# 1996 AFL draft

The 1996 AFL draft was held at the conclusion of the 1996 Australian Football League (AFL) season. The inaugural rookie draft was held with the 1997 pre-season draft.
The AFL draft is the annual draft of new unsigned players by Australian rules football teams that participate in the main competition of that sport, the Australian Football League.
Clubs receive picks based on the position in which they finish on the ladder during the season, although these picks can be swapped around by teams for trading players.

## Trades: club by club
### Adelaide

* Brett James from Collingwood for Jonathon Ross
* Trent Ormond-Allen from Melbourne for draft pick #83
* Clay Sampson from Melbourne for Nick Pesch
* Tim Cook and Aaron Keating from Port Adelaide for Scott Hodges
* Nick Laidlaw from Port Adelaide for David Brown
* Barry Standfield from Western Bulldogs for draft picks #32 and #47

### Carlton

* Ben Nelson and Andrew Balkwill from Port Adelaide for Brent Heaver
* Mick McGuane from Collingwood for draft picks #19 and #65

### Collingwood

* Anthony Rocca from Sydney for Ben Wilson, Mark Orchard and draft picks #14 and #33
* John R. Barnett from North Melbourne for draft pick #70
* Richard Osborne from Western Bulldogs for draft pick #61
* Jonathon Ross from Adelaide for Brett James

### Geelong

* Hamish Simpson and Cameron Roberts from Port Adelaide for draft pick #37
* Tim Hargreaves from Hawthorn for Aaron Lord

### Hawthorn

* Aaron Lord from Geelong for Tim Hargreaves
* Justin Crawford from Sydney for David McEwan and draft pick #17

### North Melbourne

* Kent Kingsley and Wade Kingsley from Port Adelaide for Paul Geister

### Melbourne

* Nick Pesch from Adelaide for Clay Sampson

### Port Adelaide

* Shane Bond and Brayden Lyle from West Coast for draft pick #57
* Shayne Breuer from Geelong for Hamish Simpson, Cameron Roberts and draft picks #8 and 43
* David Brown from Adelaide for Nick Laidlaw
* Paul Geister from North Melbourne for Kent Kingsley and Wade Kingsley
* Brent Heaver from Carlton for Ben Nelson and Andrew Balkwill
* Scott Hodges from Adelaide for Aaron Keating and Tim Cook
** For zone and uncontracted player selections see below

### Richmond

* Trent Nichols from North Melbourne for draft pick #50

### St Kilda

* Troy Gray from Sydney for draft pick #34

### Sydney

* Mark Orchard and Ben Wilson from Collingwood for Anthony Rocca
* David McEwan from Hawthorn for Justin Crawford

### West Coast

* Ilija Grgic from Western Bulldogs for Luke Trew and draft pick #20

### Western Bulldogs

* Simon Minton-Connell from Hawthorn for draft pick #29
* Luke Trew from West Coast for Ilija Grgic

## 1996 national draft

| Pick | Player | Recruited from | Club |
| 1 | Michael Gardiner | Claremont (WAFL) | West Coast |
| 2 | Chris Heffernan | Geelong (U18) | Essendon |
| 3 | Rory Hilton | Murray (U18) | Brisbane Lions |
| 4 | Mark Kinnear | Calder (U18) | Sydney |
| 5 | Daniel McAlister | Tasmania (U18) | Essendon |
| 6 | John Rombotis | Fitzroy | Port Adelaide |
| 7 | Bowen Lockwood | Geelong (U18) | Port Adelaide |
| 8 | Leigh Brockman | Tasmania (U18) | Geelong |
| 9 | Mark Harwood | Tasmania (U18) | Port Adelaide |
| 10 | Nathan Brown | Bendigo (U18) | Western Bulldogs |
| 11 | Brent Grgic | Geelong (U18) | Melbourne |
| 12 | Heath Black | Oakleigh Chargers | Fremantle |
| 13 | Tom Gilligan | Southern (U18) | Adelaide |
| 14 | Brett O'Farrell | Prahran Dragons | Sydney |
| 15 | Max Hudghton | West Brisbane (AFLQ) | St Kilda |
| 16 | Pat Steinfort | Oakleigh Chargers | Richmond |
| 17 | Rowan Warfe | Fitzroy (U18) | Sydney |
| 18 | Gerrard Bennett | Tasmania (U18) | Geelong |
| 19 | Brent Tuckey | Ballarat (U18) | Collingwood |
| 20 | Matthew Dent | Fitzroy | Western Bulldogs |
| 21 | Tim Williams | East Perth (WAFL) | Essendon |
| 22 | Alistair Nicholson | Claremont | Melbourne |
| 23 | Evan Hewitt | Subiaco (WAFL) | North Melbourne |
| 24 | Josh Wooden | NSW-ACT (U18) | West Coast |
| 25 | Andrew Bomford | Sydney | Essendon |
| 26 | Tim Notting | Ballarat (U18) | Brisbane Lions |
| 27 | Troy Cook | Perth (WAFL) | Sydney |
| 28 | Jason Johnson | Calder (U18) | Essendon |
| 29 | Nathan Turvey | South Fremantle (WAFL) | Hawthorn |
| 30 | Hayden Lamaro | Murray (U18) | Melbourne |
| 31 | Jess Sinclair | Eastern (U18) | Fremantle |
| 32 | Jim Plunkett | Northern (U18) | Western Bulldogs |
| 33 | Will Sangster | Prahran Dragons | Sydney |
| 34 | Shannon Corcoran | Brisbane | Sydney |
| 35 | Mark Chaffey | Caulfield Grammar | Richmond |
| 36 | Jonathan Hay | East Fremantle (WAFL) | Hawthorn |
| 37 | Adam Kingsley | Essendon | Port Adelaide |
| 38 | Sam Smart | Norwood (SANFL) | Carlton |
| 39 | Nick Stone | Claremont (WAFL) | West Coast |
| 40 | Forfeited due to violation of salary cap regulations | - | Essendon |
| 41 | Matthew Manfield | Fitzroy | Richmond |
| 42 | Martin Pike | Fitzroy | North Melbourne |
| 43 | Paul Corrigan | Melbourne | Geelong |
| 44 | Jacob Rhodes | Geelong (U18) | Western Bulldogs |
| 45 | Clayton Gardiner | Claremont (WAFL) | Melbourne |
| 46 | Matthew Clucas | East Fremantle (WAFL) | Fremantle |
| 47 | Brett Montgomery | Footscray | Western Bulldogs |
| 48 | Marty Warry | Fitzroy | Collingwood |
| 49 | Jason Heatley | West Coast | St Kilda |
| 50 | Luke McCormick | NSW-ACT (U18) | North Melbourne |
| 51 | Robert McMahon | Fitzroy | Hawthorn |
| 52 | Damien Lock | Bendigo (U18) | Carlton |
| 53 | Michael Braun | Bendigo (U18) | West Coast |
| 54 | Mathew Watson | Essendon | Essendon |
| 55 | Steven McKee | Myrtelford (VCFL) | Richmond |
| 56 | Cameron Mooney | NSW-ACT (U18) | North Melbourne |
| 57 | Trent Cummings | Fitzroy | West Coast |
| 58 | Paul Dooley | Williamstown (VFL) | Western Bulldogs |
| 59 | Anthony McDonald | Melbourne | Melbourne |
| 60 | Andrew Eccles | Northern (U18) | Adelaide |
| 61 | Stephen Powell | Melbourne | Western Bulldogs |
| 62 | Andrew Thompson | St Kilda | St Kilda |
| 63 | Jason Baldwin | Fitzroy | Richmond |
| 64 | Darren Collins | Port Adelaide | Hawthorn |
| 65 | Brad Cassidy | Fitzroy | Collingwood |
| 66 | Paul Hills | Essendon | Essendon |
| 67 | Byron Pickett | Port Adelaide | North Melbourne |
| 68 | Russell Robertson | Tasmania (U18) | Melbourne |
| 69 | Chad Rintoul | East Fremantle | Adelaide |
| 70 | Adam Hay | East Perth | North Melbourne |
| 71 | Brett Knowles | Gippsland (U18) | St Kilda |
| 72 | Brent Frewen | Fitzroy | Richmond |
| 73 | Brett Howman | NSW-ACT (U18) | Hawthorn |
| 74 | Chris Jackson | NSW-ACT (U18) | Carlton |
| 75 | Mark Winterton | Southern (U18) | Melbourne |
| 76 | Greg Dempsey | West Adelaide | Adelaide |
| 77 | Marcus Barham | Calder (U18) | Collingwood |
| 78 | Lucas Fleming | Northern (U18) | St Kilda |
| 79 | Daniel Donati | Old Xavs (VAFA) | Richmond |
| 80 | Chris Holcombe | Southern (U18) | Hawthorn |
| 81 | Anthony Franchina | Carlton | Carlton |
| 82 | Duncan O'Toole | Devonport | Melbourne |
| 83 | Ashley Gehling | Melbourne | Melbourne |
| 84 | Josh Mahoney | Williamstown (VFL) | Collingwood |
| 85 | Brad Scott | Hawthorn | Hawthorn |
| 86 | Ben Parker | Murray (U18) | Adelaide |
| 87 | Brad Fuller | NSW-ACT (U18) | Collingwood |
| 88 | Phil Smith | West Perth | Hawthorn |
| 89 | Dwayne Griffin | Swan Districts | Collingwood |
| 90 | Leigh Singline | Sth Launceston | Collingwood |

## 1997 pre-season draft

| Pick | Player | Recruited from | Club |
| 1 | Stephen Paxman | Fitzroy | Port Adelaide |
| 2 | Paul Hudson | Hawthorn | Western Bulldogs |
| 3 | Leigh Newton | Albury | Melbourne |
| 4 | Jason Taylor | Hawthorn | Collingwood |
| 5 | Brett Cook | Fitzroy | St Kilda |
| 6 | Brett Evans | Springvale | Richmond |
| 7 | Jon Hassall | Collingwood | Hawthorn |
| 8 | Darren Hulme | Southern Stingrays | Carlton |
| 9 | Matthew Banks | Eastern Ranges | Essendon |
| 10 | John Stevens | Old Ivanhoe Grammarians | Sydney |
| 11 | Brett Chandler | Fitzroy | North Melbourne |
| 12 | Steven Pitt | Collingwood | Western Bulldogs |
| 13 | Robert Pyman | Collingwood | Melbourne |
| 14 | Robert Schaefer | Central District | Collingwood |
| 15 | Brad Campbell | Port Melbourne | St Kilda |
| 16 | Todd Ridley | Fremantle | Hawthorn |
| 17 | Anthony Mellington | Fitzroy | North Melbourne |
| 18 | Shane Woewodin | East Fremantle | Melbourne |
| 19 | Michael R. Gardiner | Subiaco | Collingwood |
| 20 | Nigel Credin | Fitzroy | Hawthorn |

## 1997 rookie draft

The first AFL rookie draft was held on 25 February 1997. Only players aged between 18 and 23 were eligible to be drafted. Whilst each club could draft up to six players onto their Rookie Lists, only Collingwood, Melbourne and Essendon selected a full complement, whilst Brisbane Lions and St Kilda declined to take part.
| Pick | Player | Recruited from | AFL club |
| 1 | Jason Dylan | Port Adelaide | Port Adelaide |
| 2 | Adam Contessa | North Melbourne reserves | Western Bulldogs |
| 3 | Nathan Bassett | Norwood | Melbourne |
| 4 | Cameron Venables | Subiaco | Fremantle |
| 5 | Ben Marsh | West Adelaide | Adelaide |
| 6 | Mal Michael | Collingwood reserves | Collingwood |
| 7 | Justin Plapp | Burnie | Richmond |
| 8 | Brad L. Campbell | Kyabram | Hawthorn |
| 9 | Michael Brown | Fitzroy reserves | Geelong |
| 10 | Mark Porter | Coburg | Carlton |
| 11 | Paul Blair | Subiaco | West Coast |
| 12 | Mark Johnson | Calder U18 | Essendon |
| 13 | Pass | | Brisbane |
| 14 | Nathan Tresize | Murray U18 | Sydney |
| 15 | Julian Kirzner | Carlton reserves | North Melbourne |
| 16 | Luke Ottens | Glenelg | Port Adelaide |
| 17 | Jason Lappin | Western Bulldogs reserves | Western Bulldogs |
| 18 | Daniel Ward | Fitzroy reserves | Melbourne |
| 19 | Matthew Richter | Claremont | Fremantle |
| 20 | Steven Coghill | West Adelaide | Adelaide |
| 21 | Andrew Pugsley | Eastern U18 | Collingwood |
| 22 | Jason Ramsey | Fitzroy | Richmond |
| 23 | Pass | | Hawthorn |
| 24 | Shawn Lewfatt | Essendon | Geelong |
| 25 | Pass | | Carlton |
| 26 | Ryan Webb | West Perth | West Coast |
| 27 | Gary Moorcroft | Essendon reserves | Essendon |
| 28 | Pass | | Brisbane |
| 29 | Pass | | Sydney |
| 30 | Bryan Beinke | Port Adelaide | North Melbourne |
| 31 | Pass | | Port Adelaide |
| 32 | Pass | | Western Bulldogs |
| 33 | Matthew Bishop | Box Hill | Melbourne |
| 34 | Rupert Betheras | East Perth | Fremantle |
| 35 | Pass | | Adelaide |
| 36 | Michael Polley | Melbourne | Collingwood |
| 37 | Pass | | Richmond |
| 38 | Pass | | Hawthorn |
| 39 | Pass | | Geelong |
| 40 | Pass | | Carlton |
| 41 | Trent Simpson | Subiaco | West Coast |
| 42 | Andrew Ramsden | Old Trinity | Essendon |
| 43 | Pass | | Brisbane |
| 44 | Pass | | Sydney |
| 45 | Pass | | North Melbourne |
| 46 | Pass | | Port Adelaide |
| 47 | Pass | | Western Bulldogs |
| 48 | Russell Robertson | Melbourne | Melbourne |
| 49 | Scott Gooch | Fremantle | Fremantle |
| 50 | Pass | | Adelaide |
| 51 | Brett Warburton | Carlton reserves | Collingwood |
| 52 | Pass | | Richmond |
| 53 | Pass | | Hawthorn |
| 54 | Pass | | Geelong |
| 55 | Pass | | Carlton |
| 56 | Todd Nener | East Perth | West Coast |
| 57 | Luke Trew | Western Bulldogs | Essendon |
| 58 | Pass | | Brisbane |
| 59 | Steven Mahar | Belconnen | Sydney |
| 60 | Pass | | North Melbourne |
| 61 | Pass | | Port Adelaide |
| 62 | Pass | | Western Bulldogs |
| 63 | Duncan O'Toole | Melbourne | Melbourne |
| 64 | Gavin Milentis | Claremont | Fremantle |
| 65 | Pass | | Adelaide |
| 66 | Peter O'Brien | Old Melburnians | Collingwood |
| 67 | Pass | | Richmond |
| 68 | Pass | | Hawthorn |
| 69 | Pass | | Geelong |
| 70 | Pass | | Carlton |
| 71 | Pass | | West Coast |
| 72 | Andrew Henderson | University Blues | Essendon |
| 73 | Pass | | Brisbane |
| 74 | Leigh Marshall | Sydney | Sydney |
| 75 | Pass | | North Melbourne |
| 76 | Pass | | Port Adelaide |
| 77 | Pass | | Western Bulldogs |
| 78 | James McDonald | Old Xaverians | Melbourne |
| 79 | Pass | | Fremantle |
| 80 | Pass | | Adelaide |
| 81 | Mark Oxley | Castlemaine | Collingwood |
| 82 | Pass | | Richmond |
| 83 | Pass | | Hawthorn |
| 84 | Pass | | Geelong |
| 85 | Pass | | Carlton |
| 86 | Pass | | West Coast |
| 87 | Damien Franken | Donvale | Essendon |
| 88 | Pass | | Brisbane |
| 89 | Adam Ryder | Belconnen | Sydney |
| 90 | Pass | | North Melbourne |

## Port Adelaide zone selections

As part of Port Adelaide's entry to the AFL they were entitled to recruit some uncontracted players from other AFL clubs and players from the SANFL prior to the national draft. Clubs that lost players were entitled to compensation selections before both the first and second rounds of the 1996 national draft.

### Uncontracted player selection

* Ian Downsborough (West Coast): compensation selections #1 (Michael Gardiner) and #24 (Josh Wooden)
* Gavin Wanganeen (Essendon): compensation selections #2 (Chris Heffernan) and #25 (Andrew Bomford)
* Matthew Primus (Fitzroy): compensation selections #3 (Rory Hilton) and #26 (Tim Notting) to Brisbane Lions
* Adam Heuskes (Sydney): compensation selections #4 (Mark Kinnear) and #27 (Troy Cook)
* Scott Cummings (Essendon): compensation selections #5 (Daniel McAlister) and #28 (Jason Johnson)

### Zone selections

| Player | Recruited from |
| Nathan Eagleton | West Adelaide |
| Tom Harley | Norwood |
| Peter Burgoyne | Port Adelaide |
| Stuart Dew | Central District |
| Fabian Francis | Port Adelaide |
| Josh Francou | North Adelaide |
| Roger James | Norwood |
| Brendon Lade | South Adelaide |
| Darren Mead | Port Adelaide |
| Nathan Steinberner | Central District |
| Warren Tredrea | Port Adelaide |
| Michael Wilson | Port Adelaide |
| Stephen Daniels | Norwood |
| Donald Dickie | Norwood |
| Paul Evans | Port Adelaide |
| Scott Bassett | Norwood |
| Rhett Biglands | Woodville-West Torrens |
| Tom Carr | Port Adelaide |
| Stephen Carter | Port Adelaide |
| Mark Conway | Central District |
| Jarrod Cotton | Central District |
| Nigel Fiegert | Port Adelaide |
| Scott Freeborn | Woodville-West Torrens |
| Jake Lynch | Woodville-West Torrens |
| Scott Mathews | Woodville-West Torrens |
| Andrew Osborn | South Adelaide |
| Darryl Poole | Port Adelaide |
| Damian Squire | North Adelaide |
| Jonathon Yerbury | Norwood |

## Brisbane Lions pre-draft selections

As part of the conditions of the merger between Brisbane Bears and the Fitzroy Football Club, Brisbane was able to recruit up to eight players from Fitzroy into the newly created Brisbane Lions.
* Scott Bamford
* John Barker
* Brad Boyd
* Nick Carter
* Shane Clayton
* Simon Hawking
* Chris Johnson
* Jarrod Molloy