As the GIANTS prepare for the club’s ninth draft, they are confronted with something completely different.

Currently holding six selections in this month’s 2019 NAB AFL Draft (picks 6, 40, 59, 60, 80 and 94) the GIANTS have only ever used one of those picks to select a player before. 

While the GIANTS have passed on picks 80 and 94 in previous drafts (2014 and 2011 respectively), they’ve only selected a player with pick six once.

The GIANTS used the sixth pick in the 2014 NAB AFL Draft to select key defender Caleb Marchbank. 

The now 22-year-old played seven games for the GIANTS before being traded to Carlton for picks 45, 58 and Carlton’s 2017 second round pick.

Picks 45 and 58 helped the GIANTS match bids for Academy graduates Harry Perryman and Isaac Cumming in the 2016 Draft.

The GIANTS have never held picks 40, 59 or 60 at any National Draft. 

That shouldn’t worry GIANTS fans though as the GIANTS have selected some winners in the vicinity of those picks.

The GIANTS used pick 41 to draft Academy ruck Matt Flynn in 2015 and in 2016 used pick 58 to select Matt de Boer who is now one of the competition’s best taggers and part of the GIANTS’ leadership group. 

2017 saw the GIANTS nab small forward Zac Langdon (who has since played 24 games) with pick 56 and Academy midfielder Nick Shipley (two games) with pick 64.

Pick 61 saw the GIANTS recruit key defender Connor Idun who last month won the GIANTS’ NEAFL Development Award and made his AFL debut in the round 20 Sydney Derby win.

The GIANTS still have time to further strengthen their draft hand with clubs able to trade selections until November 21, while Live Trading on draft night giving all clubs the opportunity to move higher in the draft order at Marvel Stadium on November 27 and 28.