We take a look back at the 2013 draft and do it all again with the joy of hindsight.
Published by
Jake Benoiton
The 2013 draft could shape as the next super draft, littered with current and future stars.
However many of those stars weren't selected as high as you may think. Late steals and hidden gems were the theme of the class of 2013.
Here is Zero Hanger's re-drafted first round of the 2013 AFL national draft:
Christian Salem (Gold Coast)
Christian Salem was originally taken with pick 9 in the draft and has found his feet well at the Demons but is yet to make the big step into the league's top class of player.
Salem has played 90 games for Melbourne.
HOBART, AUSTRALIA - JULY 29: Christian Salem of the Demons in action during the 2017 AFL round 19 match between the North Melbourne Kangaroos and the Melbourne Demons at Blundstone Arena on July 29, 2017 in Hobart, Australia. (Photo by Adam Trafford/AFL Media/Getty Images)
Zak Jones (St Kilda)
Ironically where he has ended up now, Jones recently made the move into the midfield and has done so with great impact. Can be turnover prone at times but has speed to burn breaks lines like not many can.
SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA - JUNE 29: Zak Jones of the Swans celebrates kicking a goal during the round 15 AFL match between the Sydney Swans and the Gold Coast Suns at Sydney Cricket Ground on June 29, 2019 in Sydney, Australia. (Photo by Cameron Spencer/AFL Photos via Getty Images)
George Hewett (St Kilda)
Hewett has made a name as one of the league's premier taggers, puttomg a stop to some of the competition's best.
He has played 93 games for the Swans.
SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA - AUGUST 25: George Hewett of the Swans is tackled by Ben McEvoy of the Hawks during the round 23 AFL match between the Sydney Swans and the Hawthorn Hawks at Sydney Cricket Ground on August 25, 2018 in Sydney, Australia. (Photo by Cameron Spencer/Getty Images)
Tom Barrass (Fremantle)
Barrass was destined to play in Perth and has proven the perfect support to Jeremy McGovern with a premiership to his name. Elite contested marking a huge plus and already an impressive CV.
MELBOURNE, VICTORIA - SEPTEMBER 29: Tom Barrass of the Eagles celebrates with the Premiership Cup after the 2018 AFL Grand Final match between the Collingwood Magpies and the West Coast Eagles at Melbourne Cricket Ground on September 29, 2018 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Ryan Pierse/AFL Media/Getty Images)
Toby Nankervis (Geelong)
Nankervis is a dual premiership ruckman so this pick may seem harsh. b
But as far as genuine ruckman go he isn't at the top end. Known more for his physicality and aggression than tap work, he would have proven to be a handy pick up for the Cats.
MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - FEBRUARY 24: Toby Nankervis of the Tigers looks upfield during the JLT Community Series AFL match between the Richmond Tigers and the Adelaide Crows at Etihad Stadium on February 24, 2017 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Michael Dodge/Getty Images)
Daniel McStay (Sydney)
Quickly becoming one of the best-contested marks in the competition, Mcstay had a breakout campaign in 2019.
The swingman has the ability to play at both ends of the ground is finally starting to hit his straps.
BRISBANE, AUSTRALIA - JUNE 10: Daniel McStay of the Lions handballs during the round 12 AFL match between the Brisbane Lions and the Fremantle Dockers at The Gabba on June 10, 2017 in Brisbane, Australia. (Photo by Chris Hyde/Getty Images)
Lewis Taylor (GWS)
Taylor hasn't had a great run over the past two seasons but let's not forget he won the Rising Star award in 2014.
Genuine class with ball in hand and a great turn of foot, Taylor has the tools to be a great player and has proven that previously.
He played 112 games for Brisbane before being traded to Sydney at the end of 2019.
BRISBANE, AUSTRALIA - APRIL 22: Lewis Taylor of the Lions celebrates a goal during the round five AFL match between the Brisbane Lions and the Gold Coast Suns at The Gabba on April 22, 2018 in Brisbane, Australia. (Photo by Chris Hyde/Getty Images)
Darcy Byrne-Jones (Carlton)
Byrne-Jones is a rarity at Port Adelaide - a model of consistency. Hardly plays a bad game and wins more battles then he loses.
Has been a seamless fit at the Power and would've fit nicely into the Carlton backline.
ADELAIDE, AUSTRALIA - MAY 06: Darcy Byrne-Jones of the Power runs with the ball during the round seven AFL match between the Port Adelaide Power and the West Coast Eagles at Adelaide Oval on May 6, 2017 in Adelaide, Australia. (Photo by Robert Cianflone/Getty Images)
Alex Pearce (Richmond)
Richmond fans may be asking 'what if' now Alex Rance has retired.
Pearce had a breakout 2019 proving to be one of the better defenders in the competition. Key defenders who mark the ball are like gold nowadays.
PERTH, AUSTRALIA - MAY 12: Alex Pearce of the Dockers breaks the banner during the 2019 AFL round 08 match between the Fremantle Dockers and the Richmond Tigers at Optus Stadium on May 12, 2019 in Perth, Australia. (Photo by Daniel Carson/AFL Photos)
Dom Sheed (West Coast)
Credit to the Eagles, they got this one spot on!
Sheed is forever marked in Eagles folklore after his 2018 Grand Final heroics. Fair to say West Coast fans wouldn't change this pick for the world.
MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - SEPTEMBER 29: Dom Sheed of the Eagles kicks a goal late in the final term during the 2018 Toyota AFL Grand Final match between the West Coast Eagles and the Collingwood Magpies at the Melbourne Cricket Ground on September 29, 2018 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Michael Willson/AFL Media/Getty Images)
Orazio Fantasia (Collingwood)
A proven goalscorer, Fantasia's goal sense is as good as anyone in the league.
He has booted 110 goals in 75 games at Essendon and would fit perfectly into Collingwood's mid-sized forward line.
MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - MARCH 25: Orazio Fantasia of the Bombers grabs his jumper as he celebrates a goal during the 2017 AFL round 01 match between the Essendon Bombers and the Hawthorn Hawks at the Melbourne Cricket Ground on March 25, 2017 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Adam Trafford/AFL Media/Getty Images)
Tom Langdon (Melbourne)
Tom could be playing alongside brother Ed at the Dees!
Langdon has been superb in the black and white and was arguably their best finals player in 2018, starring in their heartbreaking grand final loss.
His season-ending injury in 2019 was a significant blow to the Pies.
MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - MARCH 28: Dan Butler of the Tigers and Tom Langdon of the Magpies compete for the ball during the 2019 AFL round 02 match between the Richmond Tigers and the Collingwood Magpies at the Melbourne Cricket Ground on March 28, 2019 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Dylan Burns/AFL Photos)
James Sicily (North Melbourne)
Forget personal opinions about the bloke, Sicily is class on the grass.
Elite foot skills and an ability to play both forward and back make him a hot commodity. He will continue to grow and should he curb his enthusiasm, could become anything.
LAUNCESTON, AUSTRALIA - MAY 25: James Sicily of the Hawks runs with the ball during the round 10 AFL match between the Hawthorn Hawks and the Port Adelaide Power at University of Tasmania Stadium on May 25, 2019 in Launceston, Australia. (Photo by Scott Barbour/Getty Images)
Zach Merrett (Brisbane)
Elite foot skills and an ability like not many others to find the ball have made Merrett an elite midfielder.
Brisbane's engine room would be a genuine contender with Merrett strolling through.
MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - APRIL 13: Zach Merrett of the Bombers celebrates a goal during the 2019 AFL round 04 match between the Essendon Bombers and the Brisbane Lions at the Melbourne Cricket Ground on April 13, 2019 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Dylan Burns/AFL Photos/Getty Images)
Ben Brown (Collingwood)
One of the competition's premier goal scorers, Brown would be the perfect foil for Collingwood's mid-size forward brigade.
He would be the ideal fit and would very possibly make the Pies the best team in the competition.
MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - AUGUST 17: Ben Brown of the Kangaroos celebrates kicking a goal during the round 22 AFL match between the North Melbourne Kangaroos and the Port Adelaide Power at Marvel Stadium on August 17, 2019 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Quinn Rooney/Getty Images)
Jack Billings (Gold Coast)
Billings has shown glimpses of being the star the Saints had hoped they drafted in 2013.
Billings has all the tools to become a genuine A-grade player, but needs to find consistency. Things finally started to turn for him last year and you feel like he only scratched the surface of his ceiling.
MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - JULY 13: Jack Billings of the Saints runs out onto the field during the round 17 AFL match between the St Kilda Saints and the Carlton Blues at Etihad Stadium on July 13, 2018 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Quinn Rooney/Getty Images)
Matt Crouch (Western Bulldogs)
Not many find the ball like Matt Crouch can.
Not always the most damaging player on the field, you just can't buy the ability to find the footy the way he does.
The hardest thing to do in football is get the ball and it's the thing Crouch does easiest. A ball magnet that continues to improve every year. Crouch is a genuine gun!
MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - APRIL 27: Matt Crouch of the Crows handballs during the round 6 AFL match between St Kilda and Adelaide at Marvel Stadium on April 27, 2019 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Quinn Rooney/Getty Images)
Josh Kelly (St Kilda)
Kelly is as smooth a mover as the AFL has seen in recent times.
All class with ball in hand he is one of the top midfielders in the game. Unlucky not to be higher and in most drafts he might just well be pick one.
There's a reason why they call this bloke the Rolls Royce.
CANBERRA, AUSTRALIA - AUGUST 05: Josh Kelly of the Giants celebrates a goal during the round 20 AFL match between the Greater Western Sydney Giants and the Melbourne Demons at UNSW Canberra Oval on August 5, 2017 in Canberra, Australia. (Photo by Matt King/Getty Images)
Marcus Bontempelli (GWS)
A premiership player and absolute star of the competition, Bont has all the tricks in the book.
Evasiveness like very few, foot skills that pick apart oppositions and an ability to hit the scoreboard, there isn't much he cant do.
The new Dogs skipper is a natural leader and can single handily change games. And that's an ability you can't teach.
BRISBANE, AUSTRALIA - AUGUST 04: Marcus Bontempelli of the Bulldogs celebrates kicking a goal during the round 20 AFL match between the Brisbane Lions and the Western Bulldogs at The Gabba on August 04, 2019 in Brisbane, Australia. (Photo by Bradley Kanaris/AFL Photos via Getty Images )
Patrick Cripps (GWS)
Arguably the game's best player, Cripps has carried a poor Carlton team for some time and is a future Brownlow medallist.
In the mould of a full forward from yesteryear, Cripps is the prototype modern midfielder that crashes packs, takes big marks and kick goals.
While having never been apart of a team with any form of success, he is still regarded by his peers as the game's best (AFLPA MVP winner 2019).
A deserved pick 1 this time around.
MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - JUNE 08: Patrick Cripps of the Blues celebrates kicking a goal during the round 12 AFL match between the Carlton Blues and the Brisbane Lions at Marvel Stadium on June 08, 2019 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Quinn Rooney/Getty Images)