Brisbane’s Nigel Lappin would become one of the most consistent and durable midfielders of the modern era.
Brisbane and North Melbourne will look at the revised 1993 AFL Draft top 10 as key building blocks to premiership dynasties of the 2000s and 1990s respectively.
Brisbane (then still the Bears) picked up Nigel Lappin and Chris Scott and eventually acquired the services of Chris Johnson courtesy of the merger with Fitzroy. Lappin and Johnson ended up featuring in all three of the Lions’ famous “three-peat” sides, while Scott took home two premiership medallions.
In North Melbourne’s case, future dual premiership stars Adam Simpson and David King were snapped up.
But there can be only one No.1 in a revised draft and in the 1993 edition that mantle goes to Lappin.
Part of the lauded “Fab Four” midfield, which also comprised Michael Voss, Simon Black and Jason Akermanis and is considered to be one of the greatest midfield groups of all time, Lappin more than held his own in that exalted company.
The boy from Chiltern, who was originally taken at pick two by the Bears, was an extremely clever player who could not only win his own ball but use it beautifully.
Lappin adapted to senior level quickly and went on to become one of the most consistent and durable midfielders of the modern era. The beauty about Lappin was that he could not only bob up forward and kick goals when needed, but do a great job in defence as well.
After 279 games across 15 seasons, Lappin finished up with three flags, four All-Australians, a best-and-fairest and induction into the Australian Football Hall of Fame. His epic performance in the 2003 grand final with cracked ribs and fluid on his lungs will long be remembered.
It really was a toss-of-the-coin job when working out the top two, but Bulldogs hero Brad Johnson just misses out on the top honour and has to settle for second spot – a nice little upgrade from pick 11.
Speaking of durability, Johnson played the 11th most games (364) of any player in VFL/AFL history.
After starting out as a midfielder, he eventually transitioned to attack to become one of the best small forwards the game has ever seen.
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A freakishly talented and inspirational leader for his Doggies, “The Smiling Assassin”, as he became known due to his seemingly ever-present grin, will go down as an all-time great at Whitten Oval.
Not only is he the games record holder for the Bulldogs, but he also finished up second on their all-time goalkicking list with 558 – just 17 shy of Simon Beasley (575).
Over 17 years, he picked up six All-Australian jumpers (once as captain) and three best-and-fairests, while also leading the Dogs’ goalkicking three times and captaining them for four seasons. He was also inducted into the Australian Football Hall of Fame and was named in the Bulldogs’ Team of the Century.
Another Johnson comes in at No.3 – Lappin’s premiership teammate Chris – after originally being taken at seven.
In his first few years at Fitzroy, it was obvious that Johnson was destined for greatness and while his original club unfortunately met its demise in 1996, Johnson’s career would flourish up north where he would forge a reputation as one of the toughest, most reliable and skilful defenders in the game.
As well as playing in three flags for Brisbane, Johnson was a two-time All-Australian and also captained the Lions for a year in 2007.
Simpson gets promoted from 14 to four after a brilliant career that not only saw him feature in two premierships, but also play 306 games, earn an All-Australian nod and a best-and-fairest award.
Fraser Gehrig, originally taken at pick 16, rounds out the top five after a sparkling career with West Coast and St Kilda. At the peak of his powers, the “G-Train” was one of the most dominant and feared key forwards in the game, booting 549 goals from 260 games including a memorable ton in 2004.
King is the first genuine bargain pick of the revised top 10, jumping 40 spots from 46 to six, rock solid key defender Darren Gaspar slides from one to seven and Scott jumps from 12 to eight.
Lappin’s cousin Matthew ensures 1993 is a memorable year for the Lappin family, moving from 40 to nine, and talented Sydney and Bulldogs goalsneak Simon Garlick completes the top 10 after originally being selected at 49.
Nigel Lappin, Chris Johnson and Gaspar are the only ones who retain their positions in the top 10.
*Redrafts only consider the first time a player was drafted.
