1997 AFL draft
Pick Player Recruited from Club
1 Travis Johnstone Dandenong Stingrays Melbourne
2 Brad Ottens Glenelg Richmond
3 Trent Croad Dandenong Stingrays Hawthorn
4 Mark Bolton Eastern Ranges Essendon
5 Luke Power Oakleigh Chargers Brisbane Lions
6 James Walker North Ballarat Rebels Fremantle
7 Kris Massie Dandenong Stingrays Carlton
8 Chris Tarrant Bendigo Pioneers Collingwood
9 Chad Cornes Glenelg Port Adelaide
10 Shane O'Bree North Ballarat Rebels Brisbane Lions
11 Jason Saddington Eastern Ranges Sydney Swans
12 Jaxon Crabb Claremont West Coast Eagles
13 Callum Chambers Gippsland Power West Coast Eagles
14 Shannon Watt North Ballarat Rebels North Melbourne
15 Joel McKay Murray Bushrangers Geelong
16 Ben Walton Central District St Kilda
17 Lance Picioane Western Jets Adelaide
18 Mark Alvey Bendigo Pioneers Western Bulldogs
19 Chris Obst Western Jets Hawthorn
20 Dean Solomon Bendigo Pioneers Essendon
1997 national draft
The 1997 AFL Draft was held at the conclusion of the 1997 Australian Football League (AFL) season. A Pre-season Draft and the second Rookie Draft were held prior to the 1998 season. It is considered to have been one of the most successful drafts ever, with the top 11 selections each playing over 100 games of AFL football. Other significant selections include Brownlow Medalists Simon Black at 31 and Adam Goodes at 43, as well as future Hawthorn captain Richie Vandenberg and Port Adelaide and Carlton star Nick Stevens. Black and Goodes played in seven Grand Finals between them from 2001 to 2012, Black winning three and Goodes winning two. Another notable player from this draft was Matthew Scarlett, who played a pivotal role in Geelong's 2007, 2009 and 2011 premierships. The Melbourne Demons received the first two picks in the draft: one for finishing bottom of the ladder and a Priority Pick for winning just 4 games. Melbourne traded pick no.2 to Fremantle in exchange for Jeff White. Fremantle traded this pick to Richmond in exchange for Chris Bond. In total there were 86 picks to be drafted between the 16 competing teams.