Draft countdown: inside the lockout

WITH a level of security and secrecy usually reserved for the Brownlow Medal votes, the first round of the 24th NAB AFL Draft this year was kept under lock and key.

A privileged few were granted access to the Plenary Room at the Melbourne Convention Centre on the balmy November night where the lives of many aspiring footballers were set to change.

This year, the drafting process was transformed and followed a previously untried format.

Initially, the twilight timeslot, auditorium setting and proposed "10-to-one" countdown made for high excitement before a player had even been recruited.

At precisely 5.30pm, the "lock out" began. All people not affiliated with a club, or not sporting a rare blue wristband, were asked to leave the auditorium.

The mild commotion caused by the mass exodus of people only added to the growing sense of anticipation.

Eight representatives per club found their seats, and were now easily identified as an entity of bright polo shirt-wearing recruiters prepared to snare the "best talent available".

The tables were arranged in a U-shape with the clubs situated in initial pick order. Melbourne was closest to the stage on one side and Geelong, with the final selection of the first round, on the other.

In an interesting turn of events, Hawthorn and Essendon found themselves side by side in the closest proximity to each other since their round 22 confrontation at the MCG.

Adelaide, flanked by the Brisbane Lions and Collingwood, was hard to identify at first glance. Gone was the traditional navy blue uniform in place of the Crows' new white striped polo with the revamped logo on the left-hand side.

Had it not been for the Magpies' distinctive black and white theme, it would have been difficult to put a name to them either. With their Arizona training camp in full swing and Mick Malthouse on the other side of the world, the Pies were represented by a crew of lesser-known faces.

Powerade was the drink of choice, with each club table designated a colour (red, yellow or blue), and the exhaustive nature of their consideration meant many bottles were drained before the first pick was confirmed.

A 10-minute warning was given. There was a soft murmur throughout that period, perhaps indicating some clubs were either not completely sold on their decision or were formulating contingency plans.

AFL CEO Andrew Demetriou officially opened proceedings with a stern warning that anyone seen using a mobile phone would be ejected.

After another warning from Demetriou for the clubs to refrain from asking for extra time at this early stage, the Demons confirmed the order of their top two selections.

There was silence as Tom Scully was picked as No.1 and even less of a stir when Jack Trengove was named the second choice.

As Dustin Martin became a Tiger, Anthony Morabito a Fremantle player, Ben Cunnington a Kangaroo and Gary Rohan a Sydney Swan, there was also little commotion.

Afterall, phantom drafts all over the country had more or less predicted that order to a tee.

Brad Sheppard went to West Coast and Port Adelaide picked John Butcher - as expected and confirmed by Mark Williams minutes before the draft - before the first delay in proceedings occurred.

The Power paused slightly before considering the ninth selection. When recruiting officer Blair Hartley read out the serial number of Andrew Moore, there was clear satisfaction among their camp - and quiet elation within the Bombers' group.

A shared grin between the Essendon representatives and a distinct lack of hesitation saw Calder Cannon Jake Melksham headed to Windy Hill.

Melbourne (Jordan Gysberts), Carlton (Kane Lucas) and Adelaide (Daniel Talia) smoothly followed, before Lewis Jetta's marginal slide down the ratings saw him headed to the Harbour City.

Then the Western Bulldogs pulled the first big surprise of the draft by naming Christian Howard - seen by most as a potential third-rounder. But even that was received with little emotion from the 15 other clubs. 

Port Adelaide, intent on keeping things interesting, paused again at pick No.16 before recruiting the double-barrelled kid in Jasper McMillan-Pittard, who had been linked to cross-town rivals Adelaide.

The Cats hesitated slightly before making the final selection of the round, which drew out the top 17 process by at least an additional 30 seconds. Then South Australian Daniel Menzel became the last member of the class of 2009 to achieve coveted round-one status.

Afterwards, there was a lull before the doors were flung open and the country became aware of just who were the best 17 young players in the land.

Fremantle reps approached the Carlton bench - perhaps to congratulate coach Brett Ratten on snaring the young Western Australian Lucas, and a lone Eagle approached an isolated Tiger, although day one of the first cricket Test could have been the topic given no obvious link between the two clubs.

It had been a smooth transition to the new format. After a brief period of microphone trouble interrupted the flow of events early, the clubs breezed through the first behind-closed-doors round one in the 24 years of draft history.