The build-up to the 2001 draft was like few others.
Before the first name was even called out, it was touted “the superdraft”, with a trio of Victorian gun youngsters headlining the pre-draft anticipation.
132 players were drafted in the national and rookie drafts of 2001.
16 years later, 14 of those boys have played an astounding 3,980 games, and counting.
But it is not just the sheer number of games that confirms this draft as being so “super”.
At least one of these 14 players has featured in the last 12 Grand Finals, with success being a consistent theme throughout this cohorts’ careers.
26 premiership medallions, seven Brownlow Medals, seven Norm Smith Medals and 46 All Australian honours.
All 14 of these names contributed at least 220 matches, with all leaving an indelible mark on the game.
With Luke Hodge announcing his retirement this week, we thought it was time to look back over just how successful the class of '01 has been...
Luke Hodge 299*
4× AFL premiership player 2008, 2013, 2014, 2015
2× Norm Smith Medal 2008, 2014
3× All-Australian team 2005, 2008, 2010
2× Peter Crimmins Medal 2005, 2010
Hawthorn captain 2011–2016
International Rules Series 2005, 2014, 2015
AFLPA best captain award 2014
Jim Stynes Medal 2014
AFL Rising Starnominee 2002
Hawthorn best clubman 2013
Luke Ball 223
2003 AFL Rising Starnominee
Pre-Season Premiership 2004, 2008
All-Australian Team2005
Trevor Barker Award2005
St Kildacaptain 2006–2007
Collingwood premiership player 2010
Gavin Brown Award 2010, 2011
Chris Judd 279
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)
Jimmy Bartel 305
Brownlow Medal 2007
Norm Smith Medal 2011
AFL Premiership 2007, 2009, 2011
All-Australian Team 2007, 2008
McClelland Trophy 2007, 2008
NAB Cup 2006, 2009
Nick Dal Santo 322
3× All-Australian team 2005, 2009, 2011
2× Pre Season Premiership 2004, 2008
James Kelly 306*
3× AFL Premiership: 2007, 2009, 2011
2× AFL Pre-Season Premiership: 2006, 2009
All-Australian team: 2011
AFL Rising Starnominee: 2001
Steve Johnson 286*
3× AFLpremiership player: 2007, 2009, 2011
3× All-Australian team: 2007, 2008, 2010
Norm Smith Medal: 2007
2× Geelong leading goalkicker: 2008, 2010
Sam Mitchell 321*
4× AFL premiership player 2008, 2013, 2014, 2015
Brownlow Medal 2012
5× Peter Crimmins Medal 2006, 2009, 2011, 2012, 2016
3× All-Australian team 2011, 2013, 2015
2× Lou Richards Medal 2011, 2015
J. Liston Trophy 2002
AFL Rising Star 2003
Leigh Montagna 285*
All-Australian Team2009, 2010
2003 AFL Rising Star nominee
2014 Anzac Day clash Medallist (NZ Match)
Gary Ablett Jnr 300*
2× AFL Premiership: 2007, 2009
2× Brownlow Medal: 2009, 2013
5× AFLPA MVP: 2007-2009, 2012, 2013
8× All-Australian team: 2007–2014
2× Geelong Best & Fairest: 2007, 2009
3× Gold Coast Best & Fairest: 2011–2013
2× Gold Coast leading goalkicker: 2012–2013
1x Geelong leading goalkicker: 2006
2× Marcus Ashcroft Medal: 2012, 2014
Gold Coast captain: 2011–2016
Dane Swan 258
AFL premiership player: 2010
Brownlow Medal: 2011
Copeland Trophy: 2008, 2009, 2010
Leigh Matthews Trophy: 2010
All-Australian team: 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013
Herald Sun Player of the Year: 2009, 2010
Bob Rose-Charlie Sutton Medal: 2009
AFLCA Champion Player of the Year: 2010
Lou Richards Medal: 2010
Bob Rose Trophy: 2010, 2013
International Rules: Jim Stynes Medallist2010
AFL ANZAC Medal: 2012, 2014
Joseph Wren Memorial Trophy: 2003
VFLpremiership player: 2003
Brian Lake 251
3× AFLpremierships: 2013, 2014, 2015
Norm Smith Medal: 2013
Charles Sutton Medal: 2007
All-Australian team: 2009, 2010
R23. Matthew Boyd 291*
AFL premiership player 2016
3× Charles Sutton Medal 2009, 2011, 2012
3× All-Australian team 2009, 2011, 2016
Western Bulldogscaptain 2011–2013
Pre-season premiership player: 2010
Bob Rose–Charlie Sutton Medal: 2007
Most games by a rookie drafted player
R33. Aaron Sandilands 254*
2× Doig Medallist: 2009, 2015
4× All-Australian team: 2008, 2009, 2010, 2014
Geoff Christian Medal: 2009
2× Ross Glendinning Medal: 2009 (rd. 17), 2010 (rd. 18)
AFL Rising Star nominee: 2003
Complete 2001 draft order:
1 Luke Hodge - Hawthorn
2 Luke Ball - St Kilda
3 Chris Judd - West Coast Eagles
4 Graham Polak - Fremantle
5 Xavier Clarke - St Kilda
6 Ashley Sampi - West Coast Eagles
7 David Hale - Kangaroos
8 Jimmy Bartel - Geelong
9 Luke Molan Melbourne
10 Sam Power - Western Bulldogs
11 Richard Cole - Collingwood
12 Brent Reilly - Adelaide
13 Nick Dal Santo - St Kilda
14 Ashley Watson - Kangaroos
15 Barry Brooks - Port Adelaide
16 Rick Ladson - Hawthorn
17 James Kelly - Geelong
18 Shane Harvey - Essendon
19 Jason Gram - Brisbane Lions
20 Daniel Elstone - Hawthorn
21 Matt Maguire - St Kilda
22 Mark Seaby - West Coast
23 Charlie Gardiner - Geelong
24 Steve Johnson - Geelong
25 Steven Armstrong - Melbourne
26 Aaron Rogers - Melbourne
27 Tom Davidson - Collingwood
28 Mark Powell - Sydney
29 Lewis Roberts-Thomson - Sydney
30 Rod Crowe - Kangaroos
31 Joel Reynolds - Essendon
32 Campbell Brown - Hawthorn
33 David Rodan - Richmond
34 Simon O'Keefe - Essendon
35 Jarrad Wright - Brisbane Lions
36 Sam Mitchell - Hawthorn
37 Leigh Montagna - St Kilda
38 Ashley Hansen - West Coast Eagles
39 Justin Davies - Carlton
40 Gary Ablett, Jr.- Geelong
41 Henry Playfair - Geelong
42 Kieran McGuinness - Western Bulldogs
43 Mark McGough - Collingwood
44 Ben Finnin - Adelaide
45 Nathan Clarke - Brisbane Lions
46 Jarrad Waite - Carlton
47 Andrew Welsh - Essendon
48 Simon Cox - Hawthorn
49 Josh Houlihan - St Kilda
50 Paul Salmon - Essendon
51 Pass Brisbane Lions
52 Andrew Browne - Fremantle
53 Daniel Hunt Sydney
54 Ben Robbins - Kangaroos
55 Brad Miller - Melbourne
56 Paul Medhurst - Fremantle
57 Brent Colbert - Western Bulldogs
58 Dane Swan - Collingwood
59 Jacob Schuback - Adelaide
60 Adam Schneider - Sydney
61 Mick Martyn - Kangaroos
62 Damon White - Port Adelaide
63 Adam Houlihan - Richmond
64 Daniel McAlister - Essendon
65 Pass Brisbane Lions
66 Pass Fremantle
67 Pass St Kilda
68 Chris Hyde - Richmond
69 Matthew McCarthy - Geelong
70 Pass Melbourne
71 Brian Lake (Harris) - Western Bulldogs
72 Tristen Walker - Collingwood
73 Pass Adelaide
74 Ricky Mott - Sydney
75 Sam Cranage - Carlton
76 Jared Poulton - Port Adelaide
77 Marty McGrath - Richmond
78 Pass Essendon
79 Pass St Kilda
80 Hugh Foott - Kangaroos
81 David Johnson - Geelong
82 Pass Melbourne
83 Aaron James - Western Bulldogs
