One Pick From A Premiership: Port Adelaide Power
The Power won in 2004 but they could have won a lot more, in the preceding years when Brisbane had their streak the Power finished in 5th spot in 2001, followed by a 3rd and a 4th in the next two seasons. They were one or two players short, and a better draft pick during their early years might have been enough for the Power to compete in multiple AFL Grand Finals.
The 1999 AFL draft was not a good one for the Power. They drafted Koulouriotis at 12, Ackland at 27, Guerra at 28, Steven Brosnan at 57 and then passed on using pick 71. They all had a very short career with the Power. It would not have been hard for the Power to do better in 1999, just taking the very next player who was drafted after their picks would have greatly improved the team.
Robert Murphy was selected with the pick right after Koulouriotis. The Power couldn't take Jonathan Brown at pick 30, but other picks right after Ackland and Guerra were Adam Hunter at pick 29 and Paul Chapman at 31. Pick 57 didn't do a lot for the Power, but pick 58 was Patrick Bowden. While the Power passed on selection number 71, the Kangaroos drafted both Matthew Burton and Troy Makepeace with later picks than that.
Chapman might have been the best option for Port in 2001, 2002 and 2003 from the list of players above. His hardness in the midfield, his ability to go forward and kick a goal, the Power would have been improved if they had him.
The 2004 Premiership did have a couple of good players who were acquired in 1999, Brett Montgomery and Matthew Bishop were traded to Port Adelaide at that time. But when the 1999 draft came around the Power didn't get anyone that helped them. A better player or two from that draft and the Power might have made it to more than one AFL Grand Final.
Tomorrow: Richmond Tigers
The 1999 AFL draft was not a good one for the Power. They drafted Koulouriotis at 12, Ackland at 27, Guerra at 28, Steven Brosnan at 57 and then passed on using pick 71. They all had a very short career with the Power. It would not have been hard for the Power to do better in 1999, just taking the very next player who was drafted after their picks would have greatly improved the team.
Robert Murphy was selected with the pick right after Koulouriotis. The Power couldn't take Jonathan Brown at pick 30, but other picks right after Ackland and Guerra were Adam Hunter at pick 29 and Paul Chapman at 31. Pick 57 didn't do a lot for the Power, but pick 58 was Patrick Bowden. While the Power passed on selection number 71, the Kangaroos drafted both Matthew Burton and Troy Makepeace with later picks than that.
Chapman might have been the best option for Port in 2001, 2002 and 2003 from the list of players above. His hardness in the midfield, his ability to go forward and kick a goal, the Power would have been improved if they had him.
The 2004 Premiership did have a couple of good players who were acquired in 1999, Brett Montgomery and Matthew Bishop were traded to Port Adelaide at that time. But when the 1999 draft came around the Power didn't get anyone that helped them. A better player or two from that draft and the Power might have made it to more than one AFL Grand Final.
Tomorrow: Richmond Tigers
