2001 is universally regarded as a super draft. The best crop the game has ever seen, and with good reason when you consider the calibre of names in this draft class.
 
The draft produced champions Luke Hodge, Luke Ball and Chris Judd with the first three picks, before being littered with Brownlow medallists, premierships stars, All Australians and a collection of 200 game plus campaigners.
 
Amid the raft of decorated stars sits one player above all else. This player wasn’t taken until pick No. 40, courtesy of the father/son rules at the time, but has since gone on to become one of the greatest players of all time. He is of course Gold Coast SUNS captain Gary Ablett.
 
Before esteemed recruiting boss Stephen Wells added Ablett to the Cats stable midway through the third round, Geelong had already acquired three players who would go on to become triple premiership ornaments at Kardinia Park – Jimmy Bartel (pick No. 8), James Kelly (No. 17) and Steve Johnson (No. 24).
 
And before pick No. 40, distinguished stars in the form of David Hale (No. 7), Brent Reilly (No. 12), Nick Dal Santo (No. 13), Jason Gram (No. 19), Sam Mitchell (No. 36) and Leigh Montagna (No. 37), were all taken before Ablett officially joined his father’s famous club. Dane Swan (No. 58), Adam Schneider (No. 60) and Brian Lake (No. 71) rounded out an illustrious field. The best of all time.
 
Ablett’s palmarés do not need to be recited. His standing in the game is indisputable. But when you consider he cost the Cats just pick No. 40 to acquire, albeit due to the fortunate father/son rule, Ablett joins a list of the all time greatest drafting bargains. When you factor in whom Geelong added to its list that year, it becomes an even more remarkable story.
 
In a weak draft, players stand out clearly. In a draft bursting with brilliance, pieces of gold are more difficult to identify. At pick No. 40, Geelong secured the rights to one of the game’s greatest ever players, if not the greatest. A true bargain.