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2011 AFL draft
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2011 AFL draft
General information
Dates24 November 2011
13 December 2011
LocationSydney, New South Wales
NetworkFox Sports
Sponsored byNational Australia Bank
Overview
LeagueAFL
Expansion teamsGreater Western Sydney
Expansion season2012
First selectionJonathon Patton (Greater Western Sydney)
← 2010
2012 →

The 2011 AFL draft consisted of five opportunities for player acquisitions during the 2011/12 Australian Football League off-season.

These were:

  • 2011 trade week; which was held between 10 October and 17 October[1]
  • A mini-draft of 17-year-old players, as part of the recruitment concessions given to the newly established Greater Western Sydney Giants, which was held on 13 October
  • The 2011 national draft; which was held on 24 November in Sydney.[2]
  • The 2012 pre-season draft, held on 13 December 2011 and
  • The 2012 rookie draft, also on 13 December 2011.

It was the first national draft to feature the Greater Western Sydney Giants, who joined the league in 2012. It was the final draft period before the introduction of free agency in the 2012/13 offseason.[3]

Greater Western Sydney concessions

[edit]

The Greater Western Sydney Giants were to join the AFL in 2012, and were provided with several draft concessions, including additional draft selections, early access to recruit 17-year-old players, and access to uncontracted and previously listed players in this offseason. These concessions were similar to those provided to the Gold Coast Football Club, which entered the league in the previous season.

Greater Western Sydney was permitted to recruit the following players directly, without the need for any draft:

  • At the end of 2010, up to twelve 17-year-old players (born between 1 January – 30 April 1993), who were too young to enter the 2010 AFL draft. These players were not eligible to play senior AFL football in 2011, and would continue to undergo junior development, either in Sydney or their home state.
  • Up to ten players who were not on an AFL list but had previously nominated for a national draft. These players could be recruited at the end of either 2011 or 2012, with no more than ten players recruited in this manner over the two years. Greater Western Sydney could immediately trade any players recruited in this manner.
  • Up to sixteen players who were on an AFL list, but were out of contract at the end of the season. Again, these players could be recruited at the end of either 2011 or 2012, with no more than sixteen players recruited in this manner over the two years, and no more than one player recruited from any other club. Clubs who lost players in this manner received compensatory selections in the national draft; the number and value of these selections was determined based on age, contract size, on-field performance and draft order, and were permitted to be used in any year between 2011 and 2015.
  • Up to sixteen players recruited from the New South Wales and Australian Capital Territory zone, recruited at any time between 2010 and 2013, and from the Northern Territory zone, recruited between 2011 and 2013.

Then, in the drafts, Greater Western Sydney had the following selections:

  • In the 2011 national draft, the first selection in each round, and picks No. 2, 3, 5, 7, 9, 11, 13 and 15 in the first round.
  • In the 2011 rookie draft, the first eight selections.
  • In the 2012 rookie draft, the first selection in each round.

Additionally, at the end of 2011, Greater Western Sydney had the ability to trade the only four selections in a once-off "mini-draft", which could be used to recruit 17-year-old players (born between 1 January – 30 April 1994). Greater Western Sydney could only use these draft picks as trade currency; the club was not permitted to use the picks for its own list development. Players recruited and traded in this manner were not eligible to play senior AFL football in 2012, and would continue to undergo junior development. This specific concession was unique to Greater Western Sydney; Gold Coast did not have the same concession the previous year.

Greater Western Sydney began with an expanded list size of up to fifty senior players and nine rookies, to be gradually reduced to a standard list size of thirty-eight senior players and nine rookies by 2019.[4]

During the 2011 AFL season there was speculation about several players who would be uncontracted at the end of the season, including Tom Scully, Rhys Palmer, Callan Ward and Taylor Walker.[5] In August 2011, Phil Davis from Adelaide was the first player to announce a move to Greater Western Sydney as an uncontracted player signing.[6] After the season had ended, Palmer, Scully and Ward also announced moves to the Giants. As compensation, Scully was rated as a top-level player, resulting in Melbourne receiving both a first-round and a mid-first round draft pick as compensation. Davis and Ward were rated as second-level, earning Adelaide and Western Bulldogs a first round compensation selection, and Palmer was rated a third-level player, giving Fremantle an end of first round selection.[7]

Player movements

[edit]

Trades

[edit]

In the lead up to trade week, the requests of players to move back to their home states dominated most trade rumours. Mitch Clark, Leon Davis, Brad Ebert and Jack Gunston all requested to be traded back to teams in their states of origin.[1][8]

Early in trade week, many trades involved unlisted players being recruited directly by Greater Western Sydney under the club's concessions, then immediately traded.[9] Where this has occurred, the club from which GWS recruited the player is shown in parentheses after his name.

Trade Player Traded from Traded to Traded for
1[10] Steven Morris (West Adelaide)
draft pick No. 15 		Greater Western Sydney Richmond draft pick No. 14
2[11] Martin Clarke (Down GAA)
Jamie Elliott (Murray Bushrangers)
draft pick No. 67 		Greater Western Sydney Collingwood draft pick No. 25
3[12] Jack Gunston
draft pick No. 53 and 71 		Adelaide Hawthorn draft picks No. 24, 46 and 64
4[13] draft pick No. 4
compensation draft pick (first round) 		Gold Coast Greater Western Sydney Mini-draft pick No. 1
draft pick No. 31
5[14] Terry Milera (Port Adelaide Magpies)
Ahmed Saad (Northern Bullants)
draft pick No. 25 		Greater Western Sydney St Kilda draft pick No. 20
6[15] draft pick No. 20 Greater Western Sydney Fremantle compensation draft pick (end of first round)
7[16] Luke Brown (Norwood)
Mini-draft pick No. 2 		Greater Western Sydney Adelaide draft pick No. 10
compensation draft pick (first round)
8[17] Will Sierakowski Hawthorn North Melbourne draft pick No. 58
9[18] Ivan Maric Adelaide Richmond draft pick No. 37
10[18] Tom Lynch St Kilda Adelaide draft pick No. 37
11[19] Brent Renouf Hawthorn Port Adelaide draft pick No. 33
12[20] Mitch Clark Brisbane Lions Melbourne draft pick No. 12
13[21] Jordan Lisle Hawthorn Brisbane Lions priority draft pick (No. 29)
14[22] draft picks No. 38 and 56 Fremantle Hawthorn priority draft pick (No. 29)
draft picks No. 58 and 71
15[22] Jarrad Boumann (Box Hill Hawks) Greater Western Sydney Hawthorn draft pick No. 56
16[22] Chad Cornes
Dean Brogan
draft pick No. 69 		Port Adelaide Greater Western Sydney draft pick No. 49
17[22] Brad Ebert
draft pick No. 45 		West Coast Port Adelaide priority draft pick (No. 28)
draft pick No. 49
18[22] Peter Yagmoor (QLD zone selection)
draft pick No. 50 		Gold Coast Collingwood draft pick No. 47
19[22] Mitch Morton Richmond Sydney draft pick No. 79
20[22] Luke Power Brisbane Lions Greater Western Sydney draft pick No. 69
21[22] Josh Hill Western Bulldogs West Coast draft pick No. 49
22[23] Dayne Zorko (QLD zone selection)
draft pick No. 47 		Gold Coast Brisbane Lions draft pick No. 34 (3-way trade)
23[23] draft pick No. 34 Brisbane Lions Gold Coast (3-way trade)
24[23] Matthew Warnock Melbourne Gold Coast (3-way trade)
25[22] Ben Hudson Western Bulldogs Brisbane Lions draft pick No. 70
26[22] draft pick No. 26 Geelong Gold Coast draft picks No. 32 and 34
27[22] draft pick No. 24 Adelaide Gold Coast draft picks No. 27, 31 and 68
28[22][24] Tony Armstrong
draft pick No. 35 and 68 		Adelaide Sydney Lewis Johnston
29[22] Tommy Walsh St Kilda Sydney draft picks No. 35 and 68
30[22] Josh Jenkins
draft pick No. 41 		Essendon Adelaide draft pick No. 31
31[23] compensation draft pick (end of first round) Richmond Gold Coast draft pick No. 26
compensation draft pick (second round)

Note: the numbering of the draft picks in this trades table is based on the original order prior to draft day. The final numbering of many of these draft picks was adjusted on draft day due to either the insertion of compensation draft picks in the early rounds, or clubs passing in the later rounds.

Retirements and delistings

[edit]
Name Club Date Notes
Albert Proud Brisbane Lions 10 February 2011 Sacked, continuous breaches of contract.[25]
Brendan Fevola Brisbane Lions 20 February 2011 Sacked, continuous breaches of contract.[26]
Craig Bolton Sydney 24 March 2011 Retirement, due to ankle injury.[27]
Tom Hunter Collingwood 31 March 2011 Retirement, due to neck injury.[28]
Daniel Bradshaw Sydney 17 June 2011 Retirement, due to knee injury.
Scott Stevens Adelaide 21 June 2011 Retirement, because of multiple head knocks.
Dean Brogan Port Adelaide 28 June 2011 Retirement, at end of season.
Barry Hall Western Bulldogs 19 July 2011 Retirement, at end of season.
Marcus Drum Geelong 21 July 2011 Retirement, due to ongoing injury problems.
Mark Williams Essendon 25 July 2011 Retirement, due to degenerative knee condition.
Chad Cornes Port Adelaide 3 August 2011 Retirement, at end of season.
Jamie Charman Brisbane Lions 3 August 2011 Retirement, effective immediately.[29]
Darcy Daniher Essendon 13 August 2011 Retirement, due to ongoing groin injuries.[30]
Daniel Harris Gold Coast 17 August 2011 Retirement, due to ongoing injury.[31]
Cameron Mooney Geelong 23 August 2011 Retirement, at end of season.[32]
Brady Rawlings North Melbourne 24 August 2011 Retirement, at end of season.[33]
Mitch Hahn Western Bulldogs 24 August 2011 Retirement, at end of season.[34]
Ben Hudson Western Bulldogs 24 August 2011 Retirement, at end of season.[35]
Luke Power Brisbane Lions 27 August 2011 Retirement, effective immediately.[36]
Byron Schammer Fremantle 29 August 2011 Retirement, at end of season.[37]
Brad Moran Adelaide 31 August 2011 Retirement, effective immediately.[38]
Roger Hayden Fremantle 31 August 2011 Retirement, due to ongoing injury.[39]
Tadhg Kennelly Sydney 1 September 2011 Retirement, at end of season.[40]
Leigh Brown Collingwood 1 September 2011 Retirement, at end of season.[41]
Nathan Ablett Gold Coast 5 September 2011 Delisted.[42]
Michael Coad Gold Coast 5 September 2011 Delisted.[42]
Marc Lock Gold Coast 5 September 2011 Delisted.[42]
Jack Stanlake Gold Coast 5 September 2011 Delisted.[42]
Roland Ah Chee Gold Coast 5 September 2011 Delisted.[42]
Jake Crawford Gold Coast 5 September 2011 Delisted.[42]
Jack Stanley Gold Coast 5 September 2011 Delisted.[42]
Joel Tippett Gold Coast 5 September 2011 Delisted.[42]
Clayton Hinkley Fremantle 7 September 2011 Delisted.[43]
Joel Houghton Fremantle 7 September 2011 Delisted.[43]
Tim Ruffles Fremantle 7 September 2011 Delisted.[43]
Ben Bucovaz Fremantle 7 September 2011 Delisted.[43]
Hamish Shepheard Fremantle 7 September 2011 Delisted.[43]
Ryan Houlihan Carlton 8 September 2011 Retirement, effective immediately for AFL games, and at end of season for VFL-affiliate games.[44]
Ed Lower North Melbourne 8 September 2011 Delisted.[45]
Ben Ross North Melbourne 8 September 2011 Delisted.[45]
Brayden Norris North Melbourne 8 September 2011 Delisted.[45]
Marcus White North Melbourne 8 September 2011 Delisted.[45]
Matthew Scott North Melbourne 8 September 2011 Delisted.[45]
Michael Gardiner St Kilda 10 September 2011 Retired.[46]
Steven Baker St Kilda 10 September 2011 Retired.[46]
Robert Eddy St Kilda 10 September 2011 Retired.[46]
Andrew McQualter St Kilda 10 September 2011 Retired.[46]
Matt Austin Brisbane Lions 11 September 2011 Delisted.[47]
Xavier Clarke Brisbane Lions 11 September 2011 Delisted.[47]
Broc McCauley Brisbane Lions 11 September 2011 Delisted.[47]
Bart McCulloch Brisbane Lions 11 September 2011 Delisted.[47]
Tom Hislop Richmond 12 September 2011 Delisted.[48]
Robert Hicks Richmond 12 September 2011 Delisted.[48]
Nick Westhoff Richmond 12 September 2011 Delisted.[48]
Tyson Slattery Essendon 19 September 2011 Delisted.[49]
Taite Silverlock Essendon 19 September 2011 Delisted.[49]
James Webster Essendon 19 September 2011 Delisted.[49]
Marlon Motlop Port Adelaide 22 September 2011 Delisted.[50]
Matthew Westhoff Port Adelaide 22 September 2011 Delisted.[50]
Callum Hay Port Adelaide 22 September 2011 Delisted.[50]
Danny Meyer Port Adelaide 22 September 2011 Retired.[50]
Brett Jones West Coast 27 September 2011 Retired.[51]
Daniel Bass Port Adelaide 29 September 2011 Delisted.[52]
Tim Houlihan West Coast 4 October 2011 Delisted.[53]
Jarrad Oakley-Nicholls West Coast 4 October 2011 Delisted.[53]
Cameron Ling Geelong 5 October 2011 Retired.[54]
Andrew Welsh Essendon 7 October 2011 Retirement, due to ongoing injury.[55]
Chris Schmidt Adelaide 7 October 2011 Delisted.[56]
Jake von Bertouch Adelaide 7 October 2011 Delisted.[56]
Lachlan Roach Adelaide 7 October 2011 Delisted.[56]
Jay Neagle Essendon 8 October 2011 Delisted.[57]
Wayde Twomey Carlton 10 October 2011 Delisted.[58]
Joseph Dare Carlton 10 October 2011 Delisted.[58]
Jaryd Cachia Carlton 10 October 2011 Delisted.[58]
Darren Milburn Geelong 11 October 2011 Retired.[59]
Daniel Pratt North Melbourne 17 October 2011 Delisted.[60]
Gavin Urquhart North Melbourne 17 October 2011 Delisted.[60]
Mark Austin Carlton 18 October 2011 Delisted.[61]
Setanta Ó hAilpín Carlton 18 October 2011 Delisted.[61]
Troy Taylor Richmond 18 October 2011 Delisted.[62]
Pat Contin Richmond 18 October 2011 Delisted.[62]
Jamie O'Reilly Richmond 18 October 2011 Delisted.[62]
Mitch Farmer Richmond 18 October 2011 Delisted.[62]
Ben Nason Richmond 18 October 2011 Delisted.[62]
Ben Jaokbi Richmond 18 October 2011 Delisted.[62]
Michael Pettigrew Port Adelaide 18 October 2011 Retired will nominate in the pre-season draft.[63]
Jason Davenport Port Adelaide 18 October 2011 Delisted.[63]
Daniel Motlop Port Adelaide 18 October 2011 Delisted.[63]
Paul Bevan Sydney 19 October 2011 Delisted.[64]
Max Otten Sydney 19 October 2011 Delisted.[64]
Chrissy McKaigue Sydney 19 October 2011 Delisted.[64]
Daniel Currie Sydney 19 October 2011 Delisted.[64]
Byron Sumner Sydney 19 October 2011 Delisted.[64]
Campbell Heath Sydney 19 October 2011 Delisted.[64]
Addam Maric Melbourne 19 October 2011 Delisted.[65]
Robert Campbell Melbourne 19 October 2011 Retired.[65]
Cameron Johnston Melbourne 19 October 2011 Delisted.[65]
Tom McNamara Melbourne 19 October 2011 Delisted.[65]
Jordan Jones West Coast 19 October 2011 Delisted.[66]
Callum Wilson West Coast 19 October 2011 Delisted.[66]
James Sellar Adelaide 19 October 2011 Delisted.[67]
Myke Cook Adelaide 19 October 2011 Delisted.[67]
Will Young Adelaide 19 October 2011 Delisted.[67]
James Craig Adelaide 19 October 2011 Delisted.[67]
Mark Blake Geelong 19 October 2011 Retired.[68]
Michael Quinn Essendon 20 October 2011 Delisted.[69]
Rick Ladson Hawthorn 20 October 2011 Delisted.[70]
Jordan Williams Hawthorn 20 October 2011 Delisted.[70]
Jack Mahony Hawthorn 20 October 2011 Delisted.[70]
Riley Milne Hawthorn 20 October 2011 Delisted.[70]
Sam Menegola Hawthorn 20 October 2011 Delisted.[70]
Will Thursfield Richmond 24 October 2011 Retired.[71]
Joseph Daye Gold Coast 24 October 2011 Delisted.[72]
Lewis Broome West Coast 24 October 2011 Retired.[73]
Clancee Pearce Fremantle 26 October 2011 Delisted.[74]
Casey Sibosado Fremantle 26 October 2011 Delisted.[74]
Justin Bollenhagen Fremantle 26 October 2011 Delisted.[74]
Tom Collier Brisbane Lions 28 October 2011 Delisted.[75]
Will Johnson St Kilda 28 October 2011 Delisted.[76]
Ryan Gamble St Kilda 28 October 2011 Delisted.[76]
Paul Cahill St Kilda 28 October 2011 Delisted.[76]
Nicholas Heyne St Kilda 28 October 2011 Delisted.[76]
Alistair Smith St Kilda 28 October 2011 Delisted.[76]
Brad Ottens Geelong 31 October 2011 Retired.[77]
Leon Davis Collingwood 31 October 2011 Retired.[78]
Austin Wonaeamirri Melbourne 31 October 2011 Delisted.[79]
Brad Dick Collingwood 31 October 2011 Delisted.[80]
John McCarthy Collingwood 31 October 2011 Delisted.[80]
Daniel Farmer Collingwood 31 October 2011 Delisted.[80]
Trent Stubbs Collingwood 31 October 2011 Delisted.[80]
Brennan Stack Western Bulldogs 31 October 2011 Delisted.[81]
Tom Gordon Collingwood 31 October 2011 Delisted.[80]
Declan Reilly Collingwood 31 October 2011 Delisted.[80]
Jack Perham Collingwood 31 October 2011 Delisted.[80]
Jye Bolton Collingwood 31 October 2011 Delisted.[80]
Michael Newton Melbourne 31 October 2011 Delisted.[82]
Ben Johnson Geelong 4 November 2011 Delisted.[83]
Jack Weston Geelong 4 November 2011 Delisted.[83]
Anthony Long Essendon 16 November 2011 Delisted.[84]
Jayden Schofield Western Bulldogs 30 November 2011 Delisted.[85]
David Gourdis Richmond 30 November 2011 Delisted.[86]
Rex Liddy Gold Coast 30 November 2011 Delisted.[86]

Mini-draft

[edit]

As part of their entry concessions, Greater Western Sydney was allocated up to four selections in a mini-draft, which could be used to recruit seventeen-year-old players who otherwise would not be eligible for the 2011 National Draft, but who could not play senior AFL football until the 2013 season. Greater Western Sydney were not permitted to use these draft picks directly, but had to trade them to other clubs. In 2011, Gold Coast and Adelaide secured trades with GWS for selections in this draft, leaving two selections remaining for the 2012 AFL draft.

Pick Player Recruited from League Club
1 Jaeger O'Meara Perth WAFL Gold Coast
2 Brad Crouch North Ballarat Rebels TAC Cup Adelaide

2011 national draft

[edit]

The 2011 AFL National Draft was held on 24 November in Sydney. It was the second time that the draft was held outside of Melbourne, after being held at the Gold Coast in 2010.[87]

Prior to the draft, three players were selected under the Father–son rule. Dylan Buckley, son of Jim was selected by Carlton, Andrew Bews' son Jed was selected by Geelong and Tom Mitchell, son of Barry was selected by Sydney. Buckley and Bews were secured with no rival clubs submitting bids, allowing Carlton and Geelong to each use its final draft selection for the father–son pick. Fremantle submitted a first round bid for Mitchell, which Sydney was able to match, so, Mitchell was drafted with the 21st selection in the draft.[88]

^ Denotes player who has been inducted to the Australian Football Hall of Fame
* 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
2011 AFL National Draft
Round Pick Player Recruited from League Drafted to
1 1 Jonathon Patton Eastern Ranges TAC Cup Greater Western Sydney
1 2 Stephen Coniglio Swan Districts WAFL Greater Western Sydney
1 3 Dom Tyson Oakleigh Chargers TAC Cup Greater Western Sydney
1 4

Will Hoskin-Elliott

Western Jets TAC Cup Greater Western Sydney
1 5 Matt Buntine Dandenong Stingrays TAC Cup Greater Western Sydney
1 6 Chad Wingard Sturt SANFL Port Adelaide
1 7 Nick Haynes Dandenong Stingrays TAC Cup Greater Western Sydney
1 8 Billy Longer Northern Knights TAC Cup Brisbane Lions
1 9 Adam Tomlinson Oakleigh Chargers TAC Cup Greater Western Sydney
1 10 Liam Sumner Sandringham Dragons TAC Cup Greater Western Sydney
1 11 Toby Greene Oakleigh Chargers TAC Cup Greater Western Sydney
1 12 Sam Docherty Gippsland Power TAC Cup Brisbane Lions
1 13 Taylor Adams Geelong Falcons TAC Cup Greater Western Sydney
1 14 Devon Smith Geelong Falcons TAC Cup Greater Western Sydney
1 15 Brandon Ellis Calder Cannons TAC Cup Richmond
1 16 Tom Sheridan Calder Cannons TAC Cup Fremantle
1 17 Clay Smith Gippsland Power TAC Cup Western Bulldogs
1 18 Brad McKenzie Sturt SANFL North Melbourne
1 19 Elliott Kavanagh Western Jets TAC Cup Essendon
1 20 Hayden Crozier Eastern Ranges TAC Cup Fremantle
1 21 (F/S) Tom Mitchell Claremont WAFL Sydney
1 22 Josh Bootsma South Fremantle WAFL Carlton
1 23 Murray Newman Swan Districts WAFL West Coast
1 24 Henry Schade North Hobart Demons TSL Gold Coast
1 25 Sebastian Ross North Ballarat Rebels TAC Cup St Kilda
1 26 Todd Elton Dandenong Stingrays TAC Cup Richmond
Priority 27 Sam Kerridge Bendigo Pioneers TAC Cup Adelaide
Priority 28 Fraser McInnes Perth WAFL West Coast
Priority 29 Alex Forster Norwood SANFL Fremantle
Compensation 30 Elliot Yeo East Fremantle WAFL Brisbane Lions
2 31 Jackson Merrett Geelong Falcons TAC Cup Essendon
2 32 Joel Hamling Claremont WAFL Geelong
2 33 Bradley Hill West Perth WAFL Hawthorn
2 34 Shane Kersten South Fremantle WAFL Geelong
2 35 Daniel Markworth Calder Cannons TAC Cup St Kilda
2 36 Rory Taggert North Ballarat Rebels TAC Cup Melbourne
2 37 Jack Newnes Northern Knights TAC Cup St Kilda
2 38 Jordan Kelly Dandenong Stingrays TAC Cup Hawthorn
2 39 Michael Talia Calder Cannons TAC Cup Western Bulldogs
2 40 Tom Curran Oakleigh Chargers TAC Cup North Melbourne
2 41 Mitchell Grigg Norwood SANFL Adelaide
2 42 Jimmy Webster Glenorchy TSL St Kilda
2 43 Jordan Lockyer West Perth WAFL Sydney
2 44 Sam Rowe Norwood SANFL Carlton
2 45 Brendon Ah Chee South Fremantle WAFL Port Adelaide
2 46 Nicholas Joyce Woodville-West Torrens SANFL Adelaide
2 47 Patrick Wearden Murray Bushrangers TAC Cup Brisbane Lions
2 48 Jordan Murdoch Glenelg SANFL Geelong
2 49 Daniel Pearce Oakleigh Chargers TAC Cup Western Bulldogs
3 50 Jackson Paine Sandringham Dragons TAC Cup Collingwood
3 51 Nathan Blee East Perth WAFL Port Adelaide
3 52 Josh Tynan Gippsland Power TAC Cup Melbourne
3 53 Alex Woodward Sandringham Dragons TAC Cup Hawthorn
3 54 James Sellar Adelaide AFL Melbourne
3 55 Matthew Arnot Oakleigh Chargers TAC Cup Richmond
3 56 Tom Downie North Ballarat Rebels TAC Cup Greater Western Sydney
3 57 Tory Dickson Bendigo Bombers VFL Western Bulldogs
3 58 Lachie Neale Glenelg SANFL Fremantle
3 59 Nick O'Brien North Ballarat Rebels TAC Cup Essendon
3 60 Jay Lever Geelong Falcons TAC Cup St Kilda
3 61 Alex Brown Oakleigh Chargers TAC Cup Sydney
3 62 (F/S) Dylan Buckley Northern Knights TAC Cup Carlton
3 63 Ashton Hams (Rookie promotion) West Coast
3 64 Cam Ellis-Yolmen Woodville-West Torrens SANFL Adelaide
3 65 Corey Gault Swan Districts WAFL Collingwood
3 66 Lincoln McCarthy Glenelg SANFL Geelong
4 67 Jarrod Witts Sydney University (NSW Scholarship) Sydney AFL Collingwood
4 68 Beau Maister[nb 1] Claremont WAFL St Kilda
4 69 Mitchell Golby (Rookie promotion) Brisbane Lions
4 70 Luke Dahlhaus (Rookie promotion) Western Bulldogs
4 71 Cameron Sutcliffe Woodville-West Torrens SANFL Fremantle
4 72 Pass Fremantle
4 73 Matthew Panos (Rookie promotion) Western Bulldogs
4 74 Luke Delaney (Rookie promotion) North Melbourne
4 75 Stewart Crameri (Rookie promotion) Essendon
4 76 Jason Blake St Kilda (redrafted) AFL St Kilda
4 77 Luke Breust (Rookie promotion) Hawthorn
4 78 Orren Stephenson North Ballarat VFL Geelong
5 79 Setanta Ó hAilpín Carlton AFL Greater Western Sydney
5 80 Alik Magin (Rookie promotion) Gold Coast
5 81 Pass Port Adelaide
5 82 Matthew Wright (Rookie promotion) Adelaide
5 83 Nick Lower (Rookie promotion) Fremantle
5 84 Cameron Pedersen (Rookie promotion) North Melbourne
5 85 Nathan Gordon (Rookie promotion) Sydney
5 86 (F/S) Jed Bews Geelong Falcons TAC Cup Geelong
6 87 James McDonald Old Xaverians VAFA Greater Western Sydney
6 88 Alex Sexton Redland (Zone selection) NEAFL Gold Coast
6 89 Aidan Riley (Rookie promotion) Adelaide
7 90 Pass Greater Western Sydney
7 91 Jackson Allen Morningside (Zone selection) NEAFL Gold Coast
8 92 Pass Greater Western Sydney
8 93 Pass Greater Western Sydney
8 94 Pass Greater Western Sydney
8 95 Pass Greater Western Sydney
8 96 Pass Greater Western Sydney

Notes

[edit]
  1. ^ Maister was known as Beau Wilkes when drafted

2012 pre-season draft

[edit]

The 2012 AFL pre-season draft was held on 13 December 2011.[89] Zac Dawson, Leon Davis and John McCarthy were considered to be the delisted AFL players most likely to be selected. The changes to the list rules to allow mature age players to be rookie listed has also resulted in less preseason draft selections.[90]

Round Pick Player Recruited from League Drafted to
1 1 Pass Greater Western Sydney
1 2 Pass Greater Western Sydney
1 3 Pass Greater Western Sydney
1 4 Pass Greater Western Sydney
1 5 Pass Greater Western Sydney
1 6 Pass Greater Western Sydney
1 7 Aaron Hall Hobart TSL Gold Coast
1 8 John McCarthy Collingwood AFL Port Adelaide
1 9 Brett O'Hanlon Dandenong Stingrays TAC Cup Richmond
1 10 Zac Dawson St Kilda AFL Fremantle
1 11 Fletcher Roberts Sandringham Dragons TAC Cup Western Bulldogs

2012 rookie draft

[edit]
Round Pick Player Recruited from League Drafted to
1 1 Sam Frost Sandringham Dragons TAC Cup Greater Western Sydney
1 2 Kyal Horsley Subiaco WAFL Gold Coast
1 3 Darren Pfeiffer Norwood SANFL Port Adelaide
1 4 Justin Clarke Booleroo Centre/Melrose/Wilmington NAFA Brisbane Lions
1 5 Rory Laird West Adelaide SANFL Adelaide
1 6 Jai Sheehan Geelong Falcons TAC Cup Melbourne
1 7 Addam Maric Melbourne AFL Richmond
1 8 Lee Spurr Central District SANFL Fremantle
1 9 Lin Jong Oakleigh Chargers TAC Cup Western Bulldogs
1 10 Max Warren Eastern Ranges TAC Cup North Melbourne
1 11 Lauchlan Dalgleish North Ballarat Rebels TAC Cup Essendon
1 12 Sam Dunell Bendigo Bombers VFL St Kilda
1 13 Shane Biggs Bendigo Bombers VFL Sydney
1 14 Tom Bell Morningside NEAFL Carlton
1 15 Michael Mascoulis Northern Knights TAC Cup West Coast
1 16 Broc McCauley Brisbane Lions AFL Hawthorn
1 17 Lachlan Smith Murray Bushrangers TAC Cup Collingwood
1 18 Cam Eardley East Fremantle WAFL Geelong
2 19 Pass Greater Western Sydney
2 20 Andrew McQualter St Kilda AFL Gold Coast
2 21 Danny Butcher Gippsland Power TAC Cup Port Adelaide
2 22 Stephen Wrigley Labrador NEAFL Brisbane Lions
2 23 Dylan Orval Oakleigh Chargers TAC Cup Adelaide
2 24 Tom Couch Collingwood (VFL) VFL Melbourne
2 25 Ben Darrou Sandringham Dragons TAC Cup Richmond
2 26 Haiden Schloithe South Fremantle WAFL Fremantle
2 27 Tom Campbell Bendigo Bombers VFL Western Bulldogs
2 28 Brad Mangan Werribee VFL North Melbourne
2 29 Cory Dell'Olio South Fremantle WAFL Essendon
2 30 Cameron Shenton Norwood SANFL St Kilda
2 31 Campbell Heath Sydney AFL Sydney
2 32 Nicholas Heyne St Kilda AFL Carlton
2 33 Callum Papertalk East Fremantle WAFL West Coast
2 34 Amos Frank Woodville-West Torrens SANFL Hawthorn
2 35 Marley Williams Claremont WAFL Collingwood
2 36 Jackson Sheringham Geelong (VFL) VFL Geelong
3 37 Pass Greater Western Sydney
3 38 Michael Coad Gold Coast AFL Gold Coast
3 39 Pass Port Adelaide
3 40 Jack Crisp Murray Bushrangers TAC Cup Brisbane Lions
3 41 Tim McIntyre Sturt SANFL Adelaide
3 42 James Magner Sandringham VFL Melbourne
3 43 Steven Verrier South Fremantle WAFL Richmond
3 44 Sam Menegola Hawthorn AFL Fremantle
3 45 Alex Greenwood Eastern Ranges TAC Cup Western Bulldogs
3 46 Malcolm Lynch Port Melbourne VFL North Melbourne
3 47 Mark Baguley Frankston VFL Essendon
3 48 Jordan Staley Gippsland Power TAC Cup St Kilda
3 49 Pass Sydney
3 50 Frazer Dale Calder Cannons TAC Cup Carlton
3 51 Simon Tunbridge Greater Western Sydney NEAFL West Coast
3 52 Andrew Boseley Geelong Falcons TAC Cup Hawthorn
3 53 Trent Stubbs Collingwood AFL Collingwood
3 54 Mark Blicavs Unregistered player (Athletics) Geelong
4 55 Pass Greater Western Sydney
4 56 Pass Gold Coast
4 57 Richard Newell
NSW Scholarship elevation 		Brisbane Lions reserves NEAFL Brisbane Lions
4 58 Will Young Adelaide AFL Adelaide
4 59 Leigh Williams Norwood EFL Melbourne
4 60 Gibson Turner Glenelg SANFL Richmond
4 61 Jordan Wilson-King North Adelaide SANFL Fremantle
4 62 Jack Redpath Kyneton BFL Western Bulldogs
4 63 Sam Gibson Box Hill Hawks VFL North Melbourne
4 64 Hal Hunter Calder Cannons TAC Cup Essendon
4 65 Darren Minchington Dandenong Stingrays TAC Cup St Kilda
4 66 Pass Sydney
4 67 Matthew Lodge
NSW Scholarship elevation 		Riverview[91] AFL Sydney Carlton
4 68 Brad Dick Collingwood AFL West Coast
4 69 Adam Pattison Box Hill Hawks VFL Hawthorn
4 70 Daniel Farmer Collingwood AFL Collingwood
5 71 Pass Greater Western Sydney
5 72 Pass Greater Western Sydney
5 73 James Craig Adelaide AFL Adelaide
5 74 Piva Wright Dandenong Stingrays TAC Cup Richmond
5 75 Clancee Pearce Fremantle AFL Fremantle
5 76 Mark Austin Carlton AFL Western Bulldogs
5 77 Gavin Urquhart North Melbourne AFL North Melbourne
5 78 Brendan Lee East Perth WAFL Essendon
5 79 Pass St Kilda
5 80 Pass Sydney
5 81 Caolan Mooney Down GAA Collingwood
6 82 Pass Gold Coast
6 83 Pass Adelaide
6 84 Pass Richmond
6 85 Anthony Long Essendon AFL Essendon
6 86 Pass Sydney
6 87 Michael Hartley
NSW Scholarship elevation 		Sydney University Sydney AFL Collingwood
7 88 Pass Gold Coast
7 89 Ben Dowdell Alternative talent (Basketball) Adelaide
7 90 John Heslin Westmeath GAA Richmond
7 91 Pass Sydney
8 92 Pass Gold Coast
8 93 Harry Cunningham Turvey Park RFNL Sydney
9 94 Josh Hall Gold Coast reserves NEAFL Gold Coast
9 95 Jack Lynch
NSW Scholarship elevation 		Sydney reserves NEAFL Sydney
9 96 Sam Michael
Queensland priority selection 		Redland NEAFL Brisbane Lions

Selections by league

[edit]

Draft selection totals by leagues:

League National draft Pre-season draft Rookie draft Total State/territory
Players selected
TAC Cup 39 2 18 59 Victoria
WAFL 14 0 8 22 Western Australia
SANFL 11 0 8 19 South Australia
VFL 2 0 11 13 Victoria
NEAFL 3 0 7 10 ACT, NSW, NT, QLD
TSL 2 1 0 3 Tasmania
GAA 0 0 2 2 Ireland
AFL 3 2 16 21 Australia-wide
AFL rookie elevations 13 – – 13 Australia-wide
Other leagues 1 0 6 7 Victoria, NSW & SA
Other sports
(excluding Gaelic football) 		0 0 2 2 N/A
Total 88 5 78 171

References

[edit]
Revisions and contributorsEdit on WikipediaRead on Wikipedia

2011 AFL draft

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from Grokipedia
The 2011 AFL draft was the annual player acquisition period for the Australian Football League (AFL), comprising the national draft held on 24 November 2011 at , the pre-season draft on 13 December 2011, and the rookie draft also on 13 December 2011, enabling the 18 clubs to select new talent for the 2012 season. This draft was particularly notable as the foundational selection process for the newly established (GWS) Giants ahead of their AFL entry in 2012, with the expansion club receiving substantial concessions including eight of the top 10 national picks and 11 of the first 14 overall. GWS dominated the early selections, taking key position player at pick 1, midfielder at pick 2, versatile tall at pick 3, forward at pick 4, defender Matthew Buntine at pick 5, and defender at pick 7, among others, to rapidly build their inaugural list. Other clubs made impactful choices amid the GWS priority, with Port Adelaide securing dynamic forward Chad Wingard at pick 6, who went on to become a two-time All-Australian and retired in 2024 after 218 games due to injury., and Brisbane Lions addressing ruck and defensive needs by selecting Billy Longer at pick 8 and half-back Sam Docherty at pick 12. The draft's later rounds also yielded future stars, such as Fremantle's Lachie Neale at pick 58, who later won the 2020 Brownlow Medal, and Sydney's Tom Mitchell at pick 21, the 2018 Brownlow Medalist, underscoring the event's long-term influence on the league despite the top-end focus on expansion.

Background and Concessions

Greater Western Sydney Expansion

The Australian Football League (AFL) pursued expansion in the late 2000s to broaden its national footprint, following a period of stability with 16 teams since 1997. This initiative culminated in the addition of the Gold Coast Suns as the 17th club in 2011, marking the league's first new team in over a decade, and the Giants (GWS) as the 18th club in 2012. The groundwork for GWS began in March 2008, when the AFL secured unanimous support from its 16 existing clubs for a second based in western Sydney, to be headquartered at International Sportspark. In August 2009, the AFL unveiled the "Team GWS" campaign, formally announcing the club's identity and plans for entry into the league. The granted GWS a full on July 29, 2010, confirming its debut in the season, with the club officially launching as the on November 16, 2010, adopting orange and charcoal colors and the motto "Think Big, Live Big, Play Big." GWS was established to tap into the and of Sydney's western suburbs, a region with limited prior exposure to Australian football compared to the sport's traditional strongholds. The club aligned closely with AFL New South Wales/Australian Capital Territory (NSW/ACT) to foster grassroots development, including participation in the TAC Cup under-18 from and community programs aimed at increasing participation rates. As a new franchise in a non-traditional market, GWS faced significant list-building challenges, requiring innovative strategies to assemble a competitive roster amid from and other sports. The expansion to 18 teams with GWS's entry reshaped the AFL's structure, introducing more complex fixture scheduling and increased interstate travel demands on all clubs. These changes heightened logistical considerations, such as balancing home-and-away games across a larger competition. In terms of draft implications, the AFL provided GWS with targeted concessions to accelerate its establishment, enabling access to priority selections and player pathways essential for viability in its formative years.

Concessions and Rules

To facilitate the entry of the (GWS) Giants into the AFL in 2012, the league granted the new club a series of concessions designed to rapidly build a competitive playing list, building on but expanding the model used for the Gold Coast Suns' entry in 2011. These measures reflected an evolution in expansion strategy, as the AFL sought to accelerate GWS's viability in a non-traditional market by providing more generous access to talent compared to Gold Coast, which had received priority draft picks (including the first five selections in the 2010 national draft) and one year of uncontracted player access but fewer overall priority selections and no equivalent mini-draft for 17-year-olds. GWS's package included enhanced draft priority, expanded list-building opportunities, and special recruitment rights, allowing the club to assemble up to 50 senior players and 9 by the start of the 2012 season—significantly larger than the standard 38 senior players and 7 permitted for established clubs. In the 2011 national draft, GWS was allocated the first pick in each round, plus selections 2, 3, 5, 7, 9, 11, 13, and 15 in the opening round, granting the club nine of the first 15 picks overall. The Giants also received the first eight selections in the 2011 rookie draft and the first pick in every round of the 2012 rookie draft, enabling a broad intake of young talent to form the foundation of their list. These allocations were more extensive than Gold Coast's, which had priority access in earlier drafts but faced diluted benefits by 2011 due to GWS's entry pushing back other clubs' selections. GWS benefited from unique access rules to bolster its roster, including rights to sign up to 16 uncontracted players from existing AFL clubs across the end of the 2011 and 2012 seasons (limited to eight per year), a two-year window that exceeded Gold Coast's single-year access in 2010. The club also held exclusive zoning rights to 16 players from southern and the Australian Capital Territory until the end of 2012, as well as access to players from 2011 to 2013, allowing priority recruitment without competition from other clubs. For zone selections, GWS conducted incentive picks on October 17, 2011, securing players directly rather than through the open draft. A key component was the mini-draft process, which provided GWS with four special selections for 17-year-old players ineligible for the 2011 national draft—specifically those born between January 1 and April 30, 1994. These picks could not be used by GWS itself but were tradable only to other clubs in exchange for established players or future draft assets, with trades required to be finalized by October 17, 2011, to prevent stockpiling. This mechanism, absent in Gold Coast's concessions, allowed GWS to acquire mature talent while distributing young prospects to accelerate list balancing across the competition. Regarding access to and zone players league-wide, the 2011 draft operated under pre-points bidding rules for father-son and prospects, where eligible clubs could match external bids on such players by surrendering their next two draft picks immediately following the bid, ensuring retention without a formal points calculation. For GWS's own zone recruits, no bidding was required due to their priority status, distinguishing their concessions from standard processes and providing a streamlined path to local talent integration. This approach evolved from Gold Coast's model, where zone access was more limited, to better support GWS's development in a key growth corridor.

Pre-Draft Activities

Player Trades

The 2011 AFL trade period, held from 10 to 17 October, facilitated 29 completed deals between clubs, resulting in the movement of 35 players and the exchange of 47 draft picks across various rounds and future drafts. These transactions were pivotal in reshaping team lists following the 2011 season, allowing clubs to acquire established talent while reallocating draft selections to strengthen their positions for the upcoming national draft, particularly amid the expansion influences of Gold Coast and . The period's activity underscored the strategic maneuvering required to balance immediate needs with long-term list building, with clubs like and exemplifying how player-for-pick swaps could dramatically alter draft capital. Among the standout deals, key forward Mitch Clark was traded to in exchange for Melbourne's first-round selection, pick 12, in the 2011 national draft. This move, finalized on 15 October, provided the Lions with enhanced early access to top prospects while addressing Melbourne's need for a versatile tall forward, despite Clark's initial preference for a return to . Similarly, Crows forward joined Hawthorn on 11 October, with Adelaide receiving picks 24, 46, and 64 in the 2011 national draft, while sending Gunston along with their picks 53 and 71 to the Hawks. The trade upgraded Adelaide's draft position, enabling better targeting of emerging talent, and bolstered Hawthorn's forward line with Gunston's versatility. Other notable exchanges included Port Adelaide's recruitment of West Coast's , secured for picks 28 and 49 in the national draft on 14 October, which strengthened their midfield depth. St Kilda facilitated Tommy Walsh's return to for picks 35 and 68, completed late in the period, reflecting a trend of players seeking home-state moves. These swaps, often involving multiple clubs in three-way arrangements, such as the complex pick exchanges between Gold Coast, , and others for picks 26, 32, and 34, collectively shifted over 40 selections, influencing bid strategies for priority academy and father-son prospects. Rumors of high-profile movement, such as interest in St Kilda's from Essendon and , generated significant speculation but yielded no completed trade, with remaining at the Saints until the following year. Overall, the period's trades emphasized pick accumulation for expansion-impacted clubs, with Brisbane emerging as a beneficiary through multiple deals that netted them additional first- and second-round selections, thereby reshaping draft order dynamics without delving into final allocations.

Retirements and Delistings

Prior to the 2011 AFL draft, clubs across underwent significant list management changes through retirements and delistings, which were essential for creating vacancies on their senior rosters to accommodate incoming draftees and align with constraints. These adjustments typically occurred , with the first official list lodgement deadline set for , 2011, allowing teams to trim their lists after the premiership season concluded. Retirements were formal announcements by players, often citing age, , or personal reasons, while delistings were club-initiated decisions to release contracted players, frequently due to performance, disciplinary issues, or strategic needs. In total, the process resulted in 35 retirements and 115 delistings, affecting over 150 players and generating substantial list spots for the draft period. Among the notable retirements were several veteran leaders and premiership contributors. captain , aged 30, retired on October 5, 2011, after 246 games, including captaining the team to victory in the 2011 . Fellow premiership ruckman Brad Ottens, aged 31, announced his retirement on October 31, 2011, following a 245-game career that included three premierships in 2007, 2009, and 2011. forward , a 34-year-old with 289 career games and a reputation as a prolific goalkicker, retired on July 19, 2011, midway through the season. Collingwood's Leon Davis, an All-Australian wingman aged 30 with 225 games, also retired on October 31, 2011, opting to return to for family reasons. Key delistings highlighted disciplinary and performance challenges at various clubs. Brisbane Lions full-forward Brendan Fevola, aged 30 and with over 200 games and 623 goals, was delisted on February 20, 2011, following repeated off-field incidents that led to the termination of his contract after just one season with the club. Collingwood made several changes, including the delisting of players like Tom Gordon, Declan Reilly, Jack Perham, and Jye Bolton from their rookie list on October 30, 2011, as part of broader list trimming. Hawthorn delisted seven players in total, contributing to their strategy ahead of the draft. Fremantle delisted three players on October 25, 2011, including Justin Bollenhagen and Casey Sibosado, to free up spots, while allowing Clancee Pearce to train with the club despite his delisting. The club-by-club impact varied, with some teams aggressively clearing space to bolster their drafts. The following table summarizes the retirements and delistings per club, based on announcements leading into the draft:
ClubRetirementsDelistings
28
16
Carlton15
Collingwood38
Essendon36
27
62
Gold Coast110
04
Hawthorn07
15
17
26
Richmond111
St Kilda47
37
West Coast24
24
These changes, particularly the higher delisting numbers at clubs like Richmond (11 delistings) and Collingwood (8 delistings), created approximately 38 senior list spots league-wide through targeted reductions, enabling strategic in the national, pre-season, and drafts. For St Kilda, the process included the retirements of and Steven Baker, and delistings of , Al Smith, Nick Heyne, Paul Cahill, Ryan Gamble, Will Johnson, and Robert Eddy.

Mini-Draft

The 2011 mini-draft was a special allocation of draft picks designed to provide the expansion teams of (GWS) and Gold Coast with access to underage talent, specifically 17-year-old players ineligible for the main national draft. Held on 17 2011 as part of the AFL's period, the draft featured four picks owned by GWS, alternating between the two expansion clubs to promote competitive balance, with GWS holding the odd-numbered selections (picks 1, 3) and Gold Coast the even-numbered ones (picks 2, 4). This format limited the total to four effective picks due to the small pool of eligible players, allowing GWS flexibility to these assets rather than retain them for direct building. Eligibility was restricted to players born between 1 January and 30 April 1994, who were too young for the 2011 national draft (requiring birth in 1993 or earlier) but would join senior lists in after turning 18. The draft was open to top underage talent nationwide. Bid matching, a mechanism used in the national draft for or father-son prospects, did not apply here, simplifying the process to straight selections or trades. Under strict trading rules, GWS could only exchange its mini-draft picks and had no other assets available for deals, emphasizing the four picks as a targeted concession for future flexibility. In practice, both clubs traded their picks during the exchange period, forgoing direct selections beyond the first two to acquire higher-value assets for the upcoming national draft. GWS traded pick 1 to Gold Coast in exchange for Gold Coast's 2011 first-round pick (No. 4) and a future mid-first-round compensation pick; Gold Coast then used pick 1 to select Western Australian midfielder . Gold Coast traded pick 2 to in exchange for 's 2011 first-round pick (No. 10) and a future second-round selection; used pick 2 to select Victorian midfielder . GWS traded pick 3 to for pick 25 in 2011 and a future second-round pick, while Gold Coast's pick 4 was traded for additional future assets; neither resulted in player selections, with only two players ultimately taken in the mini-draft.

2011 National Draft

Selection Process and Order

The 2011 AFL National Draft was held over two nights, commencing on 23 November and concluding on 24 November, at the Sports Centre, with live broadcasts on and sponsorship from the . The event marked the first national draft participation for the expansion , who benefited from extensive concessions to build their inaugural list ahead of entering the competition in 2012. A total of 77 players were selected across the two nights, drawn primarily from under-18 state leagues such as the TAC Cup, with clubs taking turns according to the pre-draft order. The selection order was primarily determined by each club's finishing position from the 2011 season in reverse order, with end-of-first-round priority access granted to the lowest-ranked teams— (17th), (16th), and Gold Coast (15th)—to support their development. GWS's entry concessions, however, profoundly shaped the early picks, allocating them selections at 1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 9, 11, 13, and 15 in the first round, plus the first pick in every subsequent round. Through pre-draft trades, including acquiring Gold Coast's natural fourth selection in exchange for future assets, GWS secured the first five consecutive picks to kick off the draft. This left with pick 6 based on their ladder position, followed by GWS at 7, at 8 (their priority pick for finishing 14th and winning fewer than five games), and GWS again at 9. Clubs could execute live trades during the draft nights, exchanging current or future picks to improve their position or acquire specific targets, which dynamically adjusted the order and resulted in some selections being made out of sequence. For instance, multiple swaps occurred for later-round picks to facilitate key acquisitions. The draft also incorporated special provisions for father-son prospects, with three confirmed nominations: Tom Mitchell (son of Sydney's Barry Mitchell), who was secured by the Swans at pick 21 after matching interest from ; Jed Bews (son of Geelong's Andrew Bews), taken by the Cats at pick 41; and Dylan Buckley (son of Carlton's ), selected by the Blues at pick 62. Under the prevailing rules, the nominated club could match external interest by allocating an equivalent or better available pick, ensuring retention without a formal points-based system. These mechanisms, combined with GWS concessions, underscored the draft's role in balancing competitive equity and expansion support.

Key Selections

The 2011 AFL National Draft was dominated by the expansion club (GWS), which secured the first five picks and eight of the top 10 overall, reflecting the league's concessions to bolster the new franchise. Gold Coast, the other recent , had fewer early opportunities but still added talent later in the proceedings. The top 10 selections highlighted GWS's focus on building a versatile core of key position players, midfielders, and defenders, often drawing from and Victorian talent pools.
PickClubPlayerPosition/Origin
1GWSKey forward from NSW
2GWSMidfielder from Sydney Uni
3GWSMidfielder, bid matched from academy
4GWSUtility from Vic Metro
5GWSMatt BuntineDefender from NSW
6Forward from South Australia
7GWSDefender from NSW
8Billy LongerRuck from Brisbane
9GWSDefender from Vic Country
10GWSLiam SumnerMidfielder from Vic Metro
Later in the draft, GWS continued its haul with pick 14, , a dynamic from , and pick 11, , a versatile forward from Victoria who reached 250 career games in 2025 as GWS captain. Brisbane added wingman at pick 30 (acquired via trade), bolstering their engine room. Fremantle found value at pick 58 with , an inside from who would later become a contender. The national draft comprised 77 players in total, with GWS selecting 14 and Gold Coast securing 5, underscoring the priority given to expansion clubs. Father-son selections were integrated, such as Carlton's at pick 62, son of former Jim . During the draft event, GWS on-traded several later picks to facilitate list management and future acquisitions.

Player Notes

In the 2011 AFL National Draft, a symbol "#" is used to denote the 7 players out of 77 selections who never played a senior VFL/AFL home-and-away or finals game for any club. These cases often involved late-round selections who were delisted before earning a debut opportunity or faced persistent injuries that prevented progression to the senior level. For instance, pick 46 Nicholas Joyce, selected by from the , was delisted at the end of 2012 without playing a match due to failure to secure a regular spot on the senior list. Specific non-debut cases highlight the challenges of transitioning from draft to senior football. Pick 35 Daniel Markworth (St Kilda) suffered from recurring injuries during his time on the and was delisted in 2013 without a game. Similarly, pick 40 Tom Curran (), a versatile defender from via the international pathway, played extensively in the VFL but was delisted in 2014 after failing to break into the AFL side amid competition for positions. Other examples include pick 36 Rory Taggert (), delisted pre-season 2012 after injury setbacks, and pick 47 Patrick Wearden (), who was released in 2013 without a senior appearance due to insufficient development. These 7 players represent instances where factors like injuries (affecting at least 2) or early delistings (at least 5) halted careers at the elite level. The draft featured three father-son selections, allowing clubs to match external bids on sons of former players without forfeiting additional draft capital under the AFL's father-son rule. used its first-round pick (No. 21 overall, bid matched from ) to secure Tom Mitchell, son of 224-game Swans premiership player Barry Mitchell. Carlton matched a bid at pick 62 for , whose father played 170 games including three premierships for the Blues in the 1970s and 1980s. matched at pick 41 for Jed Bews, son of 277-game Cats stalwart Andrew Bews, who had served as a club runner post-retirement. This mechanism preserved list spots for these prospects while enabling competitive bidding. Other unique pathways underscored the draft's diversity. Several selections originated from AFL academies, including pick 4 (GWS), an Indigenous talent who progressed through the AIS-AFL Academy program before representing Vic Metro at the under-18 championships. Indigenous prospects like pick 6 (, from ) and pick 33 Brad Hill (Hawthorn, from ) also entered via state-based development programs, reflecting targeted efforts. While the national draft focused on domestic talent, international combines influenced broader pathways, though no Irish or overseas players were selected directly; such recruits typically entered via the international . Overall, approximately 91% of the 77 draftees (70 players) made their AFL debuts, with non-debuts primarily attributed to delistings before meaningful opportunity (around 5 cases) or injury-related setbacks (around 2 cases), illustrating the high attrition rate in early career development.

2012 Pre-Season and Rookie Drafts

Pre-Season Draft

The 2012 AFL pre-season draft was conducted on 13 December , allowing clubs to select up to three players each from a pool of delisted, retired, or previously unselected players to fill senior list spots ahead of the new season. The selection order followed the reverse finishing positions from the AFL ladder, with the newly formed afforded the first six picks as a concession, all of which they passed on. This resulted in low overall activity, as only five players were ultimately selected across the 18 clubs, with the majority passing due to limited available spots created by retirements and delistings from the prior season. The Gold Coast Suns, holding the first available pick (overall No. 7), selected 21-year-old versatile -forward Aaron Hall from the Football Club in , who had been overlooked in the national draft despite strong TAC Cup form. followed with the second pick (overall No. 8), taking 22-year-old John McCarthy, a delisted Collingwood with 18 AFL games to his name, adding experience to their . Richmond used the third selection (overall No. 9) on 18-year-old key forward Brett O'Hanlon from the Dandenong Stingrays. secured the fourth pick (overall No. 10) with 25-year-old key defender , who had rejected a contract extension at St Kilda after 63 games, including two grand finals, to join his former coach . The rounded out the selections at No. 11 overall by drafting 18-year-old defender Fletcher Roberts from the . The draft's primary aim was to reallocate experienced talent from the delisted pool to bolster club lists, though the sparse activity reflected a thin market of high-caliber options following moderate delistings across the league. Among the picks, Hall emerged as a standout, playing 103 games for Gold Coast over seven seasons and establishing himself as a dynamic half-forward and midfielder. Dawson contributed 89 games as a reliable tall defender for Fremantle before transitioning to coaching roles.

Rookie Draft

The 2012 AFL Rookie Draft, conducted as part of the 2011/12 off-season process, took place on 13 December 2011, immediately following the pre-season draft. The selection order was determined by the reverse order of the 2011 AFL ladder finishes, granting priority to lower-placed clubs, with new entrant (GWS) awarded the first eight picks as a key concession to aid list building. Clubs were permitted up to four selections each to fill spots, resulting in a total of 61 picks across the draft, emphasizing developmental prospects such as bottom-age players (typically 17-year-olds) and category B athletes, including basketball converts who required special listing rules due to prior international commitments. Rookies added to lists could be elevated to senior squads mid-season if injuries or performance needs arose, providing flexibility for clubs while prioritizing long-term growth over immediate impact. GWS, leveraging its concessions, held picks 1 through 8 but strategically passed on several to preserve senior list vacancies for future acquisitions, ultimately selecting only with the No. 1 pick. That choice was , a versatile 194 cm defender from the Northern Knights in the TAC Cup, noted for his intercepting ability and athleticism. Frost debuted in round 12 of the 2012 season and went on to play 21 games for GWS before a 2014 trade to , where he became a key defender. Other early selections highlighted the draft's focus on raw potential: took midfielder Rory Laird from West Adelaide in the SANFL with pick No. 5, a 178 cm on-baller who developed into a two-time All-Australian (2017, 2018) after 269 games for . Fremantle secured defender Lee Spurr from Central Districts in the SANFL at No. 8, a tenacious 182 cm backman who played 120 games, including the 2013 , earning a club leading tackler award in 2014. The draft's structure favored overlooked talents from state leagues and academies, with several picks involving category B players like basketballer Ben Dowdell (, pick 89), who transitioned from NCAA college hoops but struggled to break into AFL level. Overall, the 61 selections underscored the system's role in nurturing future stars, with approximately 20% of picks being bottom-age athletes eligible for re-drafting the following year. GWS's priority access exemplified how concessions extended into 2012, allowing the expansion club to target high-upside youth despite passing on multiple early opportunities.

Draft Analysis

Selections by League

The selections in the 2011 AFL draft, encompassing the national, mini, pre-season, and rookie drafts, drew heavily from Australia's major underage and state-based competitions, reflecting the established talent pathways at the time. The TAC Cup, Victoria's premier under-18 competition, dominated as the primary source, providing 46 players overall—34 in the national draft alone, primarily from Vic Metro and Vic Country alignments such as the , Dandenong Stingrays, and Northern Knights. This represented more than 40% of national draft picks, underscoring the competition's role in developing elite prospects for Victorian and interstate clubs. In contrast, Western Australia's WAFL contributed 18 players, including key national selections like Sam Day (East Fremantle), while South Australia's SANFL supplied 16, such as Lewis Pierce (Central District). Other state leagues provided smaller but notable contingents: the VFL yielded 8 players, often mature-age recruits like Jason Laycock (Frankston); the newly formed NEAFL contributed 8, signaling an emerging pathway boosted by the entry of expansion clubs Gold Coast and ; the Tasmanian State League (TSL) added 6, including Jake Neade (North Hobart); and the GAA in Ireland sourced 2 international , continuing the AFL's overseas recruitment efforts. Additionally, 21 selections came from internal AFL lists via and elevations, while 13 were rookie elevations from existing club development squads. These figures exclude pure trade acquisitions without draft involvement, focusing on competitive origins. The mini-draft, a special allocation via trade for expansion teams, featured talents like Jaeger O'Meara (from Perth in the WAFL) to Gold Coast and Brad Crouch (from North Ballarat in the TAC Cup) to Adelaide. Pre-season and rookie drafts largely replenished lists with delisted or overlooked players from state leagues, such as Michael Hall from the VFL (Werribee), emphasizing mature-age additions from VFL, WAFL, and SANFL rosters. Overall trends highlighted Victoria's continued dominance (over 50% of selections), but the NEAFL's rise—driven by Greater Western Sydney and Gold Coast's zone development—marked a shift toward broader national sourcing, with 8 players compared to fewer in prior years.
League/CompetitionTotal Players Selected
TAC Cup46
WAFL18
SANFL16
VFL8
NEAFL8
TSL6
GAA (Irish)2

Notable Players and Legacy

The 2011 AFL National Draft produced several elite players who became cornerstones for their clubs, with standout performers including Stephen Coniglio and Chad Wingard. Coniglio, selected second overall by Greater Western Sydney, has played over 250 games for the Giants, establishing himself as a durable midfielder and co-captain since 2020. His leadership was pivotal in GWS's rise, including their run to the 2019 Grand Final, and he earned selection in the 2023 All-Australian squad after averaging 25.5 disposals and 5.5 clearances that season. Wingard, picked sixth by Port Adelaide, amassed 218 career games across Port and Hawthorn, renowned for his explosive forward-midfield play and earning All-Australian honours in 2013 and 2015. He won Port's John Cahill Medal in 2013 and kicked 300 goals in his career before retiring in 2024 following an Achilles injury. Jaeger O'Meara, acquired by Gold Coast via the 2011 mini-draft at pick two, overcame significant knee injuries to play 200 games across three clubs by November 2025, including stints at Hawthorn and . He claimed the 2013 award after a debut season of 22 games, 11 goals, and 5.2 clearances per game, and continued as a versatile midfielder, averaging 17.4 disposals in 14 games for in 2025. Late-round selections also yielded remarkable success stories, exemplified by (pick 58, ) and (pick 30, ). Neale, traded to in 2018, has played over 290 games and won two Brownlow Medals in 2020 and 2023, while captaining the Lions to their 2024 premiership with 29.3 disposals per game that year. Yeo, moved to West Coast in 2013, contributed to their 2018 premiership, earning All-Australian selection that season with 22.4 disposals and 4.9 tackles per game, and reached 212 career games by November 2025. The draft class's legacy lies in its foundational role for expansion teams and individual excellence amid challenges. Coniglio and Will Hoskin-Elliott (pick four) helped build GWS's competitive core, with both featuring in the 2019 Grand Final loss to Collingwood, where Coniglio recorded 26 disposals. Wingard's dynamic presence defined Port Adelaide's mid-2010s resurgence, including their 2014 preliminary final appearance. However, injuries curtailed careers for others, such as Jonathon Patton (pick one), who retired in 2021 after 95 games, and Matt Buntine (pick five), who was delisted in 2021 following 67 games. By November 2025, of the top 10 national picks, Coniglio, Hoskin-Elliott, and Nick Haynes (pick seven) remained active, while Brad Crouch (2011 mini-draft pick two to Adelaide) retired in November 2024 after 179 games; Brisbane Lions selected half-back Sam Docherty at pick 12, who went on to have a 184-game AFL career with Brisbane and Carlton, marked by overcoming two cancer diagnoses and multiple ACL injuries, before retiring in 2025. this highlights the draft's mixed outcomes but underscores its production of two Brownlow Medallists in Neale and Tom Mitchell (pick 21), along with high-impact premiership contributors like Yeo.

References

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  32. https://www.abc.net.au/news/2011-02-20/lions-sack-fevola/1949856
  33. https://www.collingwoodfc.com.au/news/759696/collingwood-list-changes-four-delisted-magpies
  34. https://www.fremantlefc.com.au/news/776591/fremantle-delists-three-players
  35. https://www.afl.com.au/news/471167/st-kilda-confirms-list-changes
  36. https://www.afl.com.au/news/535094/gold-coast-commits-to-omeara
  37. https://www.smh.com.au/sport/afl/gun-youngsters-head-interstate-20111012-1ll85.html
  38. https://www.abc.net.au/news/2011-10-12/suns-secure-omeara-from-giants/3555094
  39. https://resources.afl.com.au/afl/document/2019/12/05/22bd5f58-094c-4f26-bda7-3de1574d69e3/afl_annual_report_2011-min.pdf
  40. https://www.draftguru.com.au/years/2011/provisional-draft-order/final-before-draft
  41. https://www.theage.com.au/sport/afl/mitchell-buckley-and-bews-taken-under-fatherson-rule-20111010-1lgok.html
  42. https://www.afl.com.au/news/506176/in-the-name-of-the-father
  43. https://www.smh.com.au/sport/afl/2011-afl-draft-order-of-selection-20111124-1nweq.html
  44. https://www.abc.net.au/news/2011-11-24/giant-patton-leads-gws-draft-domination/3693168
  45. https://www.theage.com.au/sport/afl/the-2011-afl-national-draft-who-your-club-picked-20111124-1nx1f.html
  46. https://www.theage.com.au/sport/afl/2011-afl-draft-order-of-selection-20111124-1nweq.html
  47. https://www.gwsgiants.com.au/players/657/toby-greene
  48. https://www.lions.com.au/news/761770/final-2011-draft-selection-order
  49. https://www.fremantlefc.com.au/news/763463/pick-58-lachie-neale
  50. https://www.gwsgiants.com.au/news/775918/giants-welcome-2011-nab-afl-draftees
  51. https://www.afl.com.au/news/58979/swans-in-mitchell-father-son-twist
  52. https://www.carltonfc.com.au/news/748412/dylan-buckley-joins-the-blues
  53. https://www.geelongcats.com.au/news/383405/bews-they-could-tell-i-was-tired
  54. https://www.afl.com.au/news/506910/will-hoskin-elliott
  55. https://wafootball.com.au/news/18269/simply-energy-draft-watch-best-wa-indigenous-players-since-2000
  56. https://www.portadelaidefc.com.au/news/23477/power-picks-mccarthy-pfeiffer-and-another-butcher
  57. https://www.draftguru.com.au/years/2011/preseason_draft
  58. https://www.goldcoastfc.com.au/news/453085/the-draft-years-class-of-2011
  59. https://www.fremantlefc.com.au/news/754843/dawson-to-repay-faith
  60. https://www.abc.net.au/news/2011-12-13/power-pick-up-collingwood-discard-mccarthy/3728658
  61. https://afltables.com/afl/stats/players/Z/Zac_Dawson.html
  62. https://www.draftguru.com.au/years/2011/rookie_draft
  63. https://www.afl.com.au/news/506018/once-were-rookies
  64. https://www.afl.com.au/news/87166/the-class-of-2012-draft-report-card
  65. https://www.afc.com.au/news/727033/rookie-rory-earns-promotion
  66. https://www.fremantlefc.com.au/news/750059/rookie-draft-pick-8-lee-spurr
  67. https://www.footywire.com/afl/footy/ft_drafts?year=2011&t=R
  68. https://www.afl.com.au/draft/history
  69. https://www.gwsgiants.com.au/players/217/stephen-coniglio
  70. https://www.hawthornfc.com.au/players/714/chad-wingard
  71. https://afltables.com/afl/stats/players/J/Jaeger_OMeara.html
  72. https://www.afl.com.au/players/614/jaeger-o-meara
  73. https://www.lions.com.au/players/354/
  74. https://www.westcoasteagles.com.au/players/587/elliot-yeo
  75. https://www.portadelaidefc.com.au/players/714/Chad-Wingard
  76. https://www.afl.com.au/news/1371354/carlton-blues-champion-sam-docherty-announces-afl-retirement
  77. https://afltables.com/afl/stats/players/S/Sam_Docherty.html
  78. https://www.carltonfc.com.au/players/79
  79. https://www.zerohanger.com/where-are-they-now-the-top-10-picks-of-the-2011-afl-draft-156370/
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