ALL eyes are on the 2019 NAB AFL Draft.

Who will clubs select at the upper end? Where does the talent lie? What value is there late in the draft?

Looking back through the archives, some of Carlton's very best have been taken far beyond the first round. Here's the best bargain draft 18.

Backs

Bret Thornton (188 games): The much-vaunted ‘super draft’ saw the likes of Judd, Ablett and Hodge enter the AFL, but Carlton would’ve been very happy with the output it got from the defender-turned-swingman. Selected with pick No.11 in the rookie draft, Thornton notched up 188 games in Navy Blue.

Michael Sexton (200 games): The first Hall of Fame member in this list, Michael Sexton was impossible to be overlooked after he was selected in the 1988 National Draft with pick No.54. A premiership player in 1995, Sexton also achieved two podium finishes in the best and fairest award.

Nick Duigan (43 games): Resisting the temptation to name him on the half-forward line after that 2013 elimination final, Duigan quickly endeared himself to all Carlton supporters after his arrival as a mature-age recruit prior to the 2011 season. As courageous as the day is long, the defender played the game the right way: famously, four of his five career goals came in a cut-throat finals victory over Richmond.

St. Nicholas usually delivers in December.



But, in 2013, Christmas came early for the 'Baggers at the 'G. #BoundByBlue — Carlton FC (@CarltonFC) August 10, 2019

Half-backs

Anthony Franchina (105 games): Another centurion at Carlton, Franchina made his way to the Blues with selection No.81 in the 1996 national draft from Newlands-Coburg. The gritty defender was a hallmark of the Blues’ strong line-up at the turn of the millennium, featuring in the 1999 Grand Final before backing it up with 24 games in 2000.

Michael Jamison (150 games): As I live and breathe. Making his debut against the old enemy in 2007, Jamison went onto play 150 games in the Navy Blue, emerging as the Club’s go-to defender against the key forwards. A consistent member of the leadership group, Jamison became a Blue with the No.17 selection in the 2007 rookie draft.

Zach Tuohy (120 club games): Following in the footsteps of fellow Irishman Setanta O’Hailpin, Tuohy arrived at the Blues as an international rookie a decade ago. Emerging as one of the premier rebounding defenders in the competition in recent seasons, the energetic Tuohy made his name on Royal Parade and played 120 games in Navy Blue.

Centreline

Dennis Armfield (145 games): You can’t simply pigeon-hole Dennis Armfield as a set of ‘steak knives’, after the West Australian was selected with pick 46 in 2007 — a pick which arrived at the Blues in the Chris Judd trade. The universally-admired ‘Dennis’ was a hit amongst Carlton fans, living and loving the jumper and everything that went with it. The two-time Best Clubman’s effort could never be questioned across each of his 145 games in Navy Blue.

Andrew Carrazzo (194 games): The boyhood Bluebagger would go onto win a John Nicholls Medal and spend seven years in the leadership group, but it wasn’t all smooth sailing. Previously at Geelong, Carrazzo was ultimately rookie drafted by the Blues in 2003: from there, ‘Carrots’ proved to be a consummate professional and clubman. As someone who bled blue, Carrazzo well and truly repaid the faith shown in him all those years ago.

Kade Simpson (325 games*): All things considered, there’s a strong claim that Kade Simpson is Carlton’s greatest ever draft selection. The No.45 pick in 2002 arrived in a difficult time for the Club, but Simpson’s tenacity and determination - which has seen him become Carlton’s ‘heart and soul’ - has been unrivalled in his time at Ikon Park.

Half-forwards

Ryan Houlihan (201 games): The mercurial Ryan Houlihan could play across any flank and not look out of place. One of Carlton’s big draft bargains, Houlihan was taken with pick No.73 in the 1999 National Draft, and burst onto the scene with his outstanding foot skills from defence as well as his nous in front of goal.

Brad Fisher (99 games): Now an assistant coach for Carlton’s AFLW side, Fisher was a valuable addition to Carlton in 2002. Drafted alongside good mate Kade Simpson from the Eastern Ranges, Fisher kicked 127 goals in Navy Blue, averaging over a goal a game as a second forward.

Darren Hulme (110 games): Imagine thinking ‘Pup’ - an inspired selection in the pre-season draft of 1997 - wasn’t going to make this team. Overlooked in the national draft, Hulme was ultimately the 97th player selection across the competition that season — his determination and grit saw him resonate with Carlton supporters across 110 games. He polled Carlton’s most votes in the Brownlow Medal in 2001 alongside Craig Bradley and Adrian Hickmott.

Forwards

Eddie Betts (184 club games*): Another one for the pre-season draft (pick 3 in 2004), 2019’s homecoming hero was given his chance by the Blues and became a much-loved member at the Carlton Football Club. Betts contributed 290 goals from his 184 games at Carlton, bursting onto the scene with seven goals in his first three games. He often made the impossible look easy, winning the AFL’s Goal of the Year in 2005 and twice winning Carlton’s goalkicking award.

View this post on Instagram Back to where it all started. #19 #baggers A post shared by Eddie Betts (@eddiebthe3rd) on Nov 18, 2019 at 6:11pm PST

Brendan Fevola (187 club games): With 575 goals in Navy Blue, Brendan Fevola was one of the most-talented players to feature in Carlton’s illustrious history. The excitable Fevola made his way to the Blues with pick No.38 in the 1998 National Draft: he was the Club’s leading goalkicker six consecutive times and won two Coleman Medals.

Aaron Hamill (92 club games): ‘Sammy’ instantly endeared himself to the Carlton faithful upon breaking into the senior side, playing 92 games at the end of the 1990s. The hard-hitting goalkicker found his way to the Blues with pick No.79 in 1994 from Canberra, ultimately being handed the No.4 guernsey as the natural successor to Stephen Kernahan before defecting to St Kilda.

Followers

Levi Casboult (124 games*): in 2019, Levi Casboult emerged as the everywhere man, able to play a combination of forward, ruck and back. It was a career-best season for the boyhood Bluebagger, who seemingly gets better with age. Initially drafted as a rookie, Casboult became the first player to reach 100 games in the No.41 guernsey and finished top five in the John Nicholls Medal last month.

Patrick Cripps (101 games*): Can you be regarded as a draft bargain when you went at pick No.13? In Patrick Cripps’ case, we’ll allow it. At the age of 24, Cripps is already a three-time John Nicholls Medallist and a co-captain of the Club. Having notched up 100 games this season, the sky is the limit for what Cripps can achieve in Navy Blue.

Ed Curnow (165 games): Recruited from Box Hill in the VFL, Ed Curnow was immediately thrust into the team in Round 1 as a rookie-listed player. Now an entrenched senior leader of the Club, Curnow has achieved podium finished in the John Nicholls Medal in the last two years: the inside midfielder lives and breathes Carlton’s values every time he takes to the field.