As this year’s 2016 National Draft looms, lions.com.au takes a look at some of the all-time best pick #3’s.
Chris Judd, 2001, West Coast
After captaining Vic Metro in 2001, Chris Judd was expected to go high in the draft – and he did, taken at pick three to the West Coast Eagles.
Judd would become part of one of the all-time great midfields, with Ben Cousins, Daniel Kerr and Dean Cox in the ruck.
In 2004, Judd blew away the competition in the Brownlow, finishing seven points clear of runner-up Mark Ricciuto. He was pivotal in driving West Coast to two straight grand finals - he won the Norm Smith in a four-point loss to Sydney in 2005, and claimed revenge over the Swans a year later as a premiership captain.
He sought a trade back to Victoria at the end of 2007, and arrived at Carlton where he went on to become only the fourth player to win a Brownlow at two clubs when he took home ‘Charlie’ in 2010. Injury cut short his career, but Judd remains one of the all-time football greats.
Chris Judd Files:
- 2002-2007 West Coast Eagles – 134 (138 goals)
- 2008-2015 Carlton – 145 (90)
- AFL premiership player: (2006)
- 2× Brownlow Medal: (2004, 2010)
- Norm Smith Medal: (2005)
- West Coast captain: (2006–2007)
- Carlton captain: (2008–2013)
- 2× Leigh Matthews Trophy: (2006, 2011)
- 6× All-Australian team: (2004, 2006, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011)
- 2× West Coast Club Champion: (2004, 2006)
- 3× John Nicholls Medal: (2008, 2009, 2010)
- 3× Ross Glendinning Medal: (2005, 2005, 2006)
- AFL Rising Star: (nomination 2002)
- AFLPA Best First Year Player Award: (2002)
- Geoff Christian Medal: (2006)
- AFL Goal of the Year (2005)
- Madden Medal: (2015)
- AFL Life Member: (2015)
Alan Didak, 2000, Collingwood
Alan Didak played 218 games for Collingwood between 2001-2013.
The pick 3 of the 2000 National Draft was known as a football showman, the man the fans dubbed ‘Dids’ was sublimely skilled, with a raking left foot, deadly in its accuracy and dynamic in its impact.
Alan Didak Files:
- 2001–2013 Collingwood – 218 (274)
- Collingwood premiership player 2010
- Copeland Trophy 2006
- All-Australian Team 2006, 2010
- Collingwood leading goal kicker 2010
Dustin Martin, 2009, Richmond
Dustin Martin was drafted to Richmond with the third overall pick in the 2009 AFL Draft.
He debuted in the season's opening match of the following year, a 56 point Richmond loss against traditional rivals Carlton.
2016 was arguably Martin’s best season to date. His elite kicking, ability to see his way through traffic and hit a target by foot is incredible, as is his work at stoppages.
Dustin Martin Files:
- 2010- Richmond – 153 (150)
- Jack Dyer Medal: 2016
- All-Australian team: 2016
- Yiooken Award: 2016
- 2× 22under22 team: 2012, 2013
- AFL Rising Star nominee: 2010
Other notable #3 picks:
- 1987, Graham Wright, Collingwood – 201 games
- 1994, Shannon Grant, Sydney and North Melbourne – 301 games
- 1997, Trent Croad, Hawthorn and Fremantle – 222 games
- 1998, Nick Fosdike, Sydney – 164 games
- 2004, Ryan Griffen, Western Bulldogs/ GWS
- 2007, Chris Masten, West Coast Eagles
- 2008, Stephen Hill, Fremantle
