2018 Redraft: Which superstar goes Pick 1?

The countdown is on for the 2026 National Draft!

Every year, clubs find a player late in the draft who goes on to become one of the all-time greats whilst some top 10 picks struggle to live up to the hype.

The 2018 draft was stacked with talent, but some flew under the radar on draft night with some incredible selections going all the way down to the rookie draft.

The original draft from 2018 still shapes up pretty well today, with some changes to be made.

Original draft
1 - Sam Walsh (Carlton)
2 - Jack Lukosius (Gold Coast)
3 - Izak Rankine (Gold Coast)
4 - Max King (St Kilda)
5 - Connor Rozee (Port Adelaide)
6 - Ben King (Gold Coast)
7 - Bailey Smith (Western Bulldogs)
8 - Tarryn Thomas (North Melbourne)
9 - Chayce Jones (Adelaide)
10 - Nick Blakey (Sydney)

2018 Redraft

1 - Zak Butters (Carlton)

Butters is one of the biggest names in football and moves from Pick 12 to Pick 1 in the redraft. His high-profile trade at the end of the season from the Power to the Dogs highlights just how prominent he is in the game. He is a three-time Best and Fairest winner and three-time All Australian. A genuine threat to opposition teams, he has an old-school toughness in his approach alongside some silky skills.

2 - Bailey Smith (Gold Coast)

Originally Pick 7, Smith has turned himself into one of the most prolific and damaging midfielders in the competition. Across 150 games, Smith has managed to poll 94 career Brownlow Medal votes, including 65 since he moved to Geelong at the start of 2025. The move down the highway has been a successful one with Smith being recognised with an All Australian blazer in 2025 and 2026 as well as winning the Cats’ Best and Fairest in 2026. The only missing piece to Smith’s career so far is a premiership, having played in the 2021 and 2025 Grand Finals.

3 - Izak Rankine (Gold Coast)

Rankine’s debut for the Suns will forever be remembered as one of the most scintillating. Kicking three extraordinary goals, Rankine announced to the competition that he had genuine class. Originally a crafty small-forward, Rankine’s centre-bounce attendance percentages continue to climb at the Crows as he transitions into the midfield. It’s seen him recognised as an All-Australian in 2025 and 2026 with his star set to rise further in 2027.

4 - Callum Wilkie (St Kilda)

The Saints had a genuinely incredible piece of recruiting in 2018. Wilkie was taken at Pick 3 in the Rookie Draft and now finds himself amongst the best in the top 10. Key defenders are a rare commodity in this market and Wilkie is one of the competition’s best. Given how desperately clubs are currently searching for game-changing key defenders, Wilkie finds himself at Pick 4. A two-time All Australian, two-time Best and Fairest winner and club co-captain. Not bad for a rookie.

5 - Sam Walsh (Port Adelaide)

Perhaps slightly underrated because he plays alongside one of Carlton’s greatest ever midfielders in Pat Cripps, Walsh is a Pick 1 that has delivered for the Blues. Walsh has had a decorated career so far with the Rising Star award in 2019, an All-Australian nod in 2021, the Gary Ayres Medal for best player in the finals in 2023, and is a two-time Best and Fairest winner at Carlton (including this year). He thrived under Josh Fraser’s new game plan and looks set for a big 2027.

6 - Nick Blakey (Sydney - Matched Academy Bid)

Blakey moves from Pick 10 to Pick 6 in the re-draft given his ability to break games open from half-back. An All-Australian in 2024, the former Swan will be looking to emulate his success on the field at North Melbourne as the Roos continue their climb up the ladder.

7 - Jordan Clark (Gold Coast)

The Cats originally took Clark at Pick 15 which looked to be a sound selection. However, since his move to Fremantle, the West Australian has proved that he is one of the most damaging half-back flankers. A two-time All-Australian, Clark has shown great consistency across his career and was a key part of Fremantle’s drive to a Grand Final.

8 - Ben King (Western Bulldogs)

Ben was taken the lower of the King brothers in the 2018 draft but has become one of the premier key forwards in the competition on the Gold Coast. King has kicked 315 goals from his 143 games so far, resulting in him leading the Suns’ goalkicking list for six consecutive years since 2020. His trade to the Hawks is a massive one as he looks to continue his strong goalkicking form in Victoria.

9 - Connor Rozee (North Melbourne)

Missed much of 2026 due to a sever hamstring injury but at his best, Rozee is an elite midfielder. He maintains a spot in the top 10 based on his resume including two All Australian selections and a Best and Fairest at the Power. The South Austraian has also been recognised for his leadership having been the captain since 2024.

10 - Isaac Quaynor (Collingwood - Matched Academy Bid)

Collingwood selected Quaynor with Pick 13 who has become a key pillar in the Pies’ backline. An All-Australian and premiership player in 2023, Quaynor was promoted to vice-captain in 2024.

Honourable mentions:
Max King, Lachie Schultz, Tom Atkins, Tom Sparrow, James Rowbottom, Justin McInerney, Mabior Chol, Kade Chandler and Darcy Fort.

The next generation of superstars will be unveiled at the National Draft on November 19 and 20.