1. Louie the Lip lives on
While Collingwood great and Hall of Fame member Lou Richards passed away earlier this year, his name will live on, with grand-nephew Ed Richards taken by the Western Bulldogs with the 16th pick. The Richards name isn't the only one to carry on, with the Brisbane Lions snapping up Toby Wooller with Pick number 41. The Oakleigh Charger is the grandson of 1963 Geelong premiership captain Fred Wooller.
2. Billy bounces to Kangaroos
It took until the penultimate pick of the draft, but former Hawk Billy Hartung was given a lifeline by North Melbourne. Hartung, most known for his brilliant running ability, played 63 games in four seasons at Hawthorn, but was not offered a new contract at the end of the past season. Hartung played 20, 18 and 18 games in the past three seasons and should get plenty of chances at the rebuilding Kangaroos.
3. A new private school king?
Under the guidance of AFL great Matthew Lloyd, all hail the new private school footy factory, Haileybury College, who produced SIX draftees from this year's crop. Midfield guns Andrew Brayshaw (two) and Luke Davies-Uniacke (four) were top-five locks, while powerhouse utility Aiden Bonar (11) narrowly missed the top-10. Oscar Clavarino went to St Kilda with Pick 35, while the school's best and fairest winner Charlie Constable went lower than expected to Geelong at Pick 36. Forward Jackson Ross made it a perfect six-pack when he got to Hawthorn with Pick 71. And Brayshaw's brother Hamish joined the party, having graduated from Haileybury last year.
4. She's apples in Tassie once again
After missing out entirely in the 2016 draft, Tasmania held its collective breath ahead of this year's edition, hoping a Tiger could make it to the AFL. And although it had to wait until the third round, Tasmania can rejoice! Fremantle took rangy young forward Hugh Dixon with Pick 44 after an excellent year for both the Tigers and the Allies.
5. Blues back to their roots
Many years ago - maybe not that many for the older folk among us - Carlton used to pluck the best players from Bendigo as part of its recruiting zone. It helped them become a powerhouse. On Friday night the Blues turned back the clock to do the same again. With Paddy Dow at Pick three and Lochie O'Brien at Pick 10, the Blues have a pair of midfielders they hope can help return them to the top of the competition. To round things off, Carlton took a third Pioneer with its final pick – Angus Schumacher at No.70.
6. Brayshaw boys heading to Perth
They might not be at the same club, but Andrew and Hamish Brayshaw have the next best thing – the same city. Younger brother Andrew was snapped up with the second pick by Fremantle, leaving all eyes in the family turning towards his older brother. Hamish had to sweat it out until Pick 68, when West Coast read his name out. Although their older brother Angus plays for Melbourne and will be thousands of kilometres away, the Brayshaw name is royalty in Perth, with the boys' grandfather Ian once taking 10/44 for WA in the Sheffield Shield.
7. Port Adelaide Demons?
Just when you thought Port Adelaide couldn't add any more recycled players to its list, up bobbed former Melbourne utility Dom Barry with Pick 61. Barry, 23, is the third ex-Demon and fifth player with AFL experience to join the Power since the 2017 season finished. Barry will reunite with former teammates Jack Watts and Jack Trengove who are now also at Alberton, along with big-name free agent recruits Tom Rockliff (Brisbane Lions) and Steven Motlop (Geelong).
8. Can Rayner roar like the last Lions No.1 pick?
The Lions have had three number one draft picks before Cameron Rayner's name got read out, with varying degrees of success. The inaugural national draft top pick was Martin Leslie in 1986 who went on to play 107 games, while 1991 number one, John Hutton, played just a handful. The club's most recent number one was Des Headland in 1998, and although the West Australian ultimately returned 'home' to play for Fremantle, he was part of the Lions' 2002 premiership, playing in a midfield alongside Michael Voss, Simon Black, Nigel Lappin and Jason Akermanis.
9. Academies still producing the goods
For all the controversy and the changing of the bidding system over their formative years, the northern states academies are still producing players for the AFL. Although none ended up at other clubs this year, five players came through the Brisbane Lions, Gold Coast and GWS academies to earn their place on a list. Key position player Connor Ballenden (Lions) was the first taken at number 43, followed by Brayden Crossley (Suns, 52), Jack Payne (Lions, 54), Connor Nutting (Suns, 55), and GWS's first western Sydney product, Campbelltown's Nic Shipley at 65.
10. Are the Hawks playing games again?
Last year Hawthorn drafted youngster Mitchell Lewis just weeks after trading club legends Sam Mitchell and Jordan Lewis. This time around, the intrigue surrounds premiership skipper Luke Hodge. The Hawks used one of the picks (45) they acquired for trading Hodge to the Brisbane Lions on selecting rugged Geelong Falcon James Worpel. Where did Hodge play his junior footy? You guessed it, with the Falcons. Some have even likened Worpel's hard-at-it style (and in style alone) to Hodge's no-nonsense attitude.
