Flashback:Matthew Kreuzer after being drafted in 2007.Credit:Getty Images
In terms of the top three,Cotchin could yet be remembered as one of the game's greats,Kreuzer,dubbed a"two-in-one"player by Judd because of his groundwork,is very good,while Chris Masten has been a solid performer for the Eagles. But the top three of'01 wins that debate,although if Dangerfield,taken at No.10 by the Crows in'07,had gone higher,that argument would have changed.
"Kreuzer and Grundy are certainly the form ruckmen right now but if that draft was done today,how could you go past Dangerfield at No.1,"said one club recruiter.
Flashback:Patrick Dangerfield playing in the TAC Cup.Credit:Getty Images
"He is a Brownlow medallist and has everything that's needed to dominate. Cotchin has had a great year but the Tigers have yet to win a final."
Cotchin,don't forget,is also a Brownlow medallist. He was retrospectively awarded the medal alongside Mitchell in December last year as a result of Jobe Watson being stripped of his 2012 award because of the anti-doping saga.
That piece of history has meant the 2007 draft has produced two Brownlow medallists. Dangerfield,who Bartel says is only getting better,and Cotchin are firmly in the running again this year.
From the 2001 batch,Judd and Ablett are dual Brownlow medallists,while Bartel,Swan and Mitchell claimed the top honour once. Dal Santo was close to winning on two occasions. Then there are the six Norm Smith medals,eight AFL Players Association MVP awards and 34 premiership medallions from the combined 2001 group.
Of the 2007 group,Dangerfield,Cotchin and Kreuzer – all at the peak of their powers – are among those yet to taste the ultimate team glory.
"It's hard to go past that 2001 draft,"said the recruiter.
TIME MACHINE:2007 NATIONAL DRAFT
1PS: Matthew Kreuzer (Carlton)
2:Trent Cotchin (Richmond)
3: Chris Masten (West Coast)
4: Cale Morton (Melbourne - no longer in AFL)
5:Jarrad Grant (Western Bulldogs - now at Gold Coast)
6:David Myers (Essendon)
7: Rhys Palmer (Fremantle - now at Carlton)
8: Lachie Henderson (Brisbane - now at Geelong)
9: Ben McEvoy (St Kilda - now at Hawthorn)
10: Patrick Dangerfield (Adelaide - now at Geelong)
11:Patrick Veszpremi (Sydney - no longer in the AFL)
12: Cyril Rioli (Hawthorn)
13: Brad Ebert (West Coast - now at Port Adelaide)
14: Jack Grimes (Melbourne - no longer in AFL)
15: Robbie Tarrant (North Melbourne)
16: Matthew Lobbe (Port Adelaide)
17: Harry Taylor (Geelong)
18PS: Alex Rance (Richmond)
19: Callan Ward (Western Bulldogs - now at GWS)
20: Tony Notte (West Coast - no longer in AFL)
*PS: Priority selection
IN HINDSIGHT:JON PIERIK REVISITS THE 2007 DRAFT AND OFFERS HIS TOP 10
1: Patrick Dangerfield (originally 10,now at Geelong)
The game's premier midfielder
2: Alex Rance (18 – still at Richmond)
The game's best defender
3: Cyril Rioli (12 – still at Hawthorn)
A match-winner who has done it on the biggest stage
4: Trent Cotchin (2 – still at Richmond)
Champion midfielder but yet to prove himself in September
5: Harry Taylor (17 – still at Geelong)
Has been a star centre half-back almost from day one
6:Taylor Walker (75 NSW scholarship holder – still at Adelaide)
One of the premier power forwards
7: Callan Ward (19 by Western Bulldogs,now at GWS)
Hard-running and courageous midfielder
8: Brad Ebert (13 by West Coast,now at Port Adelaide)
Now at the peak of his powers in the midfield
9: Cale Hooker (54 – still at Essendon)
Able to play key position at either end of the ground
10:Easton Wood (43 – still at Western Bulldogs)
A crucial defensive and rebounding cog of the Dogs'2016 flag