History shows hidden gems are waiting to be unearthed

AS a general rule, the earlier you do your drafting, the better.

But that doesn’t mean there aren’t stars to be unearthed among later picks.

Take Geelong’s transformative 1999 and 2001 drafts, when the Cats hit gold with early picks Joel Corey and Jimmy Bartel, both pick eight, as well as some inspired later choices.

In 1999, that was Paul Chapman (pick 31), Cameron Ling (38) and Corey Enright (47).

Two years later, James Kelly (17) and Steve Johnson (24) were plucked, along with Gary Ablett as a father-son.

Such drafts helped set Geelong on the trajectory towards three premierships.

The Cats may not have high choices at this year’s draft for now, but they do have scope to make big trades up into the first round.

The Cats currently hold picks 22, 30, 32, 34 and 50, but those numbers will be shuffled as father-son and academy selections change the order.

If Geelong sticks with its hand, there is plenty of hope it can strike big.

With picks in the 20s and 30s, draft master Stephen Wells has had as many hits as the Rolling Stones.

Players such as David Wojcinski (24), Tom Lonergan (23), Mitch Duncan (28), Cam Guthrie (23), Brandon Parfitt (26) and Tim Kelly (24) have been plucked in the range Wells will likely have to work with.

Of course, with every hit, there are the misses, and Geelong is not short on players who just didn’t quite make it.

Those two superdrafts at the turn of the century also saw the Cats bring in the likes of David Spriggs, Ezra Bray, Daniel Foster and Matthew McCarthy.

But history suggests if Wells and his team get enough looks at that second and third round, they will unearth at least one gem.

For a side that could be two or three pairs of fresh legs away from a flag, it could make all the difference.