Where AFL Superstar Patrick Dangerfield Ranks Among Five Future Hall of Famers from the Remarkable 2007 Draft Class

The 2007 AFL draft is celebrated as one of the greatest in history, yielding an impressive seven club captains, two Brownlow Medallists, two of the premier key defenders of the 21st century, numerous best and fairest winners, and five prospective Hall of Famers.

Determining an alternative top 10 from this pool of talent has proven to be a formidable challenge.

Currently, only three players from the 2007 draft remain active in the league: Taylor Walker at Adelaide, Callan Ward at GWS, and Patrick Dangerfield at Geelong, who is set to notch his 350th game this Friday night.

This latest achievement adds to Dangerfield’s legacy, as he continues to forge one of the most illustrious AFL careers of the 21st century. He has claimed selection as an All-Australian on eight occasions, making the team in 2012, 2013, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, and 2020, showcasing remarkable consistency over the years.

He was on track for a ninth selection in 2025; however, a hamstring injury hindered his season. Achieving this milestone would be historic, as no player has been chosen for nine All-Australian teams. Currently, Dangerfield is tied on eight selections with Robert Harvey, Mark Ricciuto, Gary Ablett Jr, and Lance Franklin.

At 35 years of age, he clinched the Brownlow Medal in 2016, received four club best and fairests, and finally captured the premiership cup in 2022. Should Geelong triumph this season, he would also assume the title of premiership captain.

Given all this, it’s evident that Dangerfield stands out as the number one pick in any re-draft. His consistent brilliance since 2012 is unparalleled, and he has had two remarkable careers with both Adelaide and Geelong.

Looking back, Matthew Kreuzer was heralded as the obvious first choice heading into the 2007 draft. The anticipation was so high that Carlton and Richmond met in a match famously referred to as the ‘Kreuzer Cup’.

Despite being the first ruckman selected, Kreuzer experienced a tumultuous career marred by injuries, leaving him out of the re-drafted top 10. He played a total of 189 games for Carlton.

Easton Wood, known for leading the Western Bulldogs to their breakthrough premiership in 2016, also misses out on this revised list, illustrating the tough decisions made in selecting from this elite group.

The 2007 draft is noted for its wealth of ruckmen, including Ben McEvoy, Shane Mumford, Stefan Martin, and Tom Bellchambers, who were all selected at various points.

McEvoy makes it into our revised top 10 as a two-time premiership player and current Hawks captain, while Mumford rounds out the list at number 10. His standout performances in finals and being a best and fairest winner for GWS solidified his place, edging out Kreuzer, Wood, and North Melbourne’s Robbie Tarrant.

This draft has undeniably influenced Richmond’s dynasty, with the selection of premiership captain Trent Cotchin at pick two and elite key defender Alex Rance at 18. The lingering question remains—who deserves to be ranked first between these two?

As one of the modern game’s premier key defenders, one could argue for Rance, though he retired having played 106 fewer games than Cotchin, which factored into the decision to rank the 2012 Brownlow Medallist in second position.

Cyril Rioli, who retired in 2018, presents a challenging case for rankings, being a four-time premiership player, three-time All-Australian, and Norm Smith Medallist. His ability to shine in finals, despite only playing 189 games, cements his place in draft history.

We have positioned Rioli at number five, with Taylor Walker, elegantly occupying the fourth spot, now boasting 290 games and counting. The 75th and final selection of the 2007 draft through a New South Wales scholarship, Walker has also netted 661 goals—the highest for any Crow—and is on track to reach his 300th game this season.

No player on this list enjoyed more wins than Geelong’s key defender Harry Taylor, whose career spanned 280 games filled with success.

Taylor was part of the premiership teams in 2009 and 2011 and earned selection in two All-Australian squads during his time.

Callan Ward, the inaugural captain of the GWS Giants, stands as a midfield powerhouse with an impressive 327 games under his belt. His career was likely cut short by a torn ACL earlier in the 2025 season.

St Kilda’s Jack Steven also deserves mention, being a four-time club best and fairest winner. Despite being part of some challenging team environments, he was undeniably the standout player for many years.

The 2007 draft may well produce five future Hall of Famers in the likes of Dangerfield, Cotchin, Rance, Walker, and Rioli.

This exceptional draft will surely be regarded as one of the finest of the 21st century, especially as Dangerfield continues to add to his legendary career throughout 2025.

Original top 10 selections:

1. Matthew Kreuzer (Carlton)

2. Trent Cotchin (Richmond)

3. Chris Masten (West Coast)

4. Cale Morton (Melbourne)

5. Jarrad Grant (Western Bulldogs)

6. David Myers (Essendon)

7. Rhys Palmer (Fremantle)

8. Lachie Henderson (Brisbane)

9. Ben McEvoy (St Kilda)

10. Patrick Dangerfield (Adelaide)

Re-drafted top 10:

1. Patrick Dangerfield (was pick 10)

2. Trent Cotchin (was pick two)

3. Alex Rance (was pick 18)

4. Taylor Walker (was pick 75)

5. Cyril Rioli (was pick 12)

6. Harry Taylor (was pick 17)

7. Callan Ward (was pick 19)

8. Ben McEvoy (was pick nine)

9. Jack Steven (pick 42)

10. Shane Mumford (rookie pick)

Honourable mentions: Robbie Tarrant, Matthew Kreuzer, Brad Ebert, Easton Wood, Lachie Henderson, Scott Selwood, Chris Mayne