WHAT do Shaun Burgoyne, Jay Schulz and Zak Butters all have in common? Each played for Port Adelaide and each was taken with the 12th pick at the AFL National Draft.
For the third time in four years, Port Adelaide will enter the draft armed with pick 12.
In 2018, the club used that pick to claim Butters, having picked up Connor Rozee at pick 5 and then Xavier Duursma at pick 18.
In 2019, the club landed Miles Bergman who made his AFL debut and enjoyed a break-out season in 2021, playing 23 games and being named a rising star nominee.
Bergman’s name was actually called at pick 14 after Next Generation Academy bids by other clubs pushed Port’s selection back two places.
There is a very real possibility that could happen again in 2021 with the expectation that Collingwood and the Western Bulldogs will match early bids for their respective father-son talents Nick Daicos and Sam Darcy.
Pick 12 has proven a valuable selection in recent history and Port Adelaide has been front and centre.
Here is a short history of Port Adelaide’s dealings with pick 12:
Pick 12 at Port Adelaide
2000 - Shaun Burgoyne
In 2000, the Power chose Shaun Burgoyne from its SANFL side at pick 12 - its first selection in that national draft.
Burgoyne debuted for the club in 2002, managing 157 games and 171 goals. An All-Australian selection in 2006 and part of the 2004 AFL premiership side, the silky right-footer then made the move to Hawthorn in 2010, where he added a further 250 games and 131 goals as well as another three premierships.
In 2019, Burgoyne eclipsed Adam Goodes’ record (372 games) for most games played by an Indigenous player and he retired at the end of the 2021 season with 407 AFL games and a legacy as one of the competition’s greatest players.
2002 - Jay Schulz
Jay Schulz was picked up by Richmond with pick 12 in 2002, and kicked 58 goals from his 71 games with the Tigers.
Schulz made the move to Alberton in 2010 where he added another 123 games and 275 goals for the Power.
The key forward led Port Adelaide’s goalkicking on four occasions - 2010, 2012, 2013 and 2014 - with a career-high tally of eight goals against the Western Bulldogs at Adelaide Oval in 2014.
He finished his AFL career with 333 goals from 194 games.
2018 - Zak Butters
One of Port Adelaide’s three first-round draftees in 2018, Butters quickly established himself as a fan favourite thanks to his skilful play and enthusiastic demeanour.
Diminutive in stature but sizeable in courage, the Western Jets product has proven to be clever in possession and will likely spend more time in the midfield in coming years, having started his career as a forward.
Averaging 15.5 disposals per game and with 31 goals from his first 48 games, Butters overcame a serious knee and ankle injury in 2021 and is one of the competition’s brightest prospects, having already made the 2020 All-Australian squad.
Notable pick 12s over the years:
1993 - Chris Scott (Brisbane)
1996 - Heath Black (Fremantle)
1998 - Adam Ramanauskas (Essendon)
2000 - Shaun Burgoyne (Port Adelaide)
2002 - Jay Schulz (Richmond)
2005 - Nathan Jones (Melbourne)
2006 - James Frawley (Melbourne)
2007 - Cyril Rioli (Hawthorn)
2011 - Sam Docherty (Brisbane)
2016 - Jy Simpkin (North Melbourne)
2018 - Zak Butters (Port Adelaide)
2019 – Kysaiah Pickett (Melbourne)
