One Pick From A Premiership: Melbourne Demons
Melbourne did reach the AFL Grand Final in 2000 and in 1988, but they would prefer to not remember the results of those games. Maybe a player could have been drafted by Melbourne that would have helped them in those Grand Finals.
Melbourne did very good in the first drafts in 1986 and 1987. They drafted the Febeys, Anthony Lovell, Andrew Obst and Stephen Tingay. That was a great success compared to many other teams who were unable to find players in the early drafts. Dunstall kicked more goals than the entire Melbourne side in the 1988 Grand Final, and nobody in the 1986 or 1987 draft would have been able to help Melbourne enough that day to change the result. So the Demons fans can't blame the drafts for Melbourne's performance in that game.
The 2000 Grand Final was not a good day for Melbourne, although not as bad as 1988, but the drafting of players was also good leading up to that year. Melbourne had drafted Anthony McDonald at pick 59 and selected Guy Rigoni at number 77 in another draft so they were finding players even with late picks. 1997 was a busy time for trading and while they could have done a bit better, the return of White and Johnstone was a solid result for their two early picks.
Maybe something could have been done a few years earlier that would have provided Melbourne with some extra firepower for season 2000 and the 1993 draft was one that Melbourne could have done better in. The Demons drafted Trent Ormond-Allen, Brad Hall and Michael Prentice and also traded their last pick for Paul Ridley. Only Ormond-Allen would ever play for Melbourne, although his total was only 8 games and he would be traded to Adelaide for pick 83 in the 1996 draft.
So pick 10 in 1993 was Ormond-Allen, Brad Johnson went to the Bulldogs at pick 11, while Chris Scott was drafted by Brisbane at pick 12. Johnson on the Demons could have been the goalkicking midfielder that took Melbourne to the next level. Yze, Woewodin, Anthony McDonald, Leoncelli and Johnstone were very successful in 2000 but not in the Grand Final. Brad Johnson would have had to have played one of the best Grand Finals ever to change the 2000 result, when Essendon had twice as many scoring shots in the 135 to 75 victory, but his inclusion would have made some sort of a positive impact.
While Melbourne would probably want Johnson, Chris Scott would also have been a much better draft pick for them at number 10 than Ormond-Allen. Scott playing on Hird in the 2000 game would have been a much better matchup for Melbourne than the players the Demons tried that day with no success.
The Demons have played in two Grand Finals during the years after the draft was introduced to the AFL, both of their Grand Final sides included many players that the Demons had successfully drafted but they were still a star or two short. Maybe Brad Johnson would have made some difference in 2000, maybe he wouldn't have, but it would have been a much better Demons side if they had drafted a star in 1993.
Tomorrow: Port Adelaide Power
Melbourne did very good in the first drafts in 1986 and 1987. They drafted the Febeys, Anthony Lovell, Andrew Obst and Stephen Tingay. That was a great success compared to many other teams who were unable to find players in the early drafts. Dunstall kicked more goals than the entire Melbourne side in the 1988 Grand Final, and nobody in the 1986 or 1987 draft would have been able to help Melbourne enough that day to change the result. So the Demons fans can't blame the drafts for Melbourne's performance in that game.
The 2000 Grand Final was not a good day for Melbourne, although not as bad as 1988, but the drafting of players was also good leading up to that year. Melbourne had drafted Anthony McDonald at pick 59 and selected Guy Rigoni at number 77 in another draft so they were finding players even with late picks. 1997 was a busy time for trading and while they could have done a bit better, the return of White and Johnstone was a solid result for their two early picks.
Maybe something could have been done a few years earlier that would have provided Melbourne with some extra firepower for season 2000 and the 1993 draft was one that Melbourne could have done better in. The Demons drafted Trent Ormond-Allen, Brad Hall and Michael Prentice and also traded their last pick for Paul Ridley. Only Ormond-Allen would ever play for Melbourne, although his total was only 8 games and he would be traded to Adelaide for pick 83 in the 1996 draft.
So pick 10 in 1993 was Ormond-Allen, Brad Johnson went to the Bulldogs at pick 11, while Chris Scott was drafted by Brisbane at pick 12. Johnson on the Demons could have been the goalkicking midfielder that took Melbourne to the next level. Yze, Woewodin, Anthony McDonald, Leoncelli and Johnstone were very successful in 2000 but not in the Grand Final. Brad Johnson would have had to have played one of the best Grand Finals ever to change the 2000 result, when Essendon had twice as many scoring shots in the 135 to 75 victory, but his inclusion would have made some sort of a positive impact.
While Melbourne would probably want Johnson, Chris Scott would also have been a much better draft pick for them at number 10 than Ormond-Allen. Scott playing on Hird in the 2000 game would have been a much better matchup for Melbourne than the players the Demons tried that day with no success.
The Demons have played in two Grand Finals during the years after the draft was introduced to the AFL, both of their Grand Final sides included many players that the Demons had successfully drafted but they were still a star or two short. Maybe Brad Johnson would have made some difference in 2000, maybe he wouldn't have, but it would have been a much better Demons side if they had drafted a star in 1993.
Tomorrow: Port Adelaide Power
