1 - The Champion Data pre-draft ranking given to PM CAPITAL GIANTS Academy member Jacob Hopper. Hopper had an exceptional Under 18 National Championships, averaging 27 disposals, nine clearances, six inside-50s and one goal per match. There’s every chance this talent from Leeton will be on the GIANTS list next season. Stay tuned.
4 - Number of top 10 picks originating from NSW over the last 30 years. The four players were Jarrad McVeigh (pick 5, 2002), Mark McVeigh (pick 9, 1998), David Trotter (pick 9, 2003) and John Brinkkotter (pick 10, 1986). Amazingly there are three NSW-based players who could all demand top 10 picks this year. Those northern academies must be working.
5 - More sleeps until the NAB AFL Draft takes place at the Adelaide Convention Centre in the City of Churches.
8 - Amount of PM CAPITAL GIANTS Academy draft eligible players. The list includes; Jock Cornell (Mangoplah), Nicholas Coughlan (Albury Tigers), Matthew Flynn (Narrandera), Harrison Himmelberg (Mangoplah), Jacob Hopper (North Ballarat Rebels), Jack Irvine (Temora), Matthew Kennedy (Collingullie) and Lachlan Tiziani (Albury).
10 - Our first live pick in the 2015 NAB AFL Draft. The GIANTS currently hold picks 10, 34, 43, 53, 55, 58, 63, 64, 65, 70, 95, 102 which can be used to select players or to amass points which can match a rival club bid on an academy player.
14 - To coin an old bingo-term, this is the GIANTS’ lucky lawnmower number. Pick 14 has netted the club three quality players at the draft over the last few years including Devon Smith (2011), Aidan Corr (2012) and Cam McCarthy (2013). If you’re wondering why number 14 is referred to as ‘lawnmower’ in bingo it’s because the original lawnmower had a 14-inch blade. Go figure. We learn something new every day.
19 - The number of former first-round draftees still on the GIANTS’ playing list. Not a bad bunch even if we do say so ourselves. Here’s all our past first-rounders (in ascending jumper order) - Phil Davis (pick 10), Stephen Coniglio (pick 2), Toby Greene (pick 11), Lachie Whitfield (pick 1), Rhys Palmer (pick 7), Tom Scully (pick 1), Devon Smith (pick 14), Jon Patton (pick 1), Paul Ahern (pick 7), Nick Haynes (pick 7), Adam Tomlinson (pick 9), Matt Buntine (pick 5), Josh Kelly (pick 2), Cam McCarthy (pick 14), Jarrod Pickett (pick 4), Ryan Griffen (pick 3), Will Hoskin-Elliott (pick 4), Caleb Marchbank (pick 6) and Aidan Corr (pick 14).
53 - The current age of the first ever player picked in the national draft. Martin Leslie was selected by the then Brisbane Bears with the first pick back in 1986.
97 - Our highest national draft pick ever used on a player. Back in 2013 the GIANTS grabbed PM CAPITAL GIANTS Academy member Jake Barrett with pick 97 as a NSW-ACT Priority Zone Selection. Since then the rules have changed slightly.
544 - The amount of draft points added by the GIANTS during the 2015 Trade Period. For the first time this year, clubs will need to match rival bids at the draft for academy and father-son selections. Each pick in the draft is assigned a point value which decreases on a sliding scale as the draft progresses. Pick 1 is worth a maximum of 3000 points while pick 73 is worth just 9 points. The GIANTS went into the trade period with selections 8, 27, 45, 63, 81, 99 and 117 which is worth a total of 2713 points. The GIANTS finished the trade period with selections 10, 34, 43, 53, 55, 58, 63, 64, 65, 70, 95, 102 which equals 3276 points. Hence the increase of 544. Don’t worry if none of this points stuff makes sense - we’ll release a comprehensive guide to help you understand next week.
Our Lucky 'Lawnmower' Pick
Wondering what our lucky lawnmower pick is? All revealed in our weird and wacky statistical look at the 2015 NAB AFL Draft.