The SUNS will have their 50th pick in the AFL National Draft next week. Of 49 picks in 14 years 29 were inside the top 15. A further nine were inside 40, and nine have been beyond 40.
But which picks have been the best value?
In terms of games played for the SUNS, 11 different picks have delivered 100-plus games, headed by the club’s very first pick at #1 in the 2010 National Draft – David Swallow (240).
The SUNS 100-gamers who joined the club via the National Draft have been:-
1 – 1 - David Swallow (240)
2 – 29 – Touk Miller (191)
3 – 3 – Sam Day (155)
4 – 27 – Sean Lemmens (148)
5 – 4 – Ben Ainsworth (134)
6 – 42 – Charlie Ballard (133)
7 – 11 – Tom Lynch (131)
8 – 2 – Jack Lukosius (116)
9 – 20 – Brayden Fiorini (105)
10 – 19 – Wil Powell (105)
11 – 2 – Noah Anderson (104)
This tells us three picks beyond 25 have been value-plus – Touk Miller at #29 in 2014, who is third on the SUNS’ game list, Sean Lemmens at #27 in 2013, who is sixth on the games list, and Charlie Ballard at #42 in 2017, who is ninth.
Wil Powell at #19 in 2017, and Brayden Fiorini at #20 in 2015, have also been 100-gamers.
Excluding current players, the least productive top 10 pick for the SUNS has been Jack Scrimshaw, who was pick #7 in 2016. He played four games for the club in 2017 but has since added 103 games for Hawthorn.
Elijah Hollands, pick #7 in 2020 and now at Carlton, played 14 games in red and gold, Daniel Gorringe, pick #10 in 2010, played 22 games, and Josh Caddy, pick #7 in 2010, played 24 games.
The SUNS latest pick was Caleb Graham, who went at #71 in 2018.
Only one player taken by the SUNS in the National Draft failed to play at AFL level – Jez McLennan. Pick #23 in 2018 and later pick #21 in the 2021 rookie draft, he had four years at the club before being let go.
A former South Australian Under 18 vice-captain and All-Australian choice, he played in 2023-24 with Central Districts in the SANFL, winning Team of the Year selection this year and twice taking best afield honors for SA against WA and the VFL. He will play in the same League next year with Port Adelaide.
Only once in the National Draft have the SUNS taken a player who had previously played at the level – ex-Geelong utility Charlie Constable. Originally pick #36 in 2017, he played 12 games for the Cats before joining the SUNS via pick #63 in 2021 to play a further four games.
The full list of players drafted by the SUNS in the National Draft, with SUNS games and career games (if applicable) is:-
1 – David Swallow (240), Matt Rowell (85)
2 – Harley Bennell (81/88), Jack Lukosius (116), Noah Anderson (104)
3 – Sam Day (155), Izak Rankine (48/83), Jed Walter (14)
4 – Ben Ainsworth (134)
5 – Kade Kolodjashnij (78/80), Mac Andrew (41)
6 – Ben King (95), Bailey Humphrey (40)
7 – Josh Caddy (24/174), Jack Scrimshaw (4/103), Elijah Hollands (14/36)
8 – Peter Wright (66/133), Callum AhChee (45/143)
9 – Dion Prestia (95/225), Will Brodie (25/54), Ethan Read (4)
10 – Daniel Gorringe (22/26), Jack Bowes (83/122)
11 – Tom Lynch (131/220), Sam Flanders (66)
13 – Seb Tape (40), Jesse Lonergan (60)
14 – Jake Rogers (9)
15 – Jarrod Garlett (17/30)
19 – Wil Powell (105)
20 – Jack Leslie (28), Brayden Fiorini (105)
23 – Jaz McLennan (0)
26 – Will Graham (17)
27 – Sean Lemmens (148), Jeremy Sharp (23/46)
29 – Touk Miller (191)
34 – Josh Schoenfeld (15)
39 – Jeremy Taylor (10)
42 – Charlie Ballard (133)
49 – Jacob Gillbee (6)
52 – Mackenzie Willis (5), Brayden Crossley (10)
60 – Jy Farrar (34)
63 – Charlie Constable (4)*
67 – Brad Scheer (13)
71 – Caleb Graham (37)
Seventeen players taken by the SUNS in the National Draft have played 100 career games, including seven who went on to play for an opposition club. Next year it will be eight after Jack Lukosius’ off-season trade to Port Adelaide. This list is:-
240 – David Swallow
255 – Dion Prestia
220 – Tom Lynch
191 – Touk Miller
174 – Josh Caddy
155 - Sam Day
148 – Sean Lemmens
143 – Callum AhChee
134 – Ben Ainsworth
133 – Charlie, Ballard, Peter Wright
122 – Jack Bowes
116 – Jack Lukosius
105 – Wil Powell, Brayden Fiorini
104 – Noah Anderson
103 – Jack Scrimshaw
