In the days leading up to the 2017 NAB AFL Draft, we'll be counting down Hawthorn's top 10 draft classes from the last 30 years, with one class revealed each day...
Hawthorn’s eight picks at the 1997 National Draft saw them spring quality players with both early and late selections.
With their highest pick since the no.1 selection in 1988, the Hawks used Pick 3 to select Dandenong Stingrays teenager Trent Croad, a key position player who would go on to not only play a key role in Hawthorn’s 2008 premiership, but also help them acquire future four-time premiership players and captains Luke Hodge and Sam Mitchell.
Croad made an immediate impact for the Hawks, playing 17 games in his debut season between attack and defence.
However, after 84 games in the brown and gold, Croad was included as part of a shock trade that saw he and teammate Luke McPharlin traded to Fremantle at the end of 2001, in exchange for Picks 1 (Luke Hodge), 20 (Daniel Elstone) and 36 (Sam Mitchell).
However, Croad would spend only two seasons with the Dockers before being traded back to the Hawks for Pick 10, winning All-Australian honours in 2005 at centre-half back, before going on to help the Hawks claim the 2008 premiership in his 222nd, and last, game.
Pick 78 was used on University Blues midfielder Richie Vandenberg who would go on to play 145 games for Hawthorn and was anointed captain ahead of the 2005 season before retiring after 2007.
The Hawks took key forward Nathan Thompson with their next pick, no. 82, at the draft, as the Kyneton product played two games in 1998 before becoming a regular fixture in the side.
Thompson was named Hawthorn’s leading goalkicker in both 2003 and 2004 and booted a total of 192 goals in 119 appearances for the Hawks, but departed the club at the end of 2004 via a trade to North Melbourne.
The Hawks second overall pick, Chris Obst, played seventeen games in four years with the club, while Pick 42, defender Matthew Dennis made five appearances across two seasons.
Rookie Glen Bowyer received a Rising Star nomination during his 35 games for the Hawks before he was delisted by the club ahead of the 2003 season after battling injury.
Hawthorn’s fifth selection, Brad Lloyd, debuted in 1998 before being delisted at the of the 1999 season after 11 games, while final pick Hayden Burgiel and rookie selection Stephen Jurica were unable to break into the Hawks’ best side.
Catch up: Hawks draft class countdown - No.5
1997 NATIONAL DRAFT
PICK 3: TRENT CROAD
PICK 19: CHRIS OBST
PICK 35: MARCUS BALDWIN – 0 games
PICK 42: MATTHEW DENNIS
PICK 67: BRAD LLOYD
PICK 78: RICHIE VANDENBERG
PICK 82: NATHAN THOMPSON
PICK 85: HAYDEN BURGIEL
ROOKIE DRAFT
PICK 2: STEPHEN JURICA
PICK 18: GLEN BOWYER
