Re-drafting the top 10 picks of the 2012 AFL Draft

The 2012 National Draft saw the Giants receive a number of concessions in what was their second draft as an AFL football club. GWS held five picks inside the first round, however just one of them (Pick 1, Lachie Whitfield) remains at the club. Original top 10 of the 2012 National Draft: Lachie Whitfield (GWS Giants) Jonathan O’Rourke (GWS Giants) Lachie Plowman (GWS Giants) Jimmy Toumpas (Melbourne) Jake Stringer (Western Bulldogs) Jack Macrae (Western Bulldogs) Ollie Wines (Port Adelaide) Sam Mayes (Brisbane Lions) Nick Vlastuin (Richmond) Joe Daniher (Essendon) We take a look at that draft nine years on and re-select what we feel is the top 10 from 2012. Tim Membrey (Originally: Pick 46, Sydney Swans) Membrey, who was originally selected with Sydney’s Pick 46, is a huge mover in our re-draft. The 27-year-old was a non-factor during his time in the Harbour City, but his career has since seen a great rise at Moorabbin. [caption id="attachment_13807" align="alignnone" width="1024"] St Kilda/Tim Membrey[/caption] After a sluggish 2020 campaign, Membrey produced a stat-line average of 14.9 disposals, 7.2 marks (both career-highs) and 1.6 goals. Jack Viney (Originally: Pick 26, Melbourne) A father-son choice in 2012, Viney did what his father, Todd, couldn’t in 2021: win a premiership for his beloved Melbourne Demons. The hard-nosed midfielder isn’t a flashy player by any means - and some may say is in the shadows of his colleagues Clayton Oliver and Christian Petracca -- but his determination and leadership are traits the Demons are glad to have. [caption id="attachment_22629" align="alignnone" width="1024"] MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - MAY 20: Jack Viney of the Demons celebrates a goal during the 2018 AFL round nine match between the Carlton Blues and the Melbourne Demons at the Melbourne Cricket Ground on May 20, 2018 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Adam Trafford/AFL Media/Getty Images)[/caption] Lachie Hunter (Originally: Pick 49, Western Bulldogs) Hunter is the biggest mover in our re-draft, originally selected with Pick 49 by the Dogs. The crafty left-footer is - and continues to be - a very valuable commodity for the Bulldogs on the wing, with his best season coming in 2018 (29.8 possessions, 5.6 marks and 2.8 tackles per game). [caption id="attachment_33307" align="alignnone" width="1024"] MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - JULY 28: Lachie Hunter of the Bulldogs celebrates a goal during the round 19 AFL match between the Western Bulldogs and the Fremantle Dockers at Marvel Stadium on July 28, 2019 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Matt King/Getty Images)[/caption] The 26-year-old managed just 21.8 disposals per game in 2021 (his lowest per-game average since his second season in 2014), but his worth to Luke Beveridge and the Bulldogs isn’t measured merely by touches. Joe Daniher (Originally: Pick 10, Essendon) Daniher, who moved up three spots in our re-draft, showed flashes of brilliance at Essendon (averaging 2.8 goals per game in 2017), but persistent injuries and goal-kicking inconsistency ensured his Bombers career didn’t quite get off the ground. The 27-year-old was slightly disappointing throughout Brisbane’s straight-sets exit from the 2021 finals series, but has the potential to be on the same level as the likes of Harry McKay and Buddy Franklin when he’s at his best. [caption id="attachment_87530" align="alignnone" width="2560"] MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - APRIL 24: Joe Daniher of the Lions marks the ball during the round six AFL match between the Carlton Blues and the Brisbane Lions at Marvel Stadium on April 24, 2021 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Darrian Traynor/Getty Images)[/caption] Nick Vlastuin (Originally: Pick 9, Richmond) Vlastuin, originally Pick 9, has been an incredibly reliable interceptor in the back-half throughout his career at Tigerland. Having been trialled in the forward-line and midfield before finally finding a home in defence, the three-time premiership player has also become a key leadership presence among the growing youth movement at Punt Road. [caption id="attachment_81564" align="alignnone" width="1024"] BRISBANE, AUSTRALIA - OCTOBER 24: Nick Vlastuin of the Tigers celebrates during the 2020 Toyota AFL Grand Final match between the Richmond Tigers and the Geelong Cats at The Gabba on October 24, 2020 in Brisbane, Australia. (Photo by Michael Willson/AFL Photos via Getty Images)[/caption] In Richmond’s 2020 premiership season, the 27-year-old ranked first in the AFL in total intercept marks. Jake Stringer (Originally: Pick 5, Western Bulldogs) In our re-draft, Stringer remains at the original Pick 5 he was taken at in 2012. The 27-year-old game-changer won a premiership with the Bulldogs in 2016 before taking his talents to Tullamarine in 2018, where he has continued to be a damaging presence through the midfield and forward-line. Stringer averaged 16.4 disposals and four tackles (career-bests) in 2021, as well as 2.2 goals per game. [caption id="attachment_81717" align="alignnone" width="2560"] MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - APRIL 03: Jake Stringer of the Bombers celebrates a goal with Darcy Parish of the Bombers during the 2021 AFL Round 03 match between the Essendon Bombers and the St Kilda Saints at Marvel Stadium on April 03, 2021 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Dylan Burns/AFL Photos via Getty Images)[/caption] Lachie Whitfield (Originally: Pick 1, GWS Giants) Whitfield was Pick 1 in 2012 and slipped three spots in our re-draft, despite his career-to-date having been one of dominance. The 27-year-old is in the prime of his career, with his speed and disposal-use off half-back proving to be immensely valuable traits. [caption id="attachment_34377" align="alignnone" width="1024"] SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA - JULY 01: Lachie Whitfield of the Giants celebrates a goal during the round 15 AFL match between the Greater Western Sydney Giants and the Geelong Cats at Spotless Stadium on July 1, 2017 in Sydney, Australia. (Photo by Ryan Pierse/Getty Images)[/caption] Whitfield just capped off a season in which he averaged 25 disposals, six marks and 3.8 rebound 50s. Brodie Grundy (Originally: Pick 18, Collingwood) Grundy, one of the most nimble ruckmen in the league alongside Nic Naitanui, has been a formidable force in the middle of the ground for the black and white. The South Australian - who ranked first in the AFL in hit-outs in 2021 whilst also averaging 19 disposals and four tackles - moves up from Pick 18 to Pick 3 in our re-draft. [caption id="attachment_36028" align="alignnone" width="1024"] MELBOURNE, VICTORIA - SEPTEMBER 21: Brodie Grundy of the Magpies celebrates a goal during the AFL Preliminary Final match between the Richmond Tigers and the Collingwood Magpies on September 21, 2018 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Michael Dodge/AFL Media/Getty Images)[/caption] Grundy hasn’t quite been at his very best since his outstanding 2019 campaign - during which he averaged 21.3 disposals, 4.4 marks and 42.6 hit-outs (all career-highs) - but he’s still a top-five player at his position and will be for years to come. Jack Macrae (Originally: Pick 6, Western Bulldogs) In our re-draft, Macrae moves up four spots from the original Pick 6 he was taken at by the Bulldogs in 2012. The serial ball-winner is coming off a scintillating finals series, during which he averaged 34 disposals across four games - this after averaging a stellar 33.9 possessions throughout the 2021 home-and-away season. [caption id="attachment_32858" align="alignnone" width="1024"] MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - JULY 28: Jack Macrae of the Bulldogs kicks during the round 19 AFL match between the Western Bulldogs and the Fremantle Dockers at Marvel Stadium on July 28, 2019 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Matt King/Getty Images)[/caption] Consistently a threat from midfield, Macrae has emerged as a lethal user of the ball and one of the game's all-time accumulators. Ollie Wines (Originally: Pick 7, Port Adelaide) The 2021 Brownlow medallist climbs six spots to the first overall selection in our re-draft, after originally being drafted to Port Adelaide with Pick 7. From averaging 18.8 disposals in his rookie season to a career-high 32.4 in his Brownlow campaign, Wines has developed into a contested-ball beast at an astronomical rate. [caption id="attachment_36011" align="alignnone" width="1024"] PERTH, AUSTRALIA - JULY 09: Ollie Wines of the Power celebrates a goal during the round 16 AFL match between the West Coast Eagles and the Port Adelaide Power at Domain Stadium on July 9, 2017 in Perth, Australia. (Photo by Paul Kane/Getty Images)[/caption] This season saw Wines join elite air, with the Power ball-magnet set to play a key role in hopefully bringing a second AFL premiership to Alberton Oval.

		P	W	L	PTS	%
1	GC	3	3	0	12	191
2	WB	3	3	0	12	137.2
3	SYD	3	2	1	8	139.5
4	HAW	3	2	1	8	118.1
5	COLL	3	2	1	8	103.7
6	GEEL	3	2	1	8	86.7
7	FRE	2	1	1	4	121.1
8	NMFC	2	1	1	4	116.3
9	PORT	2	1	1	4	109.3
10	ADEL	3	1	2	4	100

Re-drafting the top 10 picks of the 2012 AFL Draft

Nine years on, there are a number of big movers in our re-draft 👇

5. Jake Stringer

(Originally: Pick 5, Western Bulldogs)

JOIN THE DISCUSSION

Latest News

LIVE: Collingwood vs GWS – Round 3, 2026

FINAL TEAMS: Collingwood vs GWS – Round 3, 2026

AFL Teams Round 3 2026: Confirmed line-ups, ins and outs

Is the writing on the wall for a Brownlow Medallist?

“On for young and old”: North Melbourne brace for fired-up Bombers

FOLLOW US