One Pick From A Premiership: Essendon Bombers
Nothing went wrong with season 1993 for the Bombers, except the draft. Robert Stevenson, Scott Mollard and Julian Kirzner were the players the Bombers selected and they did not do a lot. A better draft in 1993 and the Bombers would not have had the big drop-off they endured in 1994, and they could have been back in a Grand Final for 1995 or 1996.
The Bombers first draft pick in 1993 was number 19, their last pick was number 36. Mark Stevens and Paul Barnard went to other teams between those picks, Stevens would win with the Crows while Barnard would get to Essendon later in his career and play in the 2000 win. But even after pick 36 there was value in the draft, and 10 picks after Essendon took Kirzner, North Melbourne drafted David King.
King was a star in the VFA for Port Melbourne and stepped right into the Kangaroos side the year after he was drafted. Essendon needed someone to replace Grenvold and Thompson at half back and King would have been perfect. King would play in three Grand Finals for the Kangaroos.
Essendon, throughout the history of the AFL drafts, have been one of the better teams at identifying prospects. They usually find a star in most drafts but 1993 was one that they failed in. If they had found that extra star player it could have kept them up the top of the AFL and the 1993 win could have been the start of a run of Grand Finals during that time.
Tomorrow: Fremantle Dockers
The Bombers first draft pick in 1993 was number 19, their last pick was number 36. Mark Stevens and Paul Barnard went to other teams between those picks, Stevens would win with the Crows while Barnard would get to Essendon later in his career and play in the 2000 win. But even after pick 36 there was value in the draft, and 10 picks after Essendon took Kirzner, North Melbourne drafted David King.
King was a star in the VFA for Port Melbourne and stepped right into the Kangaroos side the year after he was drafted. Essendon needed someone to replace Grenvold and Thompson at half back and King would have been perfect. King would play in three Grand Finals for the Kangaroos.
Essendon, throughout the history of the AFL drafts, have been one of the better teams at identifying prospects. They usually find a star in most drafts but 1993 was one that they failed in. If they had found that extra star player it could have kept them up the top of the AFL and the 1993 win could have been the start of a run of Grand Finals during that time.
Tomorrow: Fremantle Dockers
