#1: Paul Puopolo
The stats
Draft: Round 4 Pick #66, 2010
Position: Forward
AFL games: 133* (2011 – present)
Goals: 132
Premierships: 3 (2013,2014,2015)
Review
Recruited with pick #66 in the 2010 National Draft, Paul Puopolo finishes on top at #1 of our Top 10 Draft Bargains.
Recruited from Norwood Football Club in South Australia, Puopolo moved to Melbourne and made his debut for the Hawks in Round 7 against Port Adelaide in 2011.
Securing nine kicks, six handballs and two tackles in his AFL opener, Puopolo’s solid performance saw the new Hawk play 19 remaining games in 2011 and additionally make selection for finals that season.
It came as no surprise later that year when Puopolo was awarded the club’s Best First Year player for his stellar debut season.
He has continued to exert supreme tackling pressure and speed across the field, consequently making him an inclusion for all of Hawthorn’s premiership teams across 2013 – 2015.
Puopolo has developed into one of Hawthorn’s most versatile players, able to execute precision and apply pressure across all areas of the ground.
He finished 2016 with 100 tackles, a career-high best of 34 goals, and three separate AFL Mark of the Year nominations.
Is there anything Poppy can’t do?
Top 10 Countdown:
#10: Simon Taylor
#9: Kris Barlow
#8: Shane Savage
#7: Jade Rawlings
#6: Rayden Tallis
#5: Nathan Thompson
#4: Ben Dixon
#3: Richie Vandenberg
#2: Taylor Duryea
