MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - MARCH 31: Tom Phillips of the Magpies in action during the 2018 AFL round 02 match between the Collingwood Magpies and the GWS Giants at the Melbourne Cricket Ground on March 31, 2018 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Adam Trafford/AFL Media/Getty Images)
Hindsight, in all it's gloriousness, is 20/20.
In seasons gone by, hits, steals and misses on AFL draft night has oft been a topic of discussion. While the early first round picks get all the fame and glory, others slide under the radar and are forced to wait idly by to hear their name read out on draft night.
Let's look into players league-wide who were chosen with later draft picks, who have turned out to be bargain pickups.
Aliir Aliir (Sydney) pick 44
The Kenyan-born Aliir has broken into the Swans' best 22 this season as one of their most impactful players.
Aliir not only stops his man, he is capable of taking impressive contested marks under pressure and rebounds with lightning pace. Extremely poised and underrated disposal too.
Ben Brown (North Melbourne) - pick 47
North Melbourne's Coleman medal leading forward was unbelievably overlooked for three seperate drafts before arriving at an AFL club. Prior to being drafted in 2013, Brown represented home state Tasmania in the 2010 Under 18 National Championships.
His journey to the draft took a horrific turn when he tore his anterior cruciate ligament which resulted in the key forward being passed up as a potential draftee. It was a long road to recovery, plagued with groin injuries, but Brown returned to Glenorchy in 2012.
Shifting back into the limelight, Brown moved to Melbourne in 2013 where he played for Werribee in the VFL. Catching the eye of a handful of clubs later in the year, North Melbourne selected him with their pick 47 in the National Draft.
James Sicily (Hawthorn) - pick 56
The 2016 rising star nominee saw good form with club Western Jets, so the question still remains as to why he slid so far down the pecking order. The colourful Sicily plays his game on a razor's edge, but a slide down the draft order suited the Hawthorn Hawks to a tee.
To date, the defender-turn-forward-turn-defender again has slotted seamlessly into the Hawks side and has found his calling as a core member of their defense. Highly touted for his smart reading of play, and even smarter decision making, the 2013 pick 56 is a fast emerging competition star whose name always surfaces among the tabloids.
Harris Andrews (Brisbane Lions) - pick 61
In his 73 games with the Brisbane Lions, Vice-Captain Andrews has displayed all the signs and signals of a competition star. His Athleticism, hunger, and ability to intercept mark and react accordingly are second to none. These traits led the young star to be among discussions for All-Australian honours, that is prior to injuries sustained at the season's half way mark. The young leader was nominated by Brisbane as an Academy Selection in 2014 Academy and Father-Son bidding, resulting in the club selecting him with their pick 61 overall.
Caleb Daniel (Pick 46, Western Bulldogs, 2014)
A member of the Western Bulldogs' Grand Final winning side in 2016, the 168cm tall South Australian native put his elite endurance on show in the NAB AFL Draft Combine, recording top honours in the beep test and scoring 25/30 in the clean hands test.
Daniel played 10 games in his debut 2015 season, and 24 games in season 2016. The midfield dynamo finished runner-up in the NAB AFL Rising Star award to Sydney's Callum Mills. We would have to presume the reason why Daniel was a draft slider was that for a contested ball winner, he has a distinct lack of size and was projected to struggle making it at the top level. To his credit, the crafty playmaker has managed to hold his own and compete with the bigger bodies.
Ed Langdon (Fremantle) - pick 54
The younger brother of Collingwood's Tom Langdon, Ed has progressivley gotten better and better every season.
But 2018 is when the 22-year old has really gone to another level, averaging 21.6 disposals and 5.3 marks, the former ranking fifth at the Dockers.
Blake Hardwick (Hawthorn) - pick 44
Originally joining the Hawks as a forward, Hardwick blossomed last season as a rebounding defender that shut down the opposition's best forward, including 85% kicking efficiency.
He has carried on that form into season 2018 and it is young Hawks like Hardwick that will ensure the club maintains its success.
Tom Phillips (Collingwood) - pick 58
Making his debut for the Pies in late 2016, you could tell straight away that this bloke was a gem.
Blessed with tremendous aerobic capacity, Phillips has taken his game to another level in 2018. His emergence, amongst a host of other young Magpies, is key reason for the club's return to prevalence this season. The wingman is averaging 26.6 disposals per game in 2018.
Tom Stewart (Geelong) - pick 40
A genuine surprised packet for the Cats in both 2017 and 2018, the first two years for this mature aged recruit have been phenomenal. Unearthed by assistant coach and legendary club defender Matthew Scarlett at South Barwon, where Stewart played in two premierships, and slotted into the Cats' backline as a general. His size lends itself to great versatility, allowing him to play on all sizes. 2017 saw the first year Cat win the Club's best young player award, and saw him place 5th in the club's best and fairest.
Jack Graham (Richmond) - pick 53
Powerfully built inside midfielder Graham grinded his way back from a serious injury and the disturbance of having the second-biggest draftee free fall in a decade by a Larke Medallist - an award given to the best division one player at the under-18 championships. A product of SANFL club North Adelaide, he slipped to 53 in the national draft after eight of the previous 10 Larke Medallists had been selected in the top four.
Graham, a natural leader on and off the field, was frustrated, but knew that the waiting game was all just formality of the process.
“It was pretty frustrating and a bit disappointing at the time but you just never know with the draft"
“My draft number never gets mentioned at Richmond. I’m just a Richmond player who is motivated to help our team get a result each week.’’
James Worpel (Hawthorn) - pick 45
The hard-bodied inside midfielder hailing from the Geelong Falcons, Worpel was drafted with Hawthorn's first selection. He was considered by draft experts, media personnel and coaching staff alike as a potential slider, but no one would have picked such a late taking.
Having captained the Geelong Falcons to a premiership in last year's TAC cup competition, and also co-captain of Vic Country in the National Championships. A natural leader, he was among the most consistent ball-winners in 2017 as well, finding the ball an average of 21.4 times, along with 10.6 contested possessions. Worpel will no doubt become an integral part of the Hawks' core heading into future seasons, as a pick that the side certainly won't be ruing.
Zac Langdon (GSW) - pick 56
Following the loss of their best 2017 pressure forward, Devon Smith, a gaping hole was left in the Giants team.
Their ability to pressure defenders and force forward-half turnovers was a concern coming into the season. But this bloke has filled that role and then some. Langdon has been a great story this year as one of the best attacking spark plugs in the league, providing some serious X-factor in key moments.