At just 25, Brodie Grundy is already arguably the pre-eminent ruckman in the competition. Photo: GETTY IMAGES
The recruiters did a pretty decent job in 2012 upon revision, with no fewer than six stars retaining their status as top-10 players in Footyology’s “Redraft”.
But no team did better than the Western Bulldogs, who have three members of their historic 2016 premiership team feature in the revised top 10.
It’s pretty amazing to think that the Dogs only had to wait four years to see the seeds of this draft bear the sweetest of fruits.
Jack Macrae, Lachie Hunter and Jake Stringer are already Bulldog immortals, even if Stringer now finds himself wearing Essendon colours, after they all helped the perennially-struggling club from Melbourne’s west to just its second flag – breaking a 62-year drought in the process.
But there can only be one player at No.1 in the 2012 “Redraft”, and that honour goes to Collingwood ruckman Brodie Grundy, who enjoys an upgrade of 17 spots from pick 18.
At just 25 years of age, Grundy is already arguably the pre-eminent ruckman in the competition in a box quinella with Melbourne’s Max Gawn.
In fact, Grundy has been a top performer for the last three seasons, but really entered the elite bracket in 2018 when he secured the first of his two All-Australian nods.
Just when the game looked like it was thumbing its nose at ruckmen for good, Grundy not only played a huge role in bringing them back in vogue, but also showed how critically important they can be to a team.
Grundy racked up 1038 and 1022 hit-outs in 2018 and 2019 respectively – the third- and fourth-biggest tallies for a single season in VFL/AFL history – and has a career average of 32 per game. His personal best for a match (73) is the third highest of all time as well.
Not only does Grundy dominate the stoppages, but he has become somewhat of a fifth midfielder for the Magpies, having topped 30 disposals on three occasions and averaged 21 a game in the last two years.
No wonder the back-to-back best-and-fairest winner has finally been offered the mega seven-year contract from Collingwood that he had long sought. He could very well be regarded as one of the greatest followers of all time by the time his career ends.
Coming in at No.2 upon revision is GWS superstar Lachie Whitfield, who actually suffered a slight demotion from pick 1.
Whitfield, the only member of the Giants’ top three in 2012 to remain in the Redraft top 10, has become one of the best midfielders in the competition.
His blistering pace and superb skills have made him one of the driving forces behind the Giants’ run of four consecutive finals series, including three preliminary finals and a grand final.
Whitfield’s brilliance was recognised in 2018 when he not only earned All-Australian honours but also won a best-and-fairest. He has gone to another level in the last two seasons, averaging 27 disposals, seven contested possessions, seven marks, three tackles and four inside 50s per game.
Whitfield just edges out Macrae, who collected his first All-Australian jumper this year. The star Bulldog pretty much hit the ground running as a ball magnet and has a career average of 28 touches and 10 contested possessions per game across seven seasons, which is remarkably consistent output.
Rounding out the top five are dual Richmond premiership defender Nick Vlastuin and Macrae’s premiership teammate Hunter, who was originally taken at pick No.49 as a father-son selection – a decent bargain for the Doggies indeed.
The remainder of the top 10 highlights once again just how well the Swans use the rookie draft, with defensive mainstays Dane Rampe and Jake Lloyd coming in at pick six and nine respectively.
Given Rampe was taken at No.37 in the rookie draft and Lloyd at No. 16, they both essentially enjoy whopping upgrades of 155 and 131 spots respectively. A round of applause for the Swans.
Stringer slides from five to seven, Essendon key forward Joe Daniher gets a slight bump from 10 to eight, and Port Adelaide co-captain Ollie Wines completes the top 10 after originally being taken at seven.
Adelaide star Rory Atkins, who was a huge bargain at pick 81, was mighty unlucky to miss out on the revised top 10, as were Jesse Hogan (pick two – mini-draft), Tim Membrey (46), Jack Viney (26), Callum Sinclair (12 – rookie draft), Tom Clurey (29) and Kamdyn McIntosh (31).
