Recent AFL Draft Busts
There are a lot of definitions for a draft bust, it can be a top 20 pick who never plays a game, a top 5 pick who does not turn into a star or a top overall pick that does not become a dominant player in the AFL. Often a player can look worse due to the players who went after them in the draft. Following is a list of players who were taken high in the draft, their teams put a lot of effort and time into developing them but the players never became the stars that the teams expected them to be. All these players at one time were hyped as future greats, but as of right now they are draft busts.
Richard Tambling, pick 4 for Richmond in 2004.
Lance Franklin could be the most talented player in the AFL, Tambling went the pick before him. Tambling has yet to find a role at Richmond, they haven't figured out if he is a midfielder or a forward, or neither. Tambling is one of the most skilled players on this list but he went at pick 4 and hasn't really done anything. There is still time for him but Richmond may not be the right place.
Jordan Russell, pick 9 for Carlton in 2004.
Carlton picked Chris Bryan at number 73 and Russell at pick 9 and they are both useful players in the VFL. But Bryan was the third last pick of the draft while Russell was a first rounder. Russell is a draft bust and the only way this changes is if he moves to a new team.
Jared Brennan, pick 3 by Brisbane in 2002.
Easily the most athletic player on this list, and that was why the Lions picked him. He is tall and he can run and jump, but Brisbane have yet to find out if he can play football. They have tried him at most spots but nothing has clicked yet. Next year could be his last chance there and the departure of Mal Michael could save Brennan's career. Maybe they can turn him into a fullback, he has all the tools for that. If they can't find a spot for him then he will have a spot on the draft busts lists.
Ashley Sampi, pick 6 by West Coast in 2001.
Sampi could have been good but he didn't take his chance. West Coast are loaded with talent but imagine if they had taken Del Santo, Hale or Maguire with this pick.
Luke Livingston, pick 4 for Carlton in 2000, and Trent Sporn at pick 11 and Simon Wiggins at pick 15.
Did Carlton suffer more when picks were taken off them or when they had picks to use? Livingston is too short, and too weak for a key defensive post, too slow as well. Sporn has no apparent skill. Wiggins is an improvement over the first two players they took, but players with his average size and ability are not hard to find. Wiggins may get a chance somewhere else but Livingstone and Sporn have no chance. Players taken after pick 15 included Daniel Kerr, Kane Cornes, Drew Petrie, Adam McPhee and both Lonies.
Lawrence Angwin, pick 7 for Adelaide in 2000.
Big mistake by the Crows. But they did get Graham Johncock that draft at pick 67. If it was Johncock with the early pick, and Angwin with the last pick, it would look a lot better for the Crows. But Angwin in the first round equals a big draft bust.
Aaron Fiora, pick 3 for Richmond in 1999.
Fiora did look like a star when drafted in 1999. He had good size for a wingman, was not slow and could put the ball deep into attack with his long kicking. The problem must have been that he couldn't get the ball to go on a run and then kick it. He got out of Richmond for a new start with the Saints but that didn't work. Expect another team to give him a chance now, but time is running out for him to not be a draft bust.
Des Headland, pick 1 for Brisbane in 1998.
Was a useful part of the successful Lions teams, but was closer to the 20th player selected for them each week, not good out of the top overall pick. Headland wanted out and the Lions did not miss him.
Ryan Fitzgerald, pick 4 for Sydney in 1998.
Is sometimes entertaining, but for Sydney he didn't make it as a footballer. Injury-prone and was traded to Adelaide, so at least Sydney got something for him. The Crows didn't get much either.
Murray Vance, pick 6 for Carlton in 1998.
Josh Carr, Hayes, McVeigh, a couple of Boltons and plenty of other AFL players were taken after this pick. Possibly a more ineffective version of Luke Livingstone, so not a good pick.
James Walker, pick 6 for Fremantle in 1997.
He has been on their list a long time and done absolutely nothing. While he has played quite a few games he never really did anything. He doesn't play now and the Dockers are winning. Maybe he has played his last game there and possibly his last in the AFL.
Richard Tambling, pick 4 for Richmond in 2004.
Lance Franklin could be the most talented player in the AFL, Tambling went the pick before him. Tambling has yet to find a role at Richmond, they haven't figured out if he is a midfielder or a forward, or neither. Tambling is one of the most skilled players on this list but he went at pick 4 and hasn't really done anything. There is still time for him but Richmond may not be the right place.
Jordan Russell, pick 9 for Carlton in 2004.
Carlton picked Chris Bryan at number 73 and Russell at pick 9 and they are both useful players in the VFL. But Bryan was the third last pick of the draft while Russell was a first rounder. Russell is a draft bust and the only way this changes is if he moves to a new team.
Jared Brennan, pick 3 by Brisbane in 2002.
Easily the most athletic player on this list, and that was why the Lions picked him. He is tall and he can run and jump, but Brisbane have yet to find out if he can play football. They have tried him at most spots but nothing has clicked yet. Next year could be his last chance there and the departure of Mal Michael could save Brennan's career. Maybe they can turn him into a fullback, he has all the tools for that. If they can't find a spot for him then he will have a spot on the draft busts lists.
Ashley Sampi, pick 6 by West Coast in 2001.
Sampi could have been good but he didn't take his chance. West Coast are loaded with talent but imagine if they had taken Del Santo, Hale or Maguire with this pick.
Luke Livingston, pick 4 for Carlton in 2000, and Trent Sporn at pick 11 and Simon Wiggins at pick 15.
Did Carlton suffer more when picks were taken off them or when they had picks to use? Livingston is too short, and too weak for a key defensive post, too slow as well. Sporn has no apparent skill. Wiggins is an improvement over the first two players they took, but players with his average size and ability are not hard to find. Wiggins may get a chance somewhere else but Livingstone and Sporn have no chance. Players taken after pick 15 included Daniel Kerr, Kane Cornes, Drew Petrie, Adam McPhee and both Lonies.
Lawrence Angwin, pick 7 for Adelaide in 2000.
Big mistake by the Crows. But they did get Graham Johncock that draft at pick 67. If it was Johncock with the early pick, and Angwin with the last pick, it would look a lot better for the Crows. But Angwin in the first round equals a big draft bust.
Aaron Fiora, pick 3 for Richmond in 1999.
Fiora did look like a star when drafted in 1999. He had good size for a wingman, was not slow and could put the ball deep into attack with his long kicking. The problem must have been that he couldn't get the ball to go on a run and then kick it. He got out of Richmond for a new start with the Saints but that didn't work. Expect another team to give him a chance now, but time is running out for him to not be a draft bust.
Des Headland, pick 1 for Brisbane in 1998.
Was a useful part of the successful Lions teams, but was closer to the 20th player selected for them each week, not good out of the top overall pick. Headland wanted out and the Lions did not miss him.
Ryan Fitzgerald, pick 4 for Sydney in 1998.
Is sometimes entertaining, but for Sydney he didn't make it as a footballer. Injury-prone and was traded to Adelaide, so at least Sydney got something for him. The Crows didn't get much either.
Murray Vance, pick 6 for Carlton in 1998.
Josh Carr, Hayes, McVeigh, a couple of Boltons and plenty of other AFL players were taken after this pick. Possibly a more ineffective version of Luke Livingstone, so not a good pick.
James Walker, pick 6 for Fremantle in 1997.
He has been on their list a long time and done absolutely nothing. While he has played quite a few games he never really did anything. He doesn't play now and the Dockers are winning. Maybe he has played his last game there and possibly his last in the AFL.
