AFL Draft: Pick 7 - who has been the best and who will be selected this year?

Mick Stirling

AFL Draft: Pick 7 - who has been the best and who will be selected this year? image

The 2018 AFL NAB National Draft kicks off its two-day affair this year with the first round selected on Thursday November 22nd and the rest of the draft completed on Friday November 23rd.

In the lead up to the draft, Sporting News will bring you the history of each pick - including who got it right (or wrong) through the years.

Pick 7: WESTERN BULLDOGS

Who will the Bulldogs be likely to draft?

The one thing Luke Beveridge is well set for is quality midfielders, but there’s not going to be anyone else worth taking this early unless one of the King brothers slips through.

Ben King (VIC): 202cm, 85kg
It’s most likely both the King twins will go in the first half dozen selections, but Ben is a tall key-position player who can do an impressive job at either end of the ground – perfect for the Doggies’ needs. 

#Ben King

Jye Caldwell (VIC): 184cm, 78kg
It doesn’t hurt to grab more quality midfield talent and Caldwell is close to the best in the draft. He’s strong and can win his own ball at stoppages, but does have a history of hamstring injuries which could make recruiters think twice.

Jye Caldwell

History of AFL draft pick 7

Most games played: 
307 Jordan Lewis (Hawthorn 2004)

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Least games played: 
0 Chris Lindsay (North Melbourne 1986)
0 Ben Edwards (Fremantle 1995)

Games by players selected with pick 7
Average: 110.1

Games played in completed careers
0-49: 8
50-99: 3
100-149: 3
150-199: 0
200+: 5

The best pick 7s

Joel Selwood (Geelong 2006): 272 games, three-time best and fairest winner (2010, 2013, 2014), six-time All Australian (2009, 2010, 2013 capt, 2014 capt, 2016 capt, 2017), three-time premiership player (2007, 2009, 2011), Geelong captain (2012 -)

#joel selwood

Jordan Lewis (Hawthorn, 2004): 307 games (264 at Hawthorn, 43 at Melbourne), Hawthorn best and fairest winner (2014), All Australian (2014), four-time premiership player (2008, 2013, 2014, 2015)

Chris Johnson (Fitzroy 1993): 264 games (59 at Fitzroy, 205 at Brisbane), two-time All Australian (2002, 2004), three-time premiership player (2001, 2002, 2003), Brisbane captain (2007), member of the Indigenous Team of the Century

Chris Johnson

Andrew Mackie (Geelong 2002): 280 games, All Australian (2013), three-time premiership player (2007, 2009, 2011)

Andrew Mackie

Something to tell the boys at the pub

Pick seven has produced more 250-game players than any other selection apart from pick one. Leon Cameron (Western Bulldogs 1988), Johnson, Mackie, Lewis and Selwood have all passed the milestone, and Paddy Ryder (2005, 226 games) could join them in 2019 if Port Adelaide makes the finals.

Leon Cameron

Mick Stirling