WILL it be Christian Petracca and Paddy McCartin? Petracca and Angus Brayshaw? Or McCartin and Brayshaw? Or will another player come into the mix for Melbourne’s No.2 and No.3 pick?

It’s been a fascinating build-up to this year’s NAB AFL Draft, as two of the top three draft choices will become Demons on Thursday night.

Midfielder Christian Petracca (Eastern Ranges), tall forward Paddy McCartin (Geelong Falcons) and midfielder Angus Brayshaw (Sandringham Dragons) are the most likely top three picks – but the order remains intriguing.

For the second time since the AFL Draft started in 1986, Melbourne will have two picks inside the top three. It happened in 2009, when the Demons selected Tom Scully (now with GWS) at No.1 and Jack Trengove at No.2.

It is also just the second time Melbourne has had pick No.2 in an AFL Draft. But it will be the fourth time the Demons select a player at No.3, with Steven Febey (1986), Darren Kowal (1991) and Colin Sylvia (2003) all previously chosen at that pick.

Febey proved an outstanding selection in the first draft, playing 258 matches – the fifth most in Melbourne’s history – behind only David Neitz (306 matches), Robert Flower (272), Adem Yze (271) and Jim Stynes (264).

This time around, Melbourne will have to wait for St Kilda to open the draft, before it decides who to snare.

The Demons will then wait some time, with pick No.40 the next ‘live’ pick. No.42 has already been secured with Melbourne claiming Billy Stretch – the son of former star Steven – via the father/son rule. No.53 will be Melbourne’s final pick.

No.40 was used last year on Jay Kennedy-Harris, with Nick White (1991) the club’s only other player taken at that number.

Stretch joins Andy Lovell (1988), Michael Prentice (1993) and Michael Clark (1999) as Melbourne’s only other No.42 picks. Lovell was a fine player for the Demons in the late 1980s/early 1990s before switching to West Coast.

No.53 has been used in more recent times, with Simon Buckley (2005), Kyle Cheney (2007) and Tom McDonald (2010) claimed. McDonald has become an integral part of Melbourne’s defence. Interestingly, his brother Oscar is up for grabs in this year’s draft.

Again, the Draft will be held on the Gold Coast, now for the fourth time, after it was first staged in 2010. After a year in Greater Western Sydney in 2011, it has since returned to the Gold Coast Convention Centre.

It’s a long way from its humble beginnings when it was first held at VFL House in Jolimont in 1986. Now it’s a significant event on the AFL calendar, and with the addition of free agency, plus the trade period, the recruiting period now takes a stronghold in the AFL calendar in October/November. The intricacies involved in recruiting and the investment in players is also poles apart compared to the early days.

Last year, Melbourne added three players to its list via the NAB AFL Draft: Christian Salem (pick No.9), Jay Kennedy-Harris (No.40) and Jayden Hunt (No.57). Salem and Kennedy-Harris showed plenty to like about their game in their first season in 2014, playing 26 matches between them.

Reflecting on Melbourne’s first draft back in 1986, it was fascinating to look back upon.

Cameron Schwab – Melbourne’s former chief executive – was recruiting manager back in 1986-87, at a time when the draft was somewhat speculative and difficult to lure prominent players from the SANFL and WAFL.

Oh how Melbourne fans would have loved to have seen the great Darren Jarman – a three-time premiership player with Hawthorn (1991) and Adelaide (1997-98) – in a Melbourne Guernsey, after he was claimed by Melbourne at No.55 in its first meeting. Unfortunately for the red and blue faithful, he couldn’t be lured from South Australia.

Matthew Febey – the twin brother of Steven – was also chosen in 1986 and proved to be a fine player, notching up 143 matches for Melbourne.  

In 1987, Andrew Obst (150 matches), Stephen Tingay (162) and Jay Viney (23) – the brother of Melbourne great Todd – were claimed. In hindsight, Melbourne’s first two draft meetings were successful, given the early beginnings of the draft.

Under recruiting manager Craig Cameron in 1999, Melbourne had one of its most successful meetings, with a return of 764 matches.

Brad Green played the most with 254 games, followed by Cameron Bruce (224), Matthew Whelan (150), Paul Wheatley (135 games) and Michael Clark (one). Bruce later added 10 matches with Hawthorn in 2011-12. Shannon O’Brien was the only player from that draft not to play a senior game.

More recently, Melbourne’s acquisition of Jimmy Toumpas, Jack Viney, Dean Kent, Matt Jones and Dean Terlich in the 2012 NAB AFL Draft has produced 156 matches between them in two seasons.

By the end of Thursday night, Melbourne will have had 19 top 10 AFL Draft picks: No.1, Travis Johnstone (1997), Jack Watts (2008), Tom Scully (2009); No.2 Jack Trengove (2009), TBC (2014); No.3, Steven Febey (1986), Darren Kowal (1991), Colin Sylvia (2003), TBC (2014); No.4, Cale Morton (2007), Jimmy Toumpas (2012); No.5 Jason Norrish (1991), Brock McLean (2003); No.6, Allen Jakovich (1990), No.9, Martin Pike (1992), Luke Molan (2001), Christian Salem (2013) and No.10, Andrew Lamprill (1991), Trent Ormond-Allen (1993)

The Demons have never had the No.7 or No.8 pick, but has had every selection from No.9 to No.27. But it has never had picks at No.28, No.38, No.44, No.47, No.49, No.56, No.58, No.61, No.65, No.67, No.70, No.74, No.78 to No.79, No.86 to No.95, No.98, No.100 to No.110 or No.112 to No.121.

Selection No.50, interestingly, has been used the most by the Demons, with Stephen Tingay (1987), Luke Ottens (1997), Matthew Whelan (1999), Jack Fitzpatrick (2009) and Troy Davis (2010) all claimed at this number.

Tenacious ball-winner Guy Rigoni, who was Melbourne’s leading possession winner in the 2000 Grand Final, remains arguably the best bargain recruit.

Rigoni, who was selected at No.77 in the 1997 AFL Draft, played 107 matches for the Demons. He played 80 matches in his opening four years – including 70 in his first three seasons – before a serious back injury forced him to miss the 2002 season. He was then delisted and redrafted in the Pre-Season Draft in December 2002 and managed to add another 27 matches, before retiring.

Father/son choice Tom Kavanagh is the highest Melbourne draftee to have played an AFL match. He was selected at No.111 in 1988. He played two games for the Demons in 1989, before adding eight with Fitzroy.

Damon Munt, who never played an AFL match after being claimed at No.122 in 1992, was Melbourne’s highest overall selection.

In the AFL Draft years, Melbourne has had seven recruiting managers: Schwab (1986-87), Jim Durnan (1988-90), Richard Griffiths (1991-95), Craig Cameron (1996-2007), Barry Prendergast (2008-2011), Todd Viney (2012) and now Jason Taylor, who had his first draft meeting with Melbourne in 2013 and will call out the names again on Thursday. Taylor was the highly-respected Derek Hine’s right-hand man at Collingwood, before joining the Demons.

Viney remains integral with Melbourne in his role of manager of player personnel, along fellow recruiters: Kelly O’Donnell (pro scout), Tim Lamb (national recruiting officer) and Darren Farrugia (recruiting technology coordinator).  

Every Melbourne player selected in the NAB AFL Draft since 1986
(in draft number order)

1 – Travis Johnstone (1997), Jack Watts (2008), Tom Scully (2009)

2 – Jack Trengove (2009), TBC (2014)

3 – Steven Febey (1986), Darren Kowal (1991), Colin Sylvia (2003), TBC (2014)

4 – Cale Morton (2007), Jimmy Toumpas (2012)

5 – Jason Norrish (1991), Brock McLean (2003)

6 – Allen Jakovich (1990)

9 – Martin Pike (1992), Luke Molan (2001), Christian Salem (2013)

10 – Andrew Lamprill (1991), Trent Ormond-Allen (1993)

11 – Tim McNeil (1987), Donald Cockatoo-Collins (1995), Brent Grgic (1996), Jordan Gysberts (2009)

12 – Nathan Jones (2005), James Frawley (2006), Lucas Cook (2010)

13 – Darren Bennett (1989), Chris Lamb (1998), Matthew Bate (2004)

14 – Daniel Bell (2002), Jack Grimes (2007)

15 – Nicholas Smith (2002), Lynden Dunn (2004)

16 – Matthew Febey (1986), Adem Yze (1994), Scott Thompson (2000)

17 – Sam Blease (2008)

18 – Luke Tapscott (2009)

19 – Garry Merritt (1990), Phil Gilbert (1991), Brad Green (1999), James Strauss (2008)

20 – Paul Wheatley (1999)

21 – Addam Maric (2007)

22 – Alistair Nicholson (1996), Troy Longmuir (1997)

23 – Matthew MacKay (1991)

24 – Mark Ducker (1987), Brett Jeffrey (1992)

25 – Paul Rouvray (1989), Steven Armstrong (2001)

26 – Aaron Rogers (2001), Jared Rivers (2002), Jack Viney (father/son – 2012)

27 – Rod Keogh (1988), Brad Hall (1993)

29 – Craig Walker (1986)

30 – Hayden Lamaro (1996), Ricky Petterd (2006)

31 – Haydon Kilmartin (1991)

32 – Micah Berry (1991)

33 – Jeremy Howe (2010)

34 – Michael Polley (1994), Max Gawn (2009)

35 – Jamie Bennell (2008)

36 – Jason Dullard (1991), Chris Johnson (father/son – 2003), Rory Taggert (2011)

37 – Andrew Obst (1987)

39 – Matthew Kluzek (1992), Matthew Blake (1997), Gary Moorcroft (2002)

40 – Nick White (1991), Jay Kennedy-Harris (2013), TBC (2014)

41 – Michael Hobbes (1988)

42 – Andy Lovell (1986), Michael Prentice (1993), Michael Clark (1999), Billy Stretch (father/son – 2014)

43 – Michael Newton (2004)

45 – Clayton Gardiner (1996)

46 – Colin Garland (2006)

48 – Dean Kent (2012)

50 – Stephen Tingay (1987), Luke Ottens (1997), Matthew Whelan (1999), Jack Fitzpatrick (2009), Troy Davis (2010)

51 – Clay Sampson (1994), Neville Jetta (2008)

52 – Josh Tynan (2011), Matt Jones (2012)

53 – Simon Buckley (2005), Kyle Cheney (2007), Tom McDonald (2010), TBC (2014)

54 – Daniel Clarke (1992), Cameron Hunter (2002), James Sellar (2011)

55 – Darren Jarman (1986), Andrew Ford (1988), Mark Bradly (1995), Brad Miller (2001)

57 – Tim Moreland (1989), Jayden Hunt (2013)

59 – Anthony McDonald (1996)

60 – Darren O’Brien (1995), Luke Speers (1998), Clint Bartram (2005)

62 – Daniel Breese (2000), Isaac Weetra (2006)

63 – Jay Viney (1987), Fabian Francis (1990), Shannon O’Brien (1999)

64 – Cameron Bruce (1999), Rohan Bail (2008)

66 – Nathan Brown (1997), Ryan Ferguson (2002), Tom McNamara (2007)

68 – Luke Norman (1994), Russell Robertson (1996), Heath Neville (2005), Dean Terlich (2012)

69 – Matthew Mahoney (1988), Scott Simister (1992)

71 – Glenn Wilkins (1989), Daniel Nicholson (rookie elevation – 2012)

72 – Ashley Gehling (1995), Luke Taylor (1998), Michael Evans (rookie elevation – 2012)

73 – Ross Funcke (2000)

75 – Robert Panozzo (1990), Mark Winterton (1996)

76 – Todd McHardy (1994)

77 – Niall Buckley (1990), Guy Rigoni (1997)

80 – Mitchell Craig (2000)

81 – Jordie McKenzie (rookie elevation – 2010)

82 – Duncan O’Toole (1996), Mitch Clisby (rookie elevation – 2013)

83 – Brian Stynes (1988), Ashley Gehling (1996)

84 – Damien Gaspar (1992)

85 – Anthony Tohill (1989)

96 – Jake Spencer (rookie elevation – 2010)

97 – Tom Grehan (1988)

99 – Jeff Hilton (1992)

111 – Tom Kavanagh (father/son – 1988)

122 – Damon Munt (1992)