Leading into the 2018 National Draft, we’ve tried to nail a best 18 of Carlton’s draft selections.

Since 1986, Carlton has taken 159 players in the draft, not including rookie upgrades. The below team will only include those taken in the National Draft, not the rookie and pre-season drafts.

Additionally, players will have had to have been on the list for five years or more: the cut-off point is the 2013 draft.

With over 3000 games of experience, Hall of Famers, club captains and four current players, here’s what the team looks like.

Backs

Matthew Hogg (114 games): Snapped up by the Blues after previously running out for Footscray, Matthew Hogg was a dependable performer for Carlton in the 1990s. Hogg arrived at his second club after being taken with pick No.18 in the 1991 National Draft, and would enjoy the ultimate success at the Blues in 1995.

Michael Sexton (200 games): The first Hall of Fame member in this list, Michael Sexton was impossible to be overlooked after he was selected in the 1988 National Draft with pick No.54. A premiership player in 1995, Sexton also achieved two podium finishes in the best and fairest award.

Andrew McKay (244 games): There weren’t many more reliable players to pull on the navy blue than Andrew McKay. Arriving from South Australia with Carlton’s first selection (pick No.12) in 1992, McKay forged out a memorable career in the No.5 guernsey: the legacy will now continue with daughter Abbie from 2019.

Half-backs

Kade Simpson (307 games): All things considered, there’s a strong claim that Kade Simpson is Carlton’s greatest ever draft selection. The No.45 pick in 2002 arrived in a difficult time for the Club, but Simpson’s tenacity and determination - which has seen him become Carlton’s ‘heart and soul’ - has been unrivalled in his time at Ikon Park.

Jarrad Waite (184 games): The son of dual premiership player Vin, Jarrad Waite arrived at Carlton in 2001 as a father-son selection. While he kicked over 250 goals in navy blue in his 184 games, the enigmatic Waite was equally adept in the back half, as shown with a standout year in 2008 playing across half-back.

Ryan Houlihan (201 games): The mercurial Ryan Houlihan could play across any flank and not look out of place. One of Carlton’s big draft bargains, Houlihan was taken with pick No.73 in the 1999 National Draft, and burst onto the scene with his outstanding foot skills from defence as well as his nous in front of goal.

Centreline

Scott Camporeale (233 games): A premiership player in his first year as well as a best and fairest winner and All Australian in 2000, ‘Campo’ was much-loved in his 233 games for Carlton. The hard-running, silky midfielder - who was taken with pick No.15 in 1994 - was inducted into the Club’s Hall of Fame in 2016.

Patrick Cripps (81 games*): Now a captain at the age of 23, Cripps is the youngest player in this list after being taken in the 2013 draft with pick No.13. One of the standout midfielders in the competition, there is still so much more to play out in Cripps’ career: it has already yielded two best and fairest awards and an All Australian nod.

Andrew Walker (202 games): With one of the most memorable debuts in the history of the game, Walker would go onto become the first Indigenous player to feature in 200 games at Carlton. The high-flying No.1 was just as damaging in the forward half as he was in defence.

Half-forwards

Aaron Hamill (92 games): Taking over the No.4 jumper from Stephen Kernahan, Aaron Hamill had an impressive early stint at the Blues before it ended with a trade to St Kilda. In his five seasons at Carlton, the No.79 pick kicked 114 goals. His second-last game for the Blues saw him kick seven goals in a semi final win over Brisbane.

Lance Whitnall (216 games): One of Carlton’s most-recent Hall of Fame additions, Whitnall was a father-son recruit back in 1996. Over 11 years, Whitnall was a three-time leading goal-kicker, best and fairest, club captain and All Australian in 2000. Most memorably, he was the man behind one of the most-famous Carlton goals of all time: that set shot against Essendon in 1999.

Simon Beaumont (152 games): Most well-known for kicking eight goals in a half, Simon Beaumont did more than single-handedly tear Collingwood apart in 1999. The 1003rd player to pull on the Carlton guernsey, Beaumont - taken with pick No.18 in 1993 - played 133 consecutive games and featured on Grand Final day in 1999.

Full-forwards

Simon Wiggins (116 games): The ‘Chief’ was universally admired by Bluebaggers for his exploits between 2001 and 2010. Willing to do whatever it took for his side, the No.15 draft selection achieved his century of games and became a life member in 2008. ‘The Wiggler’ was as courageous as they come.

Brendan Fevola (187 games): With 575 goals in Blue, Brendan Fevola was one of the most-talented players to feature in Carlton’s illustrious history. The excitable Fevola made his way to the Blues with pick No.38 in the 1998 National Draft: he was the Club’s leading goal-kicker six consecutive times and won two Coleman Medals.

Brad Fisher (99 games): A hard-working, high-marking forward, Brad Fisher missing out by one game on the century is one of Carlton’s hard-luck stories. Making his way to the Blues alongside good mate Kade Simpson in 2002 (pick no.72), he kicked 127 goals and averaged over five marks a game. He returned to the Club as AFLW assistant coach last week.

Followers

Matthew Kreuzer (173 games*): The third of a trifecta of No.1 draft picks, Matthew Kreuzer has been the go-to guy in the ruck department for Carlton ever since he made his way to Ikon Park at the end of 2007. The ‘Tractor’ endeared himself to Bluebaggers instantly, and despite his injury concerns has forged a career full of character and combative performances.

Marc Murphy (249 games*): As the Club’s first-ever No.1 draft pick, Marc Murphy had the weight of the world on his shoulders when he was drafted — he quickly proved he was up to the task. A Blue for life, Murphy - a captain for six years, a two-time best and fairest and 2011 AFLCA Player of the Year - has been nothing but class as he closes on in his 250-game milestone.

Bryce Gibbs (231 games): Rounding out the trio of followers, Bryce Gibbs finished in the top-10 of the best and fairest in 10 of his 11 years as a Blue. The supremely-skilled Gibbs - the 1100th player to don the navy blue - won a John Nicholls Medal in 2014, and his consistency and dependability was a trademark.