PHILLIP Smith was the most recent player Hawthorn selected at pick No.88, its first selection in the 2016 NAB AFL Draft.
No team has ever had a first pick so late in the NAB AFL Draft, so Hawthorn breaks new ground this draft with its radical off-season.
But it's not a pick the club is unfamiliar with, having used it three times since 1986, the Western Bulldogs the only other club to make three selections so late.
Smith was plucked from West Perth in the 1996 NAB AFL Draft with the late selection, arriving to play one pre-season match in 1997 and ending up playing 37 reserves games for the Hawks.
His short time at the club ended after two seasons without senior selection despite the left-footer impressing everyone at the club with his attitude and work rate.
The Hawks did not get a senior game out of Aidan Bussell (No.88 in 1991) or Tim Leng (No.88 in 1989) so they will be hoping to strike oil this time with its prized first selection gained for trading four-time premiership and five-time best and fairest winner Sam Mitchell.
The best player to be selected at No.88 was Troy Bond, who played 36 games with Carlton after being picked in 1992 before going back to Adelaide where he played 58 games and was part of the Crows 1997 premiership team.
The most recent pick 88 used was when Essendon chose Sean Gregory in 2012. The lightly framed key defender from the Calder Cannons did not play a senior game.
Gold Coast added Alex Sexton as a local talent selection with pick No.88 and he is carving out a handy career with the Suns, while Zeph Skinner had one of the best names in football when playing with the Western Bulldogs where he played eight games.
The only other player to play AFL after being taken at that selection was North Melbourne's Justin Staritski who played 25 games for the Kangaroos before joining Collingwood where he played just one more time.
Of course the Hawks may use the pick to elevate a rookie, and after bids the selection number may change too, but between now and draft night it's eyeing off 88.
Either way, good luck Graham Wright.
PICK 88, C'MON ON DOWN
2012 Sean Gregory (Essendon) 0 games
2011 Alex Sexton (Gold Coast (LT)) 55 games*
2010 Zephaniah Skinner (Western Bulldogs) 8 games
2009 Wade Thompson (Port Adelaide) rookie elevation 2 games
1999 Michael W. Clark (Fremantle/Collingwood) 1 game
1996 Phillip Smith (Hawthorn) 0 games
1994 Nathon Irvin (Western Bulldogs) played 1 game with Sydney Swans
1992 Troy Bond (Carlton) 36 games (Adelaide) 58 games
1991 Aidan Bussell (Hawthorn) 0 games
1990 Peter Jacks (Western Bulldogs) 0 games
1989 Tim Leng (Hawthorn) 0 games
1988 Justin Staritski (North Melbourne) 25 games (Collingwood) 1
*Still playing
