Eight years ago, Queensland recorded the highest number of draftees in one season, in 2006, and many of them have gone on to forge successful AFl careers.
Let’s have a look at the class of ’06 and where they are now.
#9 David Armitage (St Kilda)
Armitage grew up in Mackay before being drafted from the Morningside Panthers. After a slow start to his career, Armitage entrenched himself in the Saints starting 22 and has now played over 100 games for the club that drafted him. Considered one of their key midfielders, A knee injury interrupted his 2014 season but it is hoped he will continue his improvement in 2015.
#17 – Shaun Hampson (Carlton)
Hampson was drafted to the Blues out of Mt Gravatt with a priority pick in the 2006 draft. The ruckman made his debut for Carlton in his first year at the club, against North Melbourne. In seven seasons with the Blues, he played 63 games before being traded to Richmond at the start of the 2014 season. The 201cm Queenslander played 11 games for the Tigers, debuting in Rd 1.
#21 Gavin Urquhart (Kangaroos)
Urquhart played four seasons with the Kangaroos, from 2007-11, notching up 41 games to his names. The defender was delisted by the kangaroos at the end of the 2012 season, but signed with Airport West in the Essendon District Football League. The 26 year-old won the Eagles’ best and fairest this season.
#22 Albert Proud (Brisbane Lions)
Proud played 29 matches for the Lions over four seasons, before heading back to the NEAFL competition. The tough midfielder played for Mt Gravatt in the NEAFL Northern Conference in 2011-2013. The 26 year-old played in a premiership with Springwood in the QFA South Competition this season, his second season with the local club.
#24 Brent Renouf (Hawthorn)
Drafted from Southport, Renouf played 52 games for hawthorn in five season with the Hawks, before being traded to Port Adelaide ahead of the 2012 season. The ruckman played 16 matches with the Power and was delisted at the end of the 2014 season.
#27 Brad Howard (St Kilda)
Speedy defender, Howard, was drafted from the Redland Bombers to St Kilda as the Saints entered a boom phase. Howard made his debut for St Kilda in Round eight of the 2007 season, his first of two games for the Saints. After four seasons in the VFL, two for Casey and two for Sandringham, Howard returned to Redland in the inaugural NEAFL season. He quickly became one of the premier defenders in the competition, representing the NEAFL Northern Conference in 2013.
#30 Ricky Petterd (Melbourne)
Petterd made his debut for Melbourne in Rd 5 of the 2007 season, going on to play 54 games for the Demons. Injuries hampered his progress in his time at the Demons, with season-ending injuries in 2007 and 2010. Richmond re-drafted Petterd as a rookie ahead of the 2013 season and the 26 year old has gone on to play 25 games in two seasons, including 16 in 2014.
#32 Kurt Tippett (Adelaide)
Kurt Tipett could be argued to be the biggest bargain of the 2006 draft class, one of the most damaging forwards in the AFL. The Southport Shark was drafted to Adelaide, where he played 104 games from 2008- 2012. Tippett was traded to the Sydney Swans ahead of the 2012 season, but suspension meant he had a delayed start to his new club. Injuries has impacted his time at the Swans, but he has played 26 games in two seasons with the red and white.
#69 Ben Warren (Kangaroos)
Drafted from the Zillmere Eagles, warren bade his time before earning his AFL debut in Round Four , 2009. Warren played five consecutive games after his debut, but a broken leg forced him to miss the rest of the season. He recovered from that injury to play 16 games i n 2010, but only managed a handful of games in his final two years at the Roos. He is currently playing for the Werribee Tigers in the VFL.
#76 Paul O’Shea (Western Bulldogs)
O’Shea was drafted to the Western Bulldogs, where he spent three seasons. O’Shea’s AFL career was cut short by a hip injury and glandular fever . He has played in Tasmania and for Wyndham Vale in Victoria’s Western Region Football League in recent years. O’Shea booted 100 goals for the Falcons, in his second year with the club.
#79 Jesse White (Sydney)
White was drafted out of the Southport Sharks, with a strong basketball background, off the back of an outstanding 2006 U18 national Championships. He had a chance to learn from some power forwards in Barry Hall and Michael O’Loughlin at Sydney, where he played 71 games. White was traded to Collingwood ahead of the 2014 season and has managed 18 games in his debut season for the Magpies.
