THREE of the four have changed clubs. One is a free agent this year. Two are former NAB AFL Rising Star winners. Between them they have won three finals combined. All have suffered injury-affected careers.

The paths of the players selected in the landmark mini-drafts of 2011 and 2012 – Jaeger O'Meara, Brad Crouch, Jack Martin and Jesse Hogan – has been well-documented since they were selected as 17-year-olds under the AFL's list-building rules for new club Greater Western Sydney.

But a look back at the group, and who else was available as mini-draft applicants across both years, provides an insight into the different courses careers take.

The mini-draft was in place as a trade mechanism for the Giants as they started their list build. The club could trade the rights to select up to four 17-year-old players born in the January-April 1994 window who nominated to be included in a pool of players.

As much as they might have liked, the Giants couldn't retain the rights to keep the players as the AFL wanted its newest club to make the most of the deals and load up its list with traded-in players (they ended up largely bringing in more top draft picks).

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If the four trades were not completed in the 2011 season, the balance of up to four trades may be used in the 2012 trading period from the pool of players born in the January-April 1995 window. Players picked could join the club immediately, but not play at AFL level until after their 18th year.

The first mini-draft saw O'Meara head to Gold Coast and Crouch land at Adelaide. O'Meara was the walk-up choice. He had starred at under-16s level for Western Australia and then, as a 17-year-old, was seen as the second-best player in the under-18 state side behind close friend and top-two pick Stephen Coniglio.

There was no debate about O'Meara's place at the top of the tree – he was the most in-demand teenager in the country, and the Suns nabbed the rights to him after some heavy wheeling and dealing.

Jaeger O'Meara kicks an inspired goal from upside-down on the ground.

Crouch had also elevated himself to the clear second choice of the available players. He had bobbed up to star for Vic Country in the under-18 championships as a bottom-ager with his hardness, burst of speed and ball-winning ability. The Crows were wowed.

Although the pair had elevated themselves above the other contenders, there were players who were eligible who have gone on to forge significant AFL careers.

Two-time Richmond premiership defender Nick Vlastuin had proven he was going to be a star, having won the MVP for Vic Metro in the under-16s.

Jake Stringer was in the right age category but had broken both bones in his leg in a brutal injury that ruled him out for more than a year, while Brodie Grundy had been named a bottom-age All Australian after his performances for South Australia.

Drop punt?



Jake Stringer makes it a little more difficult but slots it with ease! #AFLSunsDons pic.twitter.com/bivbwLLmsE — AFL (@AFL) July 28, 2019

The ruckman had emerged in his 17th year, before his monster draft year, but had not edged ahead of O'Meara and Crouch.

South Australian pair Jimmy Toumpas, who was pick No.4 the following year, and Ben Kennedy, also a top-20 selection, were others who were eligible as mini-draftees in 2011. Joe Daniher was in the right age bracket but by that stage had already committed to joining Essendon as a father-son selection.

With two mini-draft spots left to trade out in 2012, the Giants again sat pretty.

Jack Martin had proven himself as the frontrunner. Recruiters still gasp about his under-16s carnival for Western Australia, and the Suns were adamant they were going to get him, beating out the Western Bulldogs in their bid for the rights over the silky midfielder.

But the second choice was not a fait accompli. As much as Hogan had dominated for Western Australia as a strong, powerful and athletic key forward, Josh Kelly was making clubs think.

The midfielder had performed well in Vic Metro's title-winning side in 2012, and more than a year out from his 2013 draft, he shaped as a very talented midfield option.

Josh Kelly failed to be taken in the mini drafts, despite his desire to get on a list. Picture: AFL Photos

The race of three became tighter when Kelly put in a brilliant run in the 3km time trial while at the NAB AFL Draft Combine alongside players a year older than him.

Kelly was keen to win selection.

"I'm just going to try my best and see what happens," he said at the time about the prospect of being selected in the mini-draft.



"I think everyone wants to picked up by an AFL club, so to do that at any stage I'd be totally stoked with."

Others eligible in the mini-draft that year included Matt Crouch and Luke Dunstan, who also tested in the Combine, and Luke McDonald, however by that stage McDonald had committed to North Melbourne as a father-son selection for the following year.

Patrick Cripps was eligible in terms of his age, but he was not on the radar at that stage of his development, having not yet had the massive growth spurt that shot him up the draft board the following season.

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Each of the four players picked in the mini-drafts have faced different successes and challenges across their careers.

O'Meara started with a bang, claiming the Rising Star in his outstanding debut season, while Hogan also claimed that honour. Crouch won the Crows' best and fairest last season and was their best player in the 2017 Grand Final, while Martin has had some exciting moments for the struggling Suns.

Jaeger O'Meara (centre) and Jack Martin (right) at the 2013 Rising Star Award. Picture: AFL Photos

O'Meara (Gold Coast to Hawthorn), Hogan (Melbourne to Fremantle) and Martin (Gold Coast to Carlton) have swapped clubs, while Crouch will weigh up his future this year after considering a move to the Suns last off-season.

But injuries have caused limitations, with all four players held back by different issues.

O'Meara's knee injury changed him as a player, Martin had shoulder problems, Crouch missed a whole year with a groin injury and Hogan's foot issues continue to linger. The Dockers also announced on Wednesday the matchwinner was taking indefinite leave due to mental health issues.