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GREATER Western Sydney will become the first preliminary finalist to have a top-two pick in the following draft since Hawthorn grabbed club legend Luke Hodge with the No.1 pick in 2001.
The Giants managed to land the selection after a series of trades that began when it exchanged Adam Treloar to Collingwood for a future first-round draft pick in the 2015 NAB AFL Trade Period.
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That future selection became pick No.7 after Collingwood finished 11th last season, which the Giants used to gain pick No.3 from Fremantle for key forward Cam McCarthy, pick No.7, pick No.35 and pick No.73.
The Giants then exchanged pick No.3 and pick No.16 with the Brisbane Lions to gain pick No.2, pick No.31 and pick No.51.
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It has the Giants – who lost the 2016 preliminary final by just six points to eventual premiers, the Western Bulldogs – perfectly placed to select a star outside its academy program with Andy McGrath or Tim Taranto their potential selections.
The club has also hung on to picks 15 and 37 in this year's NAB AFL Draft despite being charged under AFL Rule 2.3, in regard to the investigation involving Lachie Whitfield and former club officials Graeme Allan and Craig Lambert.
A hearing will be held at the AFL Commission meeting on December 13, 2016, a fortnight after the draft.
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Hawthorn, who received picks No.1, No.20 and No.36 in exchange for sending Trent Croad and Luke McPharlin to Fremantle, managed to land Hodge, Daniel Elstone and Sam Mitchell with those selections in the 2001 super draft.
Hodge is now a dual-best and fairest and Norm Smith Medal winner who has captained the club to three of the four premierships he has played in with the Hawks during his 286-game career.
Despite falling short by just nine points in that 2001 preliminary final to Essendon, and then picking up Hodge and Mitchell, Hawthorn did not return to the finals until 2007.
The Giants have already had selection No.2 in three of the five drafts it has participated in with Stephen Coniglio, Jono O'Rourke (who is now with Hawthorn) and Josh Kelly joining the club via the second selection.
The Brisbane Lions will have pick No.3 for the first time since it selected Jarred Brennan in the 2002 draft, having earned the high pick despite winning back-to-back flags in 2001 and 2002 after trading Des Headland to Fremantle.
