Leading up to the AFL National Draft, we will look at the top 10 picks from then – going back 25 years, 20 years, 15 years, 10 years and five years.
Click here for 25 Years – 1995
The 2000 National Draft will bring many a smile to a St.Kilda supporter striking gold with picks one and two in Nick Riewoldt and Justin Koschitzke.
Like any draft, those who didn’t make the top 10 do stand out such as Shaun Burgoyne (pick 12 and is still playing), Kane Cornes (pick 20) who for when it comes to playing football had a brilliant career for Port Adelaide, Daniel Kerr (pick 18), Drew Petrie (pick 17), Ted Richards (pick 27) and Dom Cassisi (pick 9).
We take a look at the top 10 picks from the 2000 National Draft and who those selections fared for their respective clubs.
PICK 1 (St.Kilda) – Nick Riewoldt
FROM: Southport Sharks
Games Played for Club: 336
“The wait is over for Nick Riewoldt. The St Kilda supporters will see a young Carl Ditteritch emerge. The shot of blonde hair, the athleticism, he’s a terrific player across half-forward, he’s had a dream year. Played in a premiership side with Southport, made All Australian at the national under 18s, he’s a real talent. Nick Riewoldt becomes a Saint.”
– Kevin “Shifter” Sheehan Channel 7 2000 AFL Draft Broadcast
The Saints got just about everything they hoped for with this number one draft pick.
His first game for the Saints was in Round 15, 2001 against Adelaide.
It would also be the last game that Malcolm Blight would coach for St Kilda before being given the sack.
A club captain in 2005 and from 2007-16, six-time best and fairest, four-time Club leading goal kicker, five-time All-Australian, the Rising Star winner in 2002 and 336 games for 718 goals from 2001 until his retirement in 2017.
Riewoldt would become a legend of the St Kilda Football Club and the game in general and be regarded as one of the best players in the AFL for the majority of his stellar career.
Now a prominent commentator, Nick Riewoldt will be eligible for Australian Football Hall of Fame selection in 2023 for which it is assumed he’ll be given the call-up.
PICK 2 (St.Kilda) – Justin Koschitzke
FROM: Brocklesby/Murray Bushrangers
Games Played for Club: 200
Another of the Saints favourite sons to be taken in the 2000 draft, there were high hopes for Koschitzke known for his strong athletic build and high marking ability.
He would go on to win the Rising Star award in his debut season of 2001.
Kosi was known for being a versatile key position player who could play centre half-forward, centre half-back and in the ruck.
Koschitzke would struggle with injury problems throughout his career – especially with concussions.
There was one moment where he collapsed live on air during an interview on Channel 7.
When the Saints were challenging for a premiership in the 2009-2010 seasons, Koschitzke was a major part of St Kilda’s dominance.
In 2013, Koschitzke would retire and be given a farewell game (his 200th) against Fremantle in the final round in which the Saints defeated the Dockers by 71 points.
PICK 3 (Collingwood) – Alan Didak
FROM: Port Adelaide Magpies (SANFL)
Games Played for Club: 218
The first of the famous Collingwood “rat pack” Alan Didak was known for his precise left foot which had the Magpie faithful of the belief that he would be the second coming of Peter Diacos.
From his debut in Round 7, 2001 to his final game in 2013 Didak would be a two-time All-Australian, Copeland Trophy (Collingwood B&F) winner in 2006 and a premiership player / Club leading goalkicker in 2010 and a favourite son of the Magpies.
PICK 4 (Carlton) – Luke Livingston
FROM: Kerang/Bendigo U18
Games Played for Club: 46
The Blues had received pick four from the Saints during the trade period of 2000 when Aaron Hamil made the move to Moorabbin.
Carlton recruited Luke Livingston who had played in the forward line as junior but was shifted down back at the Blues, for which he struggled to adapt to.
Making his debut for Carlton in round 4, 2002 Livingston struggled to get a regular game for the Blues from 2002-2006 when he was delisted after 46 games and two career goals.
He would play in the Blues 2005 Wizard Cup Premiership.
PICK 5 (West Coast) – Andrew McDougal
FROM: Perth (WAFL)
Games Played for Club: 43
Taken at pick five for the Eagles in 2000, McDougal wouldn’t make his debut until Round 22, 2002 against North Melbourne in Canberra.
McDougal was much malinged by Eagles fans for being regarded as an underachiever, he had a good year for them in 2004 and even kicked four goals before half-time aginst the Brisbane Lions at the Gabba – making life difficult for Mal Michael.
Struggling to get a regular game for West Coast, McDougal opted to be traded to the Western Bulldogs at the end of the 2006 season where he would manage just five games.
PICK 6 (North Melbourne) – Dylan Smith
FROM: Sandringham Dragons
Games Played for Club: 21
Drafted by the Kangaroos at pick 6 from TAC Cup team Sandringham, Dylan Smith managed only 11 games for North in three years.
He would be delisted at the end of 2003, only to be taken by Fremantle as a rookie.
Smith would play a further 10 games for Freo from 2004-05.
PICK 7 (Adelaide) Laurence Angwin
FROM: Dandenong Stingrays
Games Played for Club: 0
The Crows took Angwin at pick 7 in 2000 but he lasted only one season at Adelaide without reaching one senior game.
Personal issues brought him back to Victoria at the end of the 2001 season where he would have a season with the Box Hill Hawks in the VFL in 2002.
Carlton took a chance on him with pick 17 in the 2003 rookie draft and was considered a future star for the Blues, however, off-field issues including charges of stealing from his fellow teammate Karl Norman.
In the early part of the 2004 season, Angwin managed two games before turning up to training under the influence of an illicit drug where he was sacked by the club after only four matches.
PICK 8 (North Melbourne) – Daniel Motlop
From: North Adelaide
Games Played for Club: 47
With pick 8 in the 2000 draft, the Kangaroos went for the younger brother of 1999 premiership player Shannon Motlop and would play 47 games for the Club.
Daniel Motlop developed a reputation of being a handy goal kicker for North but with a desire to return home to South Australia was traded to Port Adelaide at the end of the 2005 season.
He went on to play 83 games and kick 155 goals for the Power.
PICK 9 (Richmond) – Kayne Pettifer
From: Kyabram/Murray Bushrangers
Games Played for Club: 113
A suprise high pick for a small forward, Kayne “The P-Train” Pettifer was taken at pick 9 for the Tigers in the 2000 National Draft.
Pettifer managed 113 games in his nine seasons at Tigerland and played his best footy in 2005 and 2006 when he finished in the top 10 in the Jack Dyer Medal – Richmond’s best and fairest.
After an ordinary year in 2009, he was delisted as Richmond entered a rebuild.
PICK 10 (Western Bulldogs) – Jordan McMahon
FROM: Glenelg
Games Played for Club: 114
Taken as a first-round selection for the Western Bulldogs, McMahon would have seven seasons for 114 games at the Whitten Oval establishing himself as an important member of the Dogs backline.
At the end of 2007, McMahon was traded to Richmond for pick 19 in the draft.
He would play 34 games for the Tigers including famously kicking a goal after the siren to win the match for Richmond against Melbourne in Round 18 2009.