Re-drafting the top 10 picks of the 2011 AFL Draft

The 2011 draft saw the GWS Giants receive a number of draft concessions with their impending arrival into the AFL in 2012. The Giants received the first selection of each round and had 11 of the first 15 selections to start the night, including each of the top 5 picks, which saw them draft talents such as Jonathon Patton and Stephen Coniglio. Original top 10 of the 2011 Draft: Jonathon Patton (GWS) Stephen Coniglio (GWS) Dom Tyson (GWS) Will Hoskin-Elliot (GWS) Matt Buntine (GWS) Chad Wingard (Port Adelaide) Nick Haynes (GWS) Billy Longer (Brisbane) Adam Tomlinson (GWS) Liam Sumner (GWS) We take a look at that draft nine years on and re-select what we feel is the top 10 from 2011. Chad Wingard It took the mercurial forward a bit of time to find his step in the brown and gold, but Chad Wingard was one of Hawthorn's best this season, impacting the scoreboard and flexing his creativity across most occasions. [caption id="attachment_42363" align="alignnone" width="696"] MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - JUNE 28: Chad Wingard of the Hawks in action during the 2020 AFL Round 04 match between the Hawthorn Hawks and the North Melbourne Kangaroos at Marvel Stadium on June 28, 2020 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Michael Willson/AFL Photos via Getty Images)[/caption] The former Port Adelaide forward burst onto the scene in his second season with the Power, winning All-Australian and best and fairest honours. His form has since somewhat plateaued, but Wingard remains a game-changer. Elliot Yeo The two-way runner was gifted to the Lions via a compensation pick at the 30th overall selection in 2011, only for the now-Eagles premiership star to eventually move out West in a return home. [caption id="attachment_33834" align="alignnone" width="696"] PERTH, AUSTRALIA - JULY 27: Elliot Yeo of the Eagles kicks on goal during the 2019 AFL round 19 match between the West Coast Eagles and the North Melbourne Kangaroos at Optus Stadium on July 27, 2019 in Perth, Australia. (Photo by Daniel Carson/AFL Photos via Getty Images)[/caption] A member of West Coast's stacked midfield band, Yeo's ability to impact the game often goes unnoticed, with his role in their 2018 dream run as vital as any in that squad of champions. Nick Haynes The Giants defender really came into his own in 2020, earning his maiden All-Australian call-up after an emphatic year down back for Greater Western Sydney. [caption id="attachment_26326" align="alignnone" width="696"] SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA - AUGUST 18: Nick Haynes of the Giants looks upfield during the round 22 AFL match between the Greater Western Sydney Giants and the Sydney Swans at Spotless Stadium on August 18, 2018 in Sydney, Australia. (Photo by Ryan Pierse/Getty Images)[/caption] Some would argue Haynes has been the ever-so reliable defender for the past several season, with both fans and critics really taking notice in 2020. The 28-year-old proved his versatility as an elite intercepter and is earning his tag as a top 10 selection from 2011. Bradley Hill His first season at Moorabbin didn't quite reflect his tenures of prior years with both the Hawks and Dockers, but there were certainly glimpses of Hill's magical touch in 2020. [caption id="attachment_36689" align="alignnone" width="696"] MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - OCTOBER 25: Bradley Hill poses for a photograph during a St Kilda Saints AFL media opportunity at RSEA Park on October 25, 2019 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Daniel Pockett/Getty Images)[/caption] After a stellar season in the purple last year, averaging over 25 possessions per game, the three-time premiership onballer will hope for an un-interrupted season next year and will be tipped to be back at his best as the Saints eye a play further up the ladder. Sam Docherty Like Yeo, Docherty departed Queensland ahead of the 2014 season, a move the Lions would hope to have back if they could. The Blues co-captain has since won a best and fairest and and All-Australian selection since arriving at Princes Park and would have a few more gongs to his name if it weren't for several setbacks through injury. [caption id="attachment_40451" align="alignnone" width="696"] Blues star Sam Docherty Image: Colleen Petch[/caption] Stephen Coniglio Coniglio was taken with the 2nd pick in the draft by GWS and has grown into one of the top midfielders in the competition, resulting in the club to decide that Coniglio would be the man to lead the club moving forward. [caption id="attachment_30874" align="alignnone" width="696"] SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA - APRIL 27: Stephen Coniglio of the Giants celebrates a goal during the round 6 AFL match between the Sydney Swans and GWS Giants at Sydney Cricket Ground on April 27, 2019 in Sydney, Australia. (Photo by Ryan Pierse/Getty Images)[/caption] While 2020 was somewhat a step back for the bullish onballer, his several seasons prior have etched him into the higher echelon's of the game. Toby Greene Greene was the 11th selection in the 2011 draft by the GWS Giants and has made a name for himself for being one of the most electrifying and supremely talented players in the game. [caption id="attachment_15869" align="alignnone" width="696"] SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA - SEPTEMBER 16: Toby Greene of the Giants celebrates a goal during the 2017 AFL First Semi Final match between the GWS Giants and the West Coast Eagles at Spotless Stadium on September 16, 2017 in Sydney, Australia. (Photo by Michael Willson/AFL Media/Getty Images)[/caption] Injuries and suspensions have been a major concern over the years for goalsneak, but his talent is easily top five, as is his value to his club. This man has the ability to turn a game on its head, a skill only a few names in the league can master. Taylor Adams Adams was originally taken at pick 13 by the Giants, where he spent two seasons before being traded to Collingwood in 2013. Adams has since developed into one of the top midfielders in the game, which saw him earn his first All-Australian nod in 2020 after several consistent seasons in the black and white. [caption id="attachment_20737" align="alignnone" width="696"] MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - JUNE 03: Taylor Adams of the Magpies runs with the ball from Lachie Neale of the Dockers during the round 11 AFL match between the Collingwood Magpies and the Fremantle Dockers at Melbourne Cricket Ground on June 3, 2018 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Michael Dodge/Getty Images)[/caption] The Magpies gun often goes unnoticed at time, but is sure to have his name in the best on ground discussions each and every week. Tom Mitchell Mitchell was drafted to the Swans under the father-son rule, where he spent 5 years in the Harbour City, learning his craft as a midfielder before requesting a trade to Hawthorn at the end of 2016. [caption id="attachment_32457" align="alignnone" width="696"] MELBOURNE, VICTORIA - SEPTEMBER 06: Tom Mitchell of the Hawks runs with the ball from Dion Prestia of the Tigers during the AFL First Qualifying Final match between the Richmond Tigers and the Hawthorn Hawks at Melbourne Cricket Ground on September 6, 2018 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Michael Dodge/AFL Media/Getty Images)[/caption] The move down south immediately elevated his game to another level, something many saw coming after being the unlucky reserve to several Swans stars in midfield. Mitchell became the league's best ball-magnet, a skill which saw him win the Brownlow in 2018 and break several records, some of which were already his own. Lachie Neale Neale was originally selected with the 58th pick, yes you read that right, 58. Playing second-fiddle to Fremantle star Nat Fyfe perhaps held the midfielder back, while he remained one of the league biggest accumulators alongside the two-time Brownlow medallist. [caption id="attachment_42293" align="alignnone" width="696"] BRISBANE, AUSTRALIA - JUNE 13: Lachie Neale of the Lions celebrates kicking a goal during the round 2 AFL match between the Brisbane Lions and the Fremantle Dockers at The Gabba on June 13, 2020 in Brisbane, Australia. (Photo by Bradley Kanaris/Getty Images)[/caption] Since his move east to Brisbane, Neale has been able to collect a 'Charlie' of his own, becoming a key catalyst to the Lions' rise up the ladder.

		P	W	L	PTS	%
1	ADEL	23	18	5	72	139.3
2	GEEL	23	17	6	68	141.5
3	BL	23	16	6	66	114.2
4	COLL	23	16	7	64	122.4
5	GWS	23	16	7	64	115.3
6	FRE	23	16	7	64	109
7	GC	23	15	8	60	124.9
8	HAW	23	15	8	60	120.9

Re-drafting the top 10 picks of the 2011 AFL Draft

Only three players from the original top 10 remain in our re-draft👇

1. Lachie Neale

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