2017 Redraft: Who goes Pick 1?

With the draft only a matter of weeks away, the attention turns to how clubs have fared in recent drafts, with 2017 being a forgettable year for Carlton and St Kilda.

2017 produced premiership superstars and All-Australians but also included several misses in the top 10.

The redraft highlights the immense talent of the top end but also shows that the 2017 Draft featured many solid players who wouldn’t be considered the competition’s best against other draft classes.

2017 Original Draft

1 - Cam Rayner (Brisbane)
2 - Andrew Brayshaw (Fremantle)
3 - Paddy Dow (Carlton)

Dow was traded to St Kilda at the end of 2023, having managed 73 games at the Blues. The former Pick 3 would add 10 more games at the Saints before a series of injuries and inability to make it into the senior side saw him delisted at the end of 2026.

4 - Luke Davies-Uniacke (North Melbourne)
5 - Adam Cerra (Fremantle)

A reliable midfielder who played 76 games for the Dockers before being traded to the Blues at the end of 2021. Averaging 20 disposals per game across his career, Cerra is by no means a massive miss at Pick 5, but has been passed by some of his 2017 draft mates.

6 - Jaidyn Stephenson (Collingwood)

Stephenson started his career with a bang at the Pies, kicking a memorable 65 metre torpedo for goal. However, off-field issues and a form slump saw him move to North Melbourne at the end of 2020. Delisted at the end of 2024, the 122-gamer trained with Port Adelaide earlier this year but missed out on a spot.

7 - Hunter Clark (St Kilda)

Clark has shown glimpses at St Kilda but has struggled with injury and form across his 118 games. Out-of-contract at the end of 2027, Clark will be looking to get through pre-season unscathed and cement his spot at the Saints.

8 - Nick Coffield (St Kilda)

The hype was real when it came to Nick Coffield but the defender suffered a cruel run with knee injuries which saw him go without a game at the seniors level from 2022-2024. The Dogs picked up Coffield at the end of 2023 but was delisted at the end of this year having played 77 games in his career.

9 - Aaron Naughton (Western Bulldogs)
10 - Lochie O’Brien (Carlton)

O’Brien played 66 games for the Blues before being delisted despite having a year to run on his contract at the end of 2023.

2017 Re-Draft

1 - Andrew Brayshaw (Brisbane)

One of the most reliable midfielders and heart-and-soul players of the Dockers. Brayshaw’s most decorated year came in 2022 when he won the AFLPA MVP, Doig Medal and was an All-Australian. Perhaps unlucky to miss out in recent years on further All-Australian nods, Brayshaw has racked up 122 Brownlow votes in his 197 games. The Dockers got bang for buck when they picked Brayshaw at two in 2017.

2 - Zac Bailey (Fremantle)

The Lions took Bailey at Pick 15 in 2017, but Bailey is one of the competition’s biggest stars in 2026. A three-time premiership player and All-Australian in 2025 and 2026, Bailey has had a decorated 192 games. A proven match-winner and x-factor that saw him sign a massive contract this year with Brisbane, turning his back on free agency.

3 - Ed Richards (Carlton)

Richards was taken the next pick after Bailey, with the Bulldogs swooping on the talented midfielder. Richards has established himself as the partner in crime to Marcus Bontempelli in recent years, with a best-and-fairest and All-Australian year in 2025. Carlton would have loved to get Richards at Pick 3 if they had their time again.

4 - Sam Taylor (North Melbourne)

Originally taken at Pick 28, a fine piece of recruiting from the Giants saw Taylor make his mark in western Sydney. Widely regarded as one of the best intercepting defenders in the competition, Taylor is a two-time All-Australian and won the GWS best-and-fairest in 2022. Imagine how much North Melbourne would love to have him now.

5 - Cam Rayner (Fremantle)

The original Pick 1 in 2017, Rayner has had a decorated career with some massive highlights. His ability to break games open has seen him recognised as one of the most dangerous players in the competition. A three-time premiership player, Rayner has been criticised for going missing at times, but has proven that he is very much still a top 10 player in this draft.

6 - Luke Davies-Uniacke (Collingwood)

‘LDU’ was originally Pick 4 and only slides back two places. Davies-Uniacke was the unofficial first pick of the rebuild at North Melbourne after club legends had left in the previous year. He’s had to toil hard and has endured five coaches across his 153 games. LDU won the Roos’ best-and-fairest in 2024 and featured in the All-Australian squad in 2026.

7 - Dylan Moore (St Kilda)

Moore was a late pick in 2017, with the Hawks taking him at Pick 67. However, Moore has turned himself into a damaging forward pocket player who can also pinch-hit in the midfield. A breakout year in 2023 saw Moore recognised with an All-Australian blazer. 157 goals across 150 games has seen him finish in the top three of the Hawks’ best-and-fairest three times.

8 - Aaron Naughton (St Kilda)

Naughton has kicked 337 goals across his 190 game career so far and finds himself up one position in the redraft. The Dogs’ leading goalkicker in 2023, 2025 and 2026, Naughton is one of Luke Beveridge’s most important players. Maligned by some for not reaching his full potential, Naughton silenced many of his critics with a strong vein of form over the last couple of years.

9 - Tom de Koning (Western Bulldogs)

The Blues saw big potential in de Koning when they took him at Pick 30 in 2017. After taking a while to get going, de Koning’s breakout year came in 2024 when he announced himself as an elite ruck-midfielder. Genuine ruck options are hard to come by in these drafts, so de Koning finds himself in the top 10. The Saints will be hoping he takes the next step in his development next year to cement himself as one of the competition’s premier rucks.

10 - Gryan Miers (Carlton)

A 2022 premiership player at Geelong, Miers was originally drafted with Pick 57. A silky ball user who slotted into the Chris Scott game plan masterfully, Miers is one of the more damaging players by foot.

Bayley Fritsch, Liam Baker, Brody Mihocek and Tim Kelly are honourable mentions in this redraft. All have had major career highlights and find themselves on the fringes of the top 10.

The 2026 National Draft will take place across November 19 and November 20 with the next crop of superstars set to make their mark.