Community hub
0 subscribers7 pages, 0 posts
Recent from talks
All channels
Be the first to start a discussion here.
Be the first to start a discussion here.
Be the first to start a discussion here.
Be the first to start a discussion here.
Contribute something
Welcome to the community hub built to collect knowledge and have discussions related to 2007 AFL draft.
Nothing was collected or created yet.
2007 AFL draft
View on Wikipediafrom Wikipedia
| 2007 AFL draft | |
|---|---|
| General information | |
| Date | 24 November 2007 |
| Network | Fox Sports |
| Sponsored by | National Australia Bank |
| Overview | |
| League | AFL |
| First selection | Matthew Kreuzer (Carlton) |
The 2007 Australian Football League draft consisted of four opportunities for player acquisitions during the 2007/08 Australian Football League off-season. These were trade week, the national draft, which was held on 24 November 2007,[1] the pre-season draft and the rookie draft.
Player movements
[edit]Trades
[edit]2007 was the first year that clubs were allowed to trade picks without the trade involving a player.
The trade week was headlined by the desire of West Coast premiership captain Chris Judd to return to Victoria, after six years with the club having been drafted to the Eagles in 2001.[2][3][4] His departure created much attention and speculation among the Melbourne-based clubs, the media and the football community.
In the weeks following the announcement of his departure, Judd met with four clubs: Essendon, Melbourne, Collingwood and Carlton.[5] On 2 October 2007, Judd announced that his preferred club was Carlton, and Carlton was also considered most likely to secure a trade with West Coast, because the club held two early draft picks which could be used in negotiations.[6] On 11 October 2007, Judd was officially traded to Carlton along with a third round selection in the 2007 AFL draft (No. 46 overall) for Carlton's first and second round selections (No. 3 and 20) and Josh Kennedy, who was reluctant to leave Carlton.[7]
Retirements and delistings
[edit]The 2007 AFL season is notable for the unusually large number of players who retired, particularly senior and "champion" players.
| Name | Club | Date Retired | Reason |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jonathan Hay | Kangaroos | 22 February | Contractual problems resulting from bi-polar issues.[8] |
| Darren Gaspar | Richmond | 4 May | To help Richmond's younger players and go for a youth policy.[9] |
| Brett Montgomery | Western Bulldogs | 25 May | Disk bulge in neck.[10] |
| Rhys Archard | Adelaide | 29 July | Return to family in rural Victoria.[11] |
| Luke Darcy | Western Bulldogs | 30 July | Frustrated and angry at game due to knee injuries.[12] |
| Anthony Koutoufides | Carlton | 31 July | Hip injury; had already planned to retire at the end of the season.[13] |
| Mark Ricciuto | Adelaide | 16 August | Body could no longer cope with AFL football.[14] |
| Matthew Robbins | Western Bulldogs | 24 August | Struggled throughout the year despite having a ripping 2006 season.[15] |
| Josh Mahoney | Port Adelaide | 24 August | Unable to hold down a regular position.[16] |
| Troy Cook | Fremantle | 24 August | It seemed the right time for him to leave the game.[17] |
| Shane Parker | Fremantle | 24 August | Was always going to struggle to play the year out and there was no way he could continue.[17] |
| Chris Scott | Brisbane Lions | 25 August | Injury.[18] |
| Ray Hall | Richmond | 28 August | Serious hip injury that had sidelined him for the entire 2007 season.[19] |
| Trent Knobel | Richmond | 28 August | Persistent ankle injury.[19] |
| Kent Kingsley | Richmond | 28 August | Injury.[19] |
| Darryl Wakelin | Port Adelaide | 29 August | Struggled with injury.[20] |
| Matthew Lappin | Carlton | 29 August | To help his club focus on playing younger players.[21] |
| Nathan Brown | Melbourne | 29 August | Ready to start the next chapter of his life.[22] |
| Clint Bizzell | Melbourne | 29 August | Right time to do so.[22] |
| Byron Pickett | Melbourne | 31 August | Waning passion for the game.[23] |
| Chris Johnson | Brisbane Lions | 31 August | Decided to leave the game – he was the last ever Fitzroy player in the AFL.[24] |
| Andrew Thompson | St Kilda | 1 September | Right time to do so.[25] |
| Matthew Clarke | St Kilda | 1 September | One year contract expired; he decided to leave the game.[26] |
| James Hird | Essendon | 1 September | Right time to do so. |
| Josh Wooden | West Coast | 5 September | Nagging hip injury.[27] |
| Richie Vandenberg | Hawthorn | 6 September | Due to a troublesome back injury, his body could not cope any more.[28] |
| Brett Voss | St Kilda | 18 September | Made the most of his time as an AFL footballer.[29] |
| Ben Dixon | Hawthorn | 19 September | Inability of his body to prepare well enough for senior football.[30] |
| Rowan Jones | West Coast | 19 September | Right time to do so.[31] |
| Glenn Archer | Kangaroos | 22 September | Right time to do so.[32] |
| James Clement | Collingwood | 23 September | Family health; right time to do so.[33] |
| Joel Smith | Hawthorn | 25 September | Thought the time was right, it was time to move on.[34] |
| Kasey Green | Kangaroos | 26 September | Wanted to move back to Perth.[35] |
| Chris Heffernan | Essendon | 2 October | His opportunities to play senior football beyond 2007 were limited.[36] |
| Scott Camporeale | Essendon | 2 October | Injury.[37] |
| Chris Grant | Western Bulldogs | 2 October | Injury and right time to do so.[38] |
| Aaron Hamill | St Kilda | 2 October | Injury and right time to do so; he felt it was in the best interest of the club moving forward.[39] |
| Mark Bolton | Essendon | 3 October | Had been struggling to make the starting 22 in 2007 and recognised the right time to do so.[40] |
| Nathan Buckley | Collingwood | 5 October | Chronic hamstring injuries had curtailed his ability to remain fit for selection.[41] |
| Paul Licuria | Collingwood | 5 October | Battled injury and form problems this season.[42] |
| Nathan Ablett | Geelong | 5 October | Ending career after winning 2007 Premiership.[42] |
| Justin Longmuir | Fremantle | 31 October | Chronic knee injury.[43] |
| Stephen Doyle | Sydney | 31 October | Series of knee injuries.[44] |
| Lance Whitnall | Carlton | 12 November | Knee injury.[45] |
2007 national draft
[edit]
| * | Denotes player who has been a premiership player and been selected for at least one All-Australian team |
| + | Denotes player who has been a premiership player at least once |
| x | Denotes player who has been selected for at least one All-Australian team |
| # | Denotes player who has never played in a VFL/AFL home and away season or finals game |
| ~ | Denotes player who has been selected as Rising Star |
2008 pre-season draft
[edit]| Round | Pick | Player | Recruited from | League | Club |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1 | David Gourdis | Subiaco | WAFL | Richmond |
| 1 | 2 | Darren Pfeiffer | Adelaide | AFL | Carlton |
| 1 | 3 | Stefan Martin | Sandringham | VFL | Melbourne |
| 1 | 4 | Scott Welsh | Adelaide | AFL | Western Bulldogs |
| 1 | 5 | John Williams | Morningside | QAFL | Essendon |
| 1 | 6 | Joshua Head | South Fremantle | WAFL | Fremantle |
| 1 | 7 | Patrick McGinnity | Claremont | WAFL | West Coast |
| 1 | 8 | Tom Bellchambers | Launceston | NTFL (Tas) | Essendon |
2008 rookie draft
[edit]Draft firsts
[edit]This draft has been the first ever draft where elevated NSW scholarship players (Taylor Walker, Craig Bird, Ryan Davis, James Wilsen, Khan Haretuku) were drafted to their respective clubs by the draft under the rule, clubs must give up their last selection in either rookie or senior draft in order to draft that elevated scholarship player.
Selections by league
[edit]National and Pre-season draft selection totals by leagues:
| League | Players selected |
State |
|---|---|---|
| TAC Cup | 40 | VIC |
| WAFL | 18 | WA |
| SANFL | 4 | SA |
| QAFL | 3 | QLD |
| VFL | 2 | VIC |
| NTFL | 2 | NT |
| HFNL | 1 | VIC |
Notes
[edit]- ^ Ben Cousins was sacked by the West Coast after he was arrested on drug charges.[61]
References
[edit]- ^ Quayle, Emma (24 November 2007). "2007 National Draft - The Top 10". The Age.
- ^ Wilson, Caroline (18 September 2007). "He went, he saw, he conquered. The Juddernaut is coming home". The Age. p. 3.
- ^ "Chris Judd leaves West Coast". West Coast Football Club. 16 September 2007.[permanent dead link]
- ^ "Winds of change batter Eagles". AAP. 16 September 2007. Archived from the original on 12 November 2007.
- ^ "Judd decides against Dons, Demons". Fairfax. 1 October 2007.
- ^ "Judd chooses Blues". AAP. 2 October 2007. Archived from the original on 12 November 2007.
- ^ The Australia (2010). Eagles land a reluctant catch. Retrieved 15 May 2010.
- ^ "Give Hay some breathing space: Laidley". The Sydney Morning Herald. 23 February 2007. Archived from the original on 28 April 2007. Retrieved 23 August 2012.
- ^ "Gaspar's career is over". foxsports.com.au. 4 May 2007. Retrieved 3 June 2007.
- ^ "Neck injury forces Monty out". AFL.com.au. 25 May 2007. Archived from the original on 30 September 2007. Retrieved 3 June 2007.
- ^ Rucci, Michelangelo (1 August 2007). "Perfect time to play Port". The Advertiser. Adelaide. Retrieved 1 September 2007.
- ^ Gullan, Scott (3 August 2007). "Old Dog Out of Tricks". Herald Sun. Australia. Retrieved 16 August 2007.
- ^ "Kouta calls it a day". AFL.com.au. 31 July 2007. Archived from the original on 29 September 2007. Retrieved 31 July 2007.
- ^ "Ricciuto says enough is enough". The Age. Melbourne. 16 August 2007. Retrieved 17 August 2007.
- ^ "Robbins draws curtain on career". The Advertiser. Adelaide. 23 August 2007. Retrieved 11 September 2016.
- ^ "Journeyman Mahoney hangs up boots". Sportal. 24 August 2007. Archived from the original on 29 September 2007. Retrieved 25 August 2007.
- ^ a b "Fremantle lose two loyal servants". The West Australian. 24 August 2007. Archived from the original on 27 September 2007. Retrieved 25 August 2007.
- ^ "Chris Scott finishes the Game". AFL.com.au. 28 August 2007. Archived from the original on 29 September 2007. Retrieved 28 August 2007.
- ^ a b c "The end for a Trio of Tigers". AFL.com.au. 28 August 2007. Archived from the original on 7 September 2007. Retrieved 28 August 2007.
- ^ "Wakelin's season sacrifice". AFL.com.au. 28 August 2007. Archived from the original on 23 September 2007. Retrieved 28 August 2007.
- ^ "Matthew Lappin calls it a day". The Australian Football League. 29 August 2007. Archived from the original on 11 September 2007. Retrieved 29 August 2007.
- ^ a b "Demons defenders call it quits". The Australian Football League. 29 August 2007. Archived from the original on 11 September 2007. Retrieved 29 August 2007.
- ^ "Pickett adds to the exodus". The Australian Football League. 31 August 2007. Archived from the original on 30 September 2007. Retrieved 31 August 2007.
- ^ "Chris Johnson calls it quits". The Australian Football League. 31 August 2007. Archived from the original on 30 September 2007. Retrieved 31 August 2007.
- ^ "Saints farewell champs with tight win". ABC. 1 September 2007. Retrieved 23 August 2012.
- ^ Barrett, Damian (20 September 2007). "Evergeen Harvey rolls on". Herald Sun. Retrieved 23 August 2012.
- ^ "Josh Wooden retires". West Coast Eagles FC Website. 5 September 2007. Archived from the original on 10 September 2007. Retrieved 5 September 2007.
- ^ "Hawks skipper Richie Vandenberg to retire after finals". The Australian Football League. 6 September 2007. Archived from the original on 29 September 2007. Retrieved 6 September 2007.
- ^ "Saint Brett Voss retires". The Heraldsun newspaper. 18 September 2007. Retrieved 18 September 2007.
- ^ "Much admired Dixon retires from Hawks". The Australian Football League. 19 September 2007. Archived from the original on 24 May 2011. Retrieved 19 September 2007.
- ^ "Rowan Jones retires". The Australian Football League. 20 September 2007. Archived from the original on 11 October 2007. Retrieved 20 September 2007.
- ^ "Part of club has died with Archer retirement". The Australian Football League. 22 September 2007. Archived from the original on 11 October 2007. Retrieved 22 September 2007.
- ^ "Clement announces retirement". The Australian Football League. 23 September 2007. Retrieved 23 September 2007.[dead link]
- ^ "Hawks' Joel Smith retires". The Australian Football League. 25 September 2007. Archived from the original on 11 October 2007. Retrieved 25 September 2007.
- ^ "Green joins Archer in retirement". The Australian Football League. 26 September 2007. Archived from the original on 11 October 2007. Retrieved 26 September 2007.
- ^ "Chris Heffernan retires". Essendon FC website. 2 October 2007. Archived from the original on 6 November 2007. Retrieved 2 October 2007.
- ^ "Scott Camporeale announces his retirement". Essendon FC website. 2 October 2007. Archived from the original on 6 November 2007. Retrieved 2 October 2007.
- ^ "Chris Grant announces retirement". The Australian Football League. 2 October 2007. Archived from the original on 11 October 2007. Retrieved 2 October 2007.
- ^ "Hamill Calls it Quits". The Australian Football League. 3 October 2007. Archived from the original on 11 October 2007. Retrieved 3 October 2007.
- ^ "Mark Bolton announces his retirement". Essendon Football Club. 4 October 2007. Archived from the original on 6 November 2007. Retrieved 4 October 2007.
- ^ "Buckley calls it a day". The Australian Football League. 5 October 2007. Archived from the original on 11 October 2007. Retrieved 5 October 2007.
- ^ a b "Licuria announces retirement". The Australian Football League. 5 October 2007. Archived from the original on 3 June 2012. Retrieved 5 October 2007.
- ^ "Longmuir calls it quits". Fox Sports Australia. 31 October 2007. Retrieved 31 October 2007.
- ^ "Doyle retires after injury-hit career". Real Footy. 31 October 2007. Archived from the original on 2 November 2007. Retrieved 31 October 2007.
- ^ "Whitnall confirms his retirement". AFL website. 12 November 2007. Archived from the original on 13 November 2007. Retrieved 12 November 2007.
- ^ a b c d e "Changes to the Carlton Team for 2008". carltonfc.com.au. 6 September 2007. Archived from the original on 27 September 2007. Retrieved 3 August 2009.
- ^ a b c d e "Melbourne axes five players". AFL BigPond Network. 11 September 2007. Archived from the original on 24 May 2011. Retrieved 3 August 2009.
- ^ a b c d e f "Bulldogs delist four players". foxsports.com.au. 12 September 2007. Archived from the original on 30 December 2012. Retrieved 3 August 2009.
- ^ a b "Fremantle's Longmuir retires at 26". realfooty.com.au. 31 October 2007. Archived from the original on 25 February 2008. Retrieved 3 August 2009.
- ^ a b c d e "Laidley close to signing new deal". Herald Sun. Australia. 26 September 2007. Retrieved 3 August 2009.
- ^ a b c d e f "Kangaroos axe Trotter". sportal.com.au. 23 October 2007. Archived from the original on 4 August 2011. Retrieved 4 August 2009.
- ^ a b "Laidley close to signing new deal". realfooty.com.au. 4 October 2007. Archived from the original on 9 January 2009. Retrieved 3 August 2009.
- ^ a b c d "Watts, Brooks delisted by Saints". The West Australian. 17 October 2007. Archived from the original on 26 April 2012. Retrieved 3 August 2009.
- ^ a b c d e "Crows delist five players". realfooty.com.au. 12 October 2007. Archived from the original on 10 July 2011. Retrieved 3 August 2009.
- ^ "Richard Cole delisted". essendonfc.com.au. 12 October 2007. Archived from the original on 16 November 2007. Retrieved 3 August 2009.
- ^ Robinson, Mark; Morrissey, Tim (13 October 2007). "Whitnall devastated as Carlton makes tough call". Herald Sun. Australia. Retrieved 3 August 2009.
- ^ a b c "Johnson delisted by Bombers". AFL BigPond Network. 15 October 2007. Archived from the original on 17 October 2007. Retrieved 3 August 2009.
- ^ Burgan, Matt (15 October 2007). "Demons delist Ferguson". AFL BigPond Network. Archived from the original on 20 January 2008. Retrieved 3 August 2009.
- ^ a b "Hawks delist two". AFL BigPond Network. 16 October 2007. Archived from the original on 16 October 2007. Retrieved 3 August 2009.
- ^ a b c d e "Sydney delist five players". AFL BigPond Network. 17 October 2007. Archived from the original on 19 December 2007. Retrieved 3 August 2009.
- ^ a b "West Coast Eagles sack Cousins". Herald Sun. Australia. 17 October 2007. Retrieved 4 August 2009.
- ^ a b c d e Horan, Michael (18 October 2007). "Delisted Joel Reynolds upbeat". Herald Sun. Australia. Retrieved 3 August 2009.
- ^ a b c "Krakouer punted". foxsports.com.au. 22 October 2007. Retrieved 4 August 2009.
- ^ a b c d e f g h Trickey, Gareth (23 October 2007). "Krakouer keen to head west". foxsports.com.au. Archived from the original on 30 December 2012. Retrieved 4 August 2009.
- ^ Gullan, Scott (30 October 2007). "Ashley Sampi leaves Eagles, will enter AFL draft". Herald Sun. Australia. Retrieved 4 August 2009.
- ^ a b "Chick and Richards cut on delisting deadline". AFL BigPond Network. 31 October 2007. Archived from the original on 2 November 2007. Retrieved 4 August 2009.
- ^ a b c d "One change to list". portadelaidefc.com.au. 16 November 2007. Archived from the original on 19 January 2008. Retrieved 4 August 2009.
External links
[edit]- "2007 AFL national draft". The Age. 25 November 2007.[permanent dead link]
- Burgan, Matt (12 October 2007). "Club-by-club trade week analysis". Archived from the original on 14 January 2008.
2007 AFL draft
View on Grokipediafrom Grokipedia
The 2007 AFL draft was the primary mechanism for Australian Football League (AFL) clubs to recruit unsigned players during the 2007–08 off-season, consisting of a trade period, the national draft held on 24 November 2007 in Melbourne, a pre-season draft, and a rookie draft. Carlton secured the first overall selection and chose ruckman Matthew Kreuzer from Northern Territory club Waratah, marking their third consecutive No. 1 pick after Marc Murphy in 2005 and Bryce Gibbs in 2006. Subsequent top selections included midfielder Trent Cotchin (Richmond, pick 2), utility Chris Masten (West Coast, pick 3), and key forward Cale Morton (Melbourne, pick 4).[1][2]
Regarded as one of the most talented drafts in AFL history, the 2007 intake produced at least five Australian Football Hall of Fame inductees and numerous premiership contributors across multiple clubs. Richmond's Trent Cotchin captained the Tigers to three flags (2017, 2019, 2020) and won the club's best and fairest twice, while Patrick Dangerfield (Adelaide, pick 10) claimed the 2016 Brownlow Medal, celebrated his 350th AFL game in June 2025, and later led Geelong to the 2022 premiership after a 2016 trade. Hawthorn selected dynamic forward Cyril Rioli (pick 12), who played a pivotal role in four premierships (2008, 2013–15), earning a Norm Smith Medal in 2015. Richmond also gained elite defender Alex Rance (pick 18 via priority access), a four-time All-Australian who anchored their backline during contention pushes. Remarkably, Adelaide's late selection of key forward Taylor Walker (pick 75 under the NSW scholarship zone) yielded a long-serving captain, leading goalkicker, and 2020 All-Australian. Other standouts included Lachie Henderson (Brisbane, pick 8), who became a versatile tall forward across three clubs, and Ben McEvoy (St Kilda, pick 9), a dual-premiership ruckman with Hawthorn.[3][4][5][6]
The draft's depth extended beyond early picks, with clubs like Hawthorn and Richmond building dynasties around selections such as Rioli and Cotchin, contributing to 10 premierships collectively among draftees by 2025. It highlighted the AFL's growing emphasis on national talent pools, drawing prospects from TAC Cup, SANFL, WAFL, and Indigenous pathways, while introducing rules like mature-age rookies for players over 23 without prior list experience. Overall, the class averaged over 150 games per top-10 player, underscoring its lasting impact on the competition.[1][7]
Round 2
The second round (picks 25–42) featured selections such as pick 25: Tom Collier # (Brisbane Lions, TAC Cup); pick 26: Michael Barlow (Fremantle, WAFL); pick 27: Alan Toovey (Collingwood, TAC Cup); and others focusing on midfielders and defenders from various states. There were 18 picks in this round.[28]
Round 3
The third round (picks 43–59) included 17 picks, with examples like pick 43: Ryan Hargrave (Western Bulldogs, SANFL); pick 49: Brad Howard (Port Adelaide, SANFL). Several non-debutants were selected here.[28]
Rounds 4–5
Later rounds (picks 60–71) added depth, including father-son selections like Darcy Daniher (pick 39, Essendon, but in round 3 wait no—actual pick 39 Essendon Darcy Daniher father-son in round 3) and mature-age picks. The draft concluded with pick 71: Aaron Kite (Adelaide, TAC Cup). Full details, including passes and trades, are in the cited source, noting 11 non-debutants overall.[28]
Subsequent rounds continued with similar focus, including international selections such as Irish player Shane Mumford (pick 57 to Geelong), highlighting the draft's role in diversifying talent pools.[34]
These selections were shaped by pre-draft trades, most notably the blockbuster deal involving Chris Judd, where West Coast acquired Carlton's natural first-round pick (No. 3) and third-round pick (No. 20), along with forward Josh Kennedy, in exchange for Judd and West Coast's No. 46 selection. This positioned West Coast to draft Masten at No. 3, bolstering their midfield depth without sacrificing their own higher assets. No significant intra-draft trades occurred during the first round, allowing clubs to execute their pre-planned strategies.[35][19]
Clubs prioritized midfielders in six of the top 10 selections, driven by the era's trend toward contested ball-winning and endurance running, as teams sought to emulate the inside-midfield dominance of 2007 premiers Geelong and runners-up Port Adelaide. Carlton selected Kreuzer to address longstanding ruck deficiencies and Brendan Fevola’s unreliability in support roles, while Richmond targeted Cotchin for his leadership potential to anchor a young midfield core. Essendon and Fremantle, both rebuilding, focused on athletic mids like Myers and Palmer to inject pace and versatility into aging lists.[36][37]
Post-draft, several first-rounders provided immediate contributions in 2008, addressing urgent positional gaps. Kreuzer debuted in Round 3 for Carlton, playing 20 games and offering ruck stability amid the club's transition. Cotchin featured in 15 matches for Richmond, earning the club's best first-year player award and helping stabilize their engine room. Masten played 9 games for West Coast, adding rotational midfield support during their finals push, while McEvoy appeared in 1 game for St Kilda, backing up their ruck division en route to a grand final. These early impacts underscored the draft's role in accelerating rebuilds for underperforming clubs.[38]
This distribution underscored Victorian dominance, with over half of the draftees emerging from Victorian competitions, reflecting the state's mature talent development pathways through structured junior leagues and academies. Interstate selections, totaling 32 players, indicated a gradual shift toward national recruitment, supported by competitions like the WAFL and SANFL that fed key prospects to AFL clubs.
Special categories within the draft included three father-son selections: Darcy Daniher (Essendon, pick 39, son of Anthony Daniher), Adam Donohue (Geelong, pick 60, son of Larry Donohue), and Jaxson Barham (Collingwood, pick 61, son of Ricky Barham). Additionally, two players were elevated from the NSW-ACT scholarship program: Craig Bird (Sydney, pick 59) and Taylor Walker (Adelaide, pick 75), which allowed clubs exclusive rights to promising non-Victorian talents without significant draft cost.
These origins reflected the AFL's ongoing national expansion efforts in 2007, as the league invested in interstate academies and scholarships to diversify player pools and reduce reliance on Victorian talent, fostering growth in regions like New South Wales and the Northern Territory.
Overview
Draft Essentials
The 2007 AFL National Draft took place on November 24, 2007, at the Telstra Dome in Melbourne.[8] The event was broadcast live on Fox Sports and sponsored by the National Australia Bank (NAB).[2] As the central component of the AFL's player acquisition process, the national draft enabled clubs to select unsigned young players primarily from under-18 competitions such as the TAC Cup and state leagues. A total of 75 picks were available across six rounds, though clubs passed on nine occasions, resulting in 66 players being drafted.[9] The order of selections was determined by reverse ladder positions from the 2007 season, adjusted by outcomes from the preceding trade period.[7] Carlton held the first overall pick—a priority selection granted due to their poor performance—and used it to draft Matthew Kreuzer, an 18-year-old ruckman and key position player standing at 200 cm from the Northern Knights in Victoria's TAC Cup.[10]Historical Context
The Australian Football League (AFL) introduced its national player draft in 1986 as a mechanism to enhance competitive parity among clubs by distributing emerging talent based on reverse ladder order, countering the previous zoning system that favored established Victorian teams with exclusive access to regional talent pools.[11][12] This shift aimed to reduce bidding wars and promote equalization, building on the league's 1985 salary cap implementation, which capped team spending at approximately $1.5 million initially to prevent financial disparities.[8] By 2007, these policies remained central to the AFL's equalization strategy, with the salary cap raised to $6.94 million per club to accommodate rising player values while maintaining balance.[13] Key draft concessions, including zoning and the father-son rule, were actively shaping selections in 2007. Zoning allowed Victorian clubs priority access to players from designated country and metropolitan areas, a holdover from pre-draft equalization efforts, while non-Victorian clubs like those in South Australia and Western Australia had similar regional protections.[14] The father-son rule, permitting clubs to nominate sons of former players who played at least 100 senior games, underwent significant reform that year with the introduction of a bidding system; clubs now had to match rival bids using their next available pick, valued via an emerging draft index, to prevent undervalued acquisitions that distorted parity.[15] Additionally, 2007 marked the debut eligibility of New South Wales and Australian Capital Territory (NSW/ACT) scholarship players for elevation to club lists and drafting, expanding talent pathways from non-traditional regions and integrating up to five such prospects into the national pool for the first time.[16] Leading into the draft, hype centered on the AFL's talent identification programs, including state-based under-18 championships and the 2007 AFL Draft Camp held in October at the Australian Institute of Sport in Canberra, where approximately 70 prospects underwent physical testing like the 20-meter sprint and vertical jump to inform club evaluations.[17] Player rankings, compiled by AFL recruiters from these events, highlighted top talents such as ruckman Matthew Kreuzer and midfielder Trent Cotchin, generating widespread media and fan anticipation. Clubs entering the draft were particularly focused on rebuilding, with bottom-of-the-ladder finishers like Carlton (15th in 2007 with just four wins) and Richmond (16th with three wins) securing multiple early picks—Carlton held the No. 1 selection and others in the top 20—to address roster deficiencies after seasons marred by injuries and poor performance.[18]Pre-Draft Developments
Trade Period
The 2007 AFL trade period served as the official window for clubs to negotiate exchanges of players, draft selections, and future picks ahead of the national draft, marking a pivotal phase in off-season list management. This year introduced a key rule change allowing pick-only trades without requiring player involvement, which expanded strategic flexibility and led to more fluid negotiations among the 16 clubs. The period ran from Monday, October 8, to 2:00 p.m. on Friday, October 12, culminating in a flurry of deals that altered draft positioning and team compositions.[19] The most prominent transaction was the high-profile move of premiership captain and Brownlow Medalist Chris Judd from West Coast to Carlton, announced on October 11. In the deal, Carlton acquired Judd and the Eagles' No. 46 pick in the national draft, while West Coast received key forward Josh Kennedy along with Carlton's No. 3 and No. 20 selections. This blockbuster exchange not only brought an elite midfielder to a rebuilding Blues side but also enhanced Carlton's draft capital, enabling them to pair their priority No. 1 pick with additional early selections to target top prospects like Matthew Kreuzer and Bryce Gibbs. West Coast, in turn, bolstered their forward line and gained premium draft assets to replenish their list after Judd's departure.[20] Other significant player trades included Brisbane securing experienced midfielder Travis Johnstone from Melbourne on October 15 in exchange for the Lions' No. 14 national draft pick, aiming to add leadership and skill to their midfield. Essendon, meanwhile, pursued list renewal through targeted acquisitions, though specifics like potential deals involving speedster Andrew Lovett remained speculative and did not materialize during the window. Pick swaps proliferated under the new rules, with clubs like Richmond maneuvering to improve their order, such as acquiring Graham Polak from Fremantle to add experience. These activities had profound strategic ramifications, particularly for bottom-placed teams like Carlton, who leveraged trades to consolidate multiple top-10 picks and accelerate their rebuild. Overall, the period reshaped draft trajectories, with clubs prioritizing youth influxes amid recent retirements that had freed up list spots across the competition.Retirements and Delistings
The 2007 AFL season saw 45 players retire across the league, marking the end of several illustrious careers and freeing up senior list spots for incoming draftees. Among the most prominent retirements was that of Essendon champion James Hird, who announced his retirement on September 1, 2007, after 253 games, including a Brownlow Medal in 1996 and three premierships in 1993, 2000, and 2004. Collingwood's Nathan Buckley, a 280-game veteran and 2003 Brownlow winner, retired on October 5, 2007, concluding a tenure that included 1990 premiership success and captaincy from 1999 to 2007. Adelaide's Mark Ricciuto, with 312 games and a 2003 Brownlow, retired on August 16, 2007, while North Melbourne's Glenn Archer bowed out after 277 games on August 24, 2007, and Western Bulldogs' Chris Grant retired on August 31, 2007, following 287 games. Delistings complemented these retirements, with clubs trimming their lists to comply with the AFL's 44-player senior list limit plus rookies, resulting in 77 players being delisted league-wide during the off-season period. A high-profile case was West Coast's delisting of Ben Cousins on October 17, 2007, after 238 games and a 2005 Brownlow Medal; the decision stemmed from off-field issues including a drug possession arrest, leading to a 12-month AFL suspension. Other notable delistings included Brisbane's Xavier Clarke, often tied to performance, contract, or disciplinary reasons, with announcements peaking in late October and early November.[21] These retirements and delistings directly influenced pre-draft list management, creating approximately 122 vacancies that enabled clubs to allocate picks in the national, pre-season, and rookie drafts without exceeding list caps. While formal free agency and associated draft compensation picks were not introduced until 2012, the exits under the 2007 system—governed by collective bargaining agreements—necessitated strategic delistings to balance rosters, occasionally allowing delisted players like Cousins to enter the pre-season draft as free agents.National Draft
Selection Mechanics
The selection order for the 2007 AFL national draft was determined by the reverse finishing positions on the 2007 premiership season ladder, with the team that placed last receiving the first pick in the opening round and subsequent rounds following the same order.[7] Carlton was awarded the priority selection (pick No. 1) due to their status as the lowest-ranked club over a two-year period under the league's priority access rules, which aimed to assist consistently underperforming teams. This structure ensured that clubs with poorer performances gained earlier access to emerging talent, while higher-placed teams selected later in each round. Adjustments were made for pre-draft trades. Eligibility for the draft was restricted to players who had not yet turned 18 by December 31, 2007, and who had competed in accredited under-18 competitions such as the TAC Cup in Victoria, the SANFL under-18s in South Australia, or equivalent pathways in other states and territories.[22] International recruits, including those from programs like the Irish trials, were also eligible provided they met age and registration requirements, broadening the talent pool beyond domestic competitions.[7] Notably, there was no unrestricted free agency system in place during this period, as it would not be introduced until 2012, meaning player movement was primarily governed by trades, drafts, and retirements. The draft night process unfolded as a live event on November 24, 2007, at Telstra Dome in Melbourne, where AFL club representatives gathered to make selections in sequence via on-site nominations or telephone bids.[23] For standard picks, clubs simply nominated available players in their allotted order, but the introduction of a bidding mechanism for father-son and academy prospects added complexity, requiring the nominating club to match any rival bid using a points-based valuation of draft picks. Under this new 2007 system, clubs pre-nominated eligible father-son players—those whose fathers had played at least 100 senior games for the club—and assigned point values to picks (e.g., pick No. 1 worth 3,000 points, decreasing progressively), allowing the father's club to retain the player by surrendering equivalent value from their next available selection. This prevented uncontested access to high-value prospects and promoted competitive equity, though no bids were placed for Hawthorn's academy selection of Cyril Rioli at pick No. 12.[24] Special provisions in 2007 included the debut of rules for elevating New South Wales scholarship players into the draft pool, a program initiated in 2006 to develop talent in non-traditional AFL states by allowing clubs to sign promising 15- to 17-year-olds on multi-year agreements.[25] These scholarship holders, such as Taylor Walker, could be added to senior lists via late-round picks without standard bidding, marking the first time such players were directly accessible in the national draft and supporting grassroots growth in NSW.[26] Additionally, with the Gold Coast Suns yet to join the league (debuting in 2011), no priority access concessions were granted for expansion teams, keeping the focus on existing clubs' needs.[7]2007 National Draft Picks
The 2007 AFL National Draft consisted of 71 picks across five rounds, with adjustments from pre-draft trades that saw clubs like Richmond acquire additional early picks.[27][28] Several minor trades took place during the draft itself, such as future considerations in later rounds. The table below details selections for the first round, including round, pick number, player name, selecting club, and league of origin. Players who never made an AFL debut are denoted with a #. Origins reflect the key competition or zone (e.g., TAC Cup for Victorian under-18s, WAFL for Western Australian colts). Father-son and academy selections are noted where applicable. Full lists for later rounds are available in cited sources.[28]| Round | Pick | Player Name | Club | Origin | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1 | Matthew Kreuzer | Carlton | NTFL | Priority pick |
| 1 | 2 | Trent Cotchin | Richmond | TAC Cup | |
| 1 | 3 | Chris Masten | West Coast | WAFL | |
| 1 | 4 | Cale Morton | Melbourne | WAFL | |
| 1 | 5 | Jarrad Grant | Western Bulldogs | TAC Cup | |
| 1 | 6 | David Myers | Essendon | TAC Cup | |
| 1 | 7 | Rhys Palmer | Fremantle | WAFL | |
| 1 | 8 | Lachlan Henderson | Brisbane Lions | TAC Cup | |
| 1 | 9 | Ben McEvoy | St Kilda | TAC Cup | |
| 1 | 10 | Patrick Dangerfield | Adelaide | TAC Cup | |
| 1 | 11 | Patrick Veszpremi # | Sydney | TAC Cup | |
| 1 | 12 | Cyril Rioli | Hawthorn | NTFL | Academy |
| 1 | 13 | Jack Riewoldt | Richmond | SANFL | |
| 1 | 14 | Nathan Brown | Richmond | TAC Cup | Father-son |
| 1 | 15 | Steele Sidebottom | Collingwood | TAC Cup | |
| 1 | 16 | Rhys Bennett # | St Kilda | TAC Cup | |
| 1 | 17 | Brent Prismall | Geelong | TAC Cup | |
| 1 | 18 | Harry Taylor | Geelong | WAFL | |
| Priority | 19 | Alex Rance | Richmond | WAFL | Priority pick |
| 1 | 20 | Callan Ward | Western Bulldogs | NEAFL | NSW scholarship |
| 1 | 21 | Tony Notte # | West Coast | WAFL | |
| 1 | 22 | James Frawley | Melbourne | TAC Cup | |
| 1 | 23 | Shaun Grigg | Richmond | TAC Cup | Traded from Port Adelaide |
| 1 | 24 | Addam Yee # | Collingwood | TAC Cup |
Supplementary Drafts
2008 Pre-Season Draft
The 2008 pre-season draft was conducted on December 11, 2007, immediately following the conclusion of the 2007 national draft, allowing AFL clubs to bolster their lists with a limited pool of eligible players.[29] With relatively few uncontracted or delisted players available after the primary draft process, the event featured only eight selections, reflecting the constrained availability of candidates.[30] The draft's primary purpose was to enable clubs to acquire experienced athletes or overlooked talents outside the high-profile national intake, often drawing from state league competitions to add immediate depth or versatility to senior squads. Unlike the national draft's emphasis on emerging youth, this supplementary process maintained a low profile, prioritizing mature-age recruits who could contribute without the long-term development focus of primary selections.[31] Many nominees stemmed from recent delistings during the national draft period, providing a second chance for players previously overlooked by AFL clubs.[30] The selections unfolded primarily in the first round, with Essendon making an additional pick in the second round; no further rounds were utilized due to clubs passing on remaining opportunities.| Round | Pick | Club | Player | Previous Affiliation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1 | Richmond | David Gourdis | Subiaco |
| 1 | 2 | Carlton | Darren Pfeiffer | Adelaide (delisted) / Norwood |
| 1 | 3 | Melbourne | Stefan Martin | Sandringham Dragons |
| 1 | 4 | Western Bulldogs | Scott Welsh | Adelaide (delisted) |
| 1 | 5 | Essendon | John Williams | University of Queensland / Morningside |
| 1 | 6 | Fremantle | Josh Head | South Fremantle |
| 1 | 7 | [West Coast](/page/West Coast) | Patrick McGinnity | Claremont |
| 2 | 8 | Essendon | Tom Bellchambers | Tasmania U18 / North Launceston |
2008 Rookie Draft
The 2008 AFL Rookie Draft was conducted on 11 December 2007, enabling each of the 16 clubs to select up to four players for their rookie lists, with a total of 62 picks made across multiple rounds.[32][33] This draft targeted young players typically under 20 years of age, as well as category B rookies including international recruits and athletes converting from non-football codes, provided they had not been selected in the preceding national draft.[7][33] A key rule emphasized development opportunities for unregistered or overlooked talent, with selections prioritized in reverse order of the previous season's ladder positions.[7] International players, such as those from Ireland or other countries, were eligible under quota provisions, though only a handful were chosen in 2007.[33] That year marked the introduction of provisions for mature-age rookies over 23 years old who had never previously appeared on any club's primary or rookie list, broadening access for non-traditional recruits.[7] The draft proceeded after the pre-season draft, allowing clubs to further refine their squads with potential future contributors.| Pick | Player | Club | Origin |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Clayton Collard | Richmond | South Fremantle (WAFL) |
| 2 | Aaron Joseph | Carlton | Glenorchy / Tasmania U18 |
| 3 | Trent Zomer | Melbourne | Eastern U18 |
| 4 | James Mulligan | Western Bulldogs | Southport |
| 5 | Rhys Magin | Essendon | Zillmere |
| 6 | Brent Connelly | Fremantle | Gippsland U18 |
| 7 | Phil Smith | Brisbane Lions | Calder U18 |
| 8 | Glenn Chivers | St Kilda | Oakleigh U18 |
| 9 | James Moss | Adelaide | Central District |
| 10 | Matthew O'Dwyer | Sydney | Newtown / East Coast Eagles |
Draft Analysis
First-Round Selections and Trades
The first round of the 2007 AFL National Draft featured a strong emphasis on versatile midfielders and key-position players, reflecting clubs' efforts to address list deficiencies following a season dominated by established premiership contenders. With Carlton holding the priority pick due to their league-worst performance, the selections began a process of rebuilding for bottom-placed teams, while higher-finishing clubs like West Coast sought to maintain competitiveness.[8] The top 10 picks were as follows:| Pick | Club | Player | Position | Origin |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Carlton | Matthew Kreuzer | Ruck | Northern Knights |
| 2 | Richmond | Trent Cotchin | Midfield | Northern Knights |
| 3 | West Coast | Chris Masten | Midfield | East Fremantle |
| 4 | Melbourne | Cale Morton | Midfield | Claremont |
| 5 | Western Bulldogs | Jarrad Grant | Forward | Dandenong Stingrays |
| 6 | Essendon | David Myers | Midfield | Perth |
| 7 | Fremantle | Rhys Palmer | Midfield | East Fremantle |
| 8 | Brisbane Lions | Lachie Henderson | Forward | Geelong Falcons |
| 9 | St Kilda | Ben McEvoy | Ruck | Murray Bushrangers |
| 10 | Adelaide | Patrick Dangerfield | Midfield | Geelong Falcons |
Selections by Player Origin
The 2007 AFL national draft featured 75 selections, with players originating from various state-based under-18 and senior competitions across Australia. The distribution highlighted a strong representation from established talent pipelines, particularly in Victoria, while also including emerging prospects from interstate leagues as part of the league's broadening recruitment scope.| Origin Category | Number of Players | Examples of Competitions/Leagues |
|---|---|---|
| Victoria (TAC Cup/U18/VFL) | 43 | Northern Knights, Geelong Falcons, Dandenong Stingrays, HFNL |
| Western Australia (WAFL) | 18 | East Fremantle, Swan Districts, Claremont |
| South Australia (SANFL) | 4 | Port Adelaide, Central District, North Adelaide |
| Queensland (QAFL) | 3 | Zillmere |
| Northern Territory (NTFL) | 2 | Waratah, St Marys |
| New South Wales/ACT (Scholarships/U18) | 3 | NSW-ACT Rams |
| Tasmania (TFL/U18) | 1 | Tasmania Devils |
| Other | 1 |