Hawthorn champion Luke Hodge's retirement announcement has shone a light once again on the greatest draft in VFL/AFL history – the 2001 'super draft'.
The number of achievements attained by the players selected in this draft far outweigh those from any other year.
Hindsight drafting is the easiest task in footy, but the question is, who are the best of the best?
We rank them 1-25...and at No.1 there is a dual Brownlow Medallist – who was a gift from God for the Cats!
1. Gary Ablett – Geelong Falcons
Drafted by Geelong (No.40 – F/S)
Games: 300
Goals: 386
Honors: All Australian (2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014); Brownlow Medal (2009, 2013); AFLPA MVP (2007, 2008, 2009, 2012, 2013); AFLCA MVP (2007, 2008, 2009); Best and Fairest (2007, 2009, 2011, 2012, 2013); Premiership (2007, 2009)
Inside Football's 2002 Profile: Son of former Cat champion who joins the Cats under the father-son rule. However, he is not in the mould of his legendary Dad. Ablett Jnr is creative with handball, has great vision and football instincts. Will be given a year to develop.
2. Chris Judd – Sandringham Dragons
Drafted by West Coast (No.3)
Games: 279
Goals: 228
Honors: All Australian (2004, 2006, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011); Brownlow Medal (2004, 2010); AFLPA MVP (2006, 2011); Best and Fairest (2004, 2006, 2008, 2009, 2010); Norm Smith Medal (2005); AFLCA Young Gun (2003); Premiership (2006)
Inside Football's 2002 Profile: West Coast’s No.1 draft pick and No.3 overall, Judd has height and pace and will play senior football on the wing this year. Likely to be in the best 22 from the start as two shoulder reconstructions haven’t retarded his development.
3. Luke Hodge – Geelong Falcons
Drafted by Hawthorn (No.1)
Games: 299
Goals: 192
Honors: All Australian (2005, 2008, 2010); Best and Fairest (2005, 2010); Norm Smith Medal (2008, 2014); Premiership (2008, 2013, 2014, 2015)
Inside Football's 2002 Profile: No.1 draft pick with enormous wraps. Plays as a mobile midfielder who can go forward and take a mark. Is a thumping left-foot kick who has all the makings of a matchwinner. Has suffered from osteitis pubis and didn’t start running until late January. Will be taken along slowly.
4. Sam Mitchell – Box Hill
Drafted by Hawthorn (No.36)
Games: 321
Goals: 68
Honors: All Australian (2011, 2013, 2015); Rising Star (2003); Brownlow Medal (2012); Best and Fairest (2006, 2009, 2011, 2012, 2016); Liston Trophy (2002); Premiership (2008, 2013, 2014, 2015)
Inside Football's 2002 Profile: Drafted from the Box Hill Hawks, the Hawk hierarchy believes Mitchell has a big future.
5. Jimmy Bartel – Geelong Falcons
Drafted by Geelong (No.8)
Games: 305
Goals: 202
Honors: All Australian (2007, 2008); Brownlow Medal (2007); Norm Smith Medal (2011); Premiership (2007, 2009, 2011)
Inside Football's 2002 Profile: Geelong's first pick (No. 8 overall) at the national draft. Geelong Falcons and Victoria Country under 18 captain, twice All-Australian as a hard-at-the-ball midfielder. Tough one-on-one and is seen as a future leader at Geelong.
6. Dane Swan – Calder Cannons
Drafted by Collingwood (No.58)
Games: 258
Goals: 211
Honors: All Australian (2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013); Brownlow Medal (2011); AFLPA MVP (2010); AFLCA MVP (2010); Best and Fairest (2008, 2009, 2010); Premiership (2010)
Inside Football's 2002 Profile: The son of VFA star Billy Swan. He can play half-forward or half-back and has football nous. He started the 2001 season as a bit parts player with the Cannons, but progressed rapidly and by the end of the year was a dangerous forward. He will eventually be a forward or on-baller.
7. Nick Dal Santo – Bendigo Pioneers
Drafted by St Kilda (No.13)
Games: 322
Goals: 156
Honors: All Australian (2005, 2009, 2011)
Inside Football's 2002 Profile: From the limited time he was used in the Wizard Cup, it’s clear he has a touch of class and a potent left foot. Played as a forward and occasional on-baller in the under-18s, but could be suited to a wing.
8. Steve Johnson – Murray Bushrangers
Drafted by Geelong (No.24)
Games: 286
Goals: 506
Honors: All Australian (2007, 2008, 2010); Norm Smith Medal (2007); Premiership (2007, 2009, 2011)
Inside Football's 2002 Profile: Elusive player who missed the Bushrangers' finals campaign because of injury. Plays mostly up forward but could be used further down the ground. Will be given time to develop in the reserves.
9. Aaron Sandilands – East Fremantle
Drafted by Fremantle (No.33 – Rookie Draft)
Games: 254
Goals: 92
Honors: All Australian (2008, 2009, 2010, 2014); Best and Fairest (2009, 2015)
Inside Football's 2002 Profile: The tallest player in the league and wears size 18 boots. Weighs more than 110kg and while he’s a raw rookie, is big enough to cause everyone headaches.
10. Brian Lake – Woodville-West Torrens
Drafted by Western Bulldogs (No.71)
Games: 251
Goals: 34
Honors: All Australian (2009, 2010); Best and Fairest (2007); Norm Smith Medal (2013); Premiership (2013, 2014, 2015)
Inside Football's 2002 Profile: Hardly played in SA last year because of injury, but the Bulldogs remembered him as big and strong and a good mover when he played in the under-18 championships in 2000. Has settled in well and could be an eye-catcher later in the season.
11. Leigh Montagna – Northern Knights
Drafted by St Kilda (No.37)
Games: 285
Goals: 155
Honors: All Australian (2009, 2010)
Inside Football's 2002 Profile: Just a youngster and will be given time to mature in physical and football terms. A long kicking midfielder said to have fine anticipation.
12. Matthew Boyd – Frankston
Drafted by Western Bulldogs (No.23 – Rookie Draft)
Games: 291
Goals: 85
Honors: All Australian (2009, 2011, 2016); Best and Fairest (2009, 2011, 2012); AA40 (2010, 2015); Premiership (2016)
Inside Football's 2002 Profile: The Bulldogs plucked the former Dandenong Stingray from the obscurity of VFL seconds. The rookie running defender won Frankston’s reserves best and fairest but could manage only two senior games. His goal will be to build on his VFL tally with Werribee’s.
13. James Kelly – Calder Cannons
Drafted by Geelong (No.17)
Games: 306
Goals: 90
Honors: All Australian (2011); Premiership (2007, 2009, 2011)
Inside Football's 2002 Profile: Taken at No. 17 overall at the 2001 national draft, Kelly finished second in the Calder Cannons' best and fairest. Highly skilled with a great work ethic, Kelly might be given a chance pre-season. Will be groomed as a ruck rover.
14. Luke Ball – Sandringham Dragons
Drafted by St Kilda (No.2)
Games: 223
Goals: 91
Honors: All Australian (2005); Best and Fairest (2005); Premiership (2010)
Inside Football's 2002 Profile: He will play most of his football with his school this year, but the Saints are in no hurry to push him along. Very lightly built at the moment, so it would be unwise to rush him and a bout of osteitis pubis will limit his early appearances. He is a fine reader and a prolific possession winner.
15. David Hale – Broadbeach
Drafted by North Melbourne (No.7)
Games: 237
Goals: 217
Honors: Premiership (2013, 2014, 2015)
Inside Football's 2002 Profile: Key forward who was the Kangaroos’ first pick at the National Draft at No.6. Was an All-Australian and represented Australia against Ireland at under-18 level. Is 200cm but only 84kg and will be given time to develop in the VFL. At 17, he has time on his side.
16. Campbell Brown – Oakleigh Chargers
Drafted by Hawthorn (No.32)
Games: 205
Goals: 109
Honors: All Australian (2007); Premiership (2008)
Inside Football's 2002 Profile: A small but tenacious on baller/defender, Brown is the son of former Tiger rough-nut Mal. A strong tackler but will need time to mature.
17. Jarrad Waite – Murray Bushrangers
Drafted by Carlton (No.46 – F/S)
Games: 229
Goals: 340
Honors: Leading Goalkicker (2014, 2015)
Inside Football's 2002 Profile: Son of former Carlton player Vin, who played 153 games for the Blues. A tall defender/forward, Waite was a Victorian Country representative at last year’s under 18 carnival whose reputation precedes him.
18. Paul Medhurst – Claremont
Drafted by Fremantle (No.56)
Games: 168
Goals: 274
Honors: All Australian (2008); Leading Goalkicker (2003, 2004, 2008)
Inside Football's 2002 Profile: A classy half-forward who won the WAFL goalkicking last year with more than 70 majors. Marks well and while he takes forever to take a set shot, he is an accurate kick. Could be a surprise packet.
19. Ben Rutten – West Adelaide
Drafted by Adelaide (No.40 – Rookie Draft)
Games: 229
Goals: 9
Honors: All Australian (2005)
Inside Football's 2002 Profile: The captain of SA’s under-18 team at last year’s championships, he has good speed for a key position player and will eventually settle into a forward line place.
20. Adam Schneider – NSW-ACT Rams
Drafted by Sydney (No.60)
Games: 228
Goals: 259
Honors: Premiership (2005)
Inside Football's 2002 Profile: Young midfielder drafted from the NSW/ACT Rams. Is a ball magnet and has neat skills. The Swans believe he will develop into a senior player.
21. Mark Jamar – North Adelaide
Drafted by Melbourne (No.6 – Rookie Draft)
Games: 160
Goals: 59
Honors: All Australian (2010)
Inside Football's 2002 Profile: Giant ruckman who looks a likely prospect. Moves well for his size (197cm) and can take a strong mark. Will be given time to develop but has already shown the Demon coaching staff he has what it takes.
22. Nathan Bock – Woodville-West Torrens
Drafted by Adelaide (No.25 – Rookie Draft)
Games: 140
Goals: 63
Honors: All Australian (2008); Best and Fairest (2008)
Inside Football's 2002 Profile: Impressed at last year’s under-18 carnival when he showed he can play in a number of positions. Has a good pair of hands and is flexible in his ground work.
23. Quinten Lynch – West Perth
Drafted by West Coast (No.19 – Rookie Draft)
Games: 227
Goals: 290
Honors: Premiership (2006); Leading Goalkicker (2006, 2007)
Inside Football's 2002 Profile: All-Australian at the Under 18s last year, he also played senior football for West Perth. A huge man for someone so young, he’s a key position player on the rookie list.
24. James Podsiadly – Essendon
Drafted by Collingwood (No.8 – Rookie Draft)
Games: 104
Goals: 195
Honors: Liston Trophy (2008); Premiership (2011); Leading Goalkicker (2011)
Inside Football's 2002 Profile: A 193cm rookie from Western Jets, he was on Essendon’s rookie list two years ago and was used as a top-up player by the Bombers last season. He has good pace and spring, but has not played much football and needs to develop his knowledge of the game.
25. Andrew Carrazzo – Oakleigh Chargers
Drafted by Geelong (No.5 – Rookie Draft)
Games: 194
Goals: 48
Honors: Best and Fairest (2007)
Inside Football's 2002 Profile: Oakleigh Chargers captain who earned All-Australian under-18 honours last year. Surprised many by not being selected in last year's national draft but gets his chance with Geelong as a rookie. A tough and skilled midfielder.