forwards.
With his ample strength, impeccable body positioning and footy smarts, Weitering is the total defensive package.
In fourth spot is Curnow’s partner-in-crime McKay, who makes it a Carlton trifecta inside the top five, while brilliant Sydney goalsneak Tom Papley comes in at fifth spot – a slight slide from No.2, which is where he found himself in 2020.
But Papley still represents a massive bargain, considering he was taken at pick 14 in the rookie draft, which essentially amounts to an upgrade of 79 spots.
Speaking of bargains, the very next pick after Papley is exactly that. Dual All-Australian Houston is the new No.6, after originally being snared with the 45th selection in the rookie draft. That means the former Port Adelaide backman enjoys a boost of 109 positions.
Rounding out the top 10 are Dawson, two-time premiership winner Josh Dunkley, triple premiership Tiger and new Sun Daniel Rioli and Sydney captain Callum Mills.
From the original draft nine years ago, Oliver, Weitering, McKay and Mills are the only ones who have retained their top-10 status.
Some players who might have felt unlucky at missing out on selection in the Redraft Revisited top 10 are Rioli’s former teammate Nathan Broad, Hipwood, star Gold Coast defender Sam Collins, Brisbane premiership hero Callum Ah Chee, Essendon ball magnet Darcy Parish, Hopper and Adelaide on-baller Ben Keays.
*Redrafts only take into consideration the first time a player was drafted
