Hawthorn will hold three live picks in Thursday night’s 2013 NAB AFL draft – selections 24, 38 and 56. hawthornfc.com.au takes a look at the history of players taken at each choice in the lead-up to the draft.

From premiership players to club best and fairest winners, historically, selection 24 in the National Draft has been successful for clubs.

Could the Hawks select the next Steve Johnson?

That’s right; Geelong’s midfield/forward dynamo was taken with selection 24 in the 2001 National Draft and gone on to play in three premierships in 215 AFL games.

Johnson won the Norm Smith Medal in 2007 after an outstanding performance in the premiership win over Port Adelaide and has been named All Australian three times – in 2007, 2008 and 2010.

He has kicked 405 goals in his illustrious career and is still considered one of the best small forwards in the game.

Despite now being 30 years of age, Johnson is showing no signs of slowing down and in many ways, continues to show improvement in the twilight of his career.

In 2013, Johnson averaged 28.7 disposals, 5.7 marks, 4.6 tackles and 1.2 goals in 19 games, with his ability to play both in the midfield and up forward adding to his strengths as a player, as well as his elite skills and freakish goal-sense.

The selection has also been successful for Adelaide, who selected now-club captain Nathan van Berlo with pick 24 in the 2004 National Draft.

A powerful midfielder, van Berlo was recruited from West Perth and made his way to the Crows where he impressed with his running capacity and professionalism.

He was named club captain in 2011, taking over from former club champion, Simon Goodwin and has played 182 career games.

van Berlo is a polished 184cm midfielder who is balanced, uses the ball well and is also capable of shutting down some of the game’s best midfielders.

He is a tackling machine that isn’t afraid to get his hands dirty and was ranked number one at his club for tackles in 2012.

Pick 24 has also been a fruitful one for Essendon who selection swingman Jake Carlisle in 2009.

Carlisle had a breakout year in 2013, where he was able to nullify some of the best forwards in the game because of his ability both in the air and below his knees.

At 200cm, Carlisle is athletic for his size and can play forward or back and used in both positions by the Bombers this year.

Former Collingwood club champion Paul Licuria was also taken at selection 24 way back in 1995.

Licuria was actually drafted by the Swans before being traded to the Pies where his value was in his ability to shut down the game’s best midfielders.

Through Collingwood’s development program, however, Licuria also added the ability to win the ball in his own right, which made him a respected and dominant member of the 2002 and 2003 Grand Final sides.

He was named the club’s best and fairest in 2001 and 2002 and played 192 career games before retiring in 2007.

Before the Cats picked up Steve Johnson with pick 24 in 2001, they selected David Wojcinski with the pick in 1998, a player that went on to also play in three premierships.

The Saints also had success, taking utility Jason Blake in 1999. Sydney Premiership player Luke Ablett was also taken with pick 24 in 2000 and 2008 Hawthorn Premiership player Brent Renouf was also taken at 24 in 2006.

History of pick 24 since 1994
Nathan Wright (St Kilda)
Henry Schade (Gold Coast)
Jamie Cripps (St Kilda/West Coast)
Jake Carlisle (Essendon)
Nic Suban (Fremantle)
Clayton Hinkley (Fremantle)
Brent Renouf (Hawthorn/Port Adelaide)
Cleve Hughes (Richmond)
Nathan van Berlo (Adelaide)
Chad Jones (North Melbourne)
Paul Johnson (West Coast/Melbourne/Hawthorn)
Steve Johnson (Geelong)
Luke Ablett (Sydney)
Jason Blake (St Kilda)
David Wojcinski (Geelong)
James Wasley (Collingwood)
Josh Wooden (West Coast)
Paul Licuria (Sydney/Collingwood)
Matthew Manfield (Fitzroy)