While the third pick of the draft is the bronze medal selection, that doesn't mean that clubs aren't able to strike gold with the pick. While two clubs get to draft a player first, often a few hidden gems slip through this miniature crack.
Looking over the picks since 2000, there isn't the same depth as the first two selections. However, at the top end of the board, two of the greatest and most damaging players of all time find themselves selected at the 3rd pick.
In what was considered the hardest decision, the choice between Martin vs Judd went back and forth with little separating the two superstars.
Even further down the list, there are multiple club B&F winners, All-Australians and even a player with an (unofficial) award named after them.
This list also looks to get even stronger over the next few years, with Luke Jackson, Izak Rankine and Will Phillips.
Even though each of these names are highly talented players who could someday make their way onto this list, they currently don't have the sustained success to find themselves on this list.
Given a few other star players such as Trent Croad and Shannon Grant were both selected before 2000, this has rendered them ineligible for this list.
We have already looked at the top 10 number 1 and number 2 selections since 2000.
After plenty of thought and collaboration, we now take a look at the 10 best players selected with the 3rd selection of every draft since the 2000 draft.
4. Ryan Griffen (2004)
Drafted by: Western Bulldogs
Appearances: 257-games
Griffen was taken in the 2004 draft by the Western Bulldogs before playing over 200 games for the Dogs ahead of joining Greater Western Sydney in 2015.
This moved shocked many, having captained the Dogs the season prior to departing.
After starting his career in defense, Griffen began spending more time in the midfield from 2008 where his career began to take off. Over the course of his 257-game stint, he averaged 21.1 disposals, 3.7 tackles, 4.2 inside 50s and 2.24 bounces.
Griffen was at his best in the early 2010s, where he won the 2010 and 2013 club B&F. He was also selected for the All-Australian team in 2013.
Known for his speed and running, the South Australian was willing to take the game on and carry the ball. His run in the middle was an important part of a Bulldogs' sides that were a win away from making the Grand Final in 2008, 2009 and 2010.
In a testament to this, Griffen still holds the Bulldogs club record for the highest disposals in a game with 47 against Sydney in Round 21, 2012.
