Draft Countdown: No.22
The Lions received Pick No.22 as part of Jared Polec's trade to Port Adelaide
Although the Club wasn’t able to secure another first round selection as originally desired for Polec, Pick No.22 will still prove valuable in the context of the Draft.
It will be the first of five selections for the Lions between picks 22 and 34, and could have a large bearing on how the second round of the Draft pans out.
If the Lions can land a player of similar ability to Scott Selwood – who was drafted to West Coast with Pick No.22 in 2007 – then it would be a terrific outcome.
Selwood is arguably the pick of the previous No.22’s since 1996, although Port Adelaide’s Jackson Trengove and Mitch Wallis from the Western Bulldogs look like being serious long-term players.
The Lions have twice held Pick No.22 in recent times – in 2000 and 2006.
The first occasion saw the Club recruit Richard Hadley, who went on to be part of the Lions 2003 premiership side in just his fourth senior game.
Hadley looked set for a long and successful AFL career following a breakout 2004 campaign, but was dealt an unfortunate hand with injuries which limited him to just 66 matches over a decade with both the Lions and Carlton.
Albert Proud was another who arrived at the Lions with Pick No.22; however he managed just 29 senior matches.
No.22’s since 1996
2012 – Dean Towers (SYD)
2011 – Josh Bootsma (CARL)
2010 – Mitch Wallis (WB)
2009 – Gerrick Weedon (WCE)
2008 – Jackson Trengove (PA)
2007 – Scott Selwood (WCE)
2006 – Albert Proud (BL)
2005 – Beau Muston (HAW)
2004 – Jesse Wells (WB)
2003 – Cameron Thurley (GEEL)
2002 – Matthew Ferguson (StK)
2001 – Mark Seaby (WCE)
2000 – Richard Hadley (BL)
1999 – Ezra Poyas (RICH)
1998 – James Begley (StK)
1997 – Troy Longmuir (MEL)
1996 – Alistair Nicholson (MEL)