AFL Draft review: the steal, the bolter, the mystery, the best bloke and the convert On Thursday night 76 young footballers had their AFL dreams realised. But who were the movers and shakers on the draft board and which clubs flew home from the Gold Coast laughing loudest? SAM LANDSBERGER and JAY CLARK take you inside the draft with their expert analysis. A TIE between West Coast pick Liam Duggan and Melbourne's inside midfielder Alex Neal-Bullen? A straw poll of recruiters narrowed it to that pair yesterday with near-even claims for the title. Clean-cut and future pin-up boy Duggan was called "the perfect human" by some in the TAC Cup and former coach Doug Hawkins believes his maturity advanced after an emotional premiership in 2011. That year Duggan's teammate Nathan Prince went into cardiac arrest on the field and died 11 days later, while the words "caring," "loyal" and "genuine" were thrown Neal-Bullen's way. The gun junior athlete studies education and disability and wants to teach children, inspired by his grandmother - a former jockey who is in a wheelchair due to a bad fall paralysing her. Alex Neal-Bullen with his parents Gary and Sharon. CHRISTIAN Petracca had more than his fair share of best-on-grounds this year, but the three votes from Thursday night had to go to his family. Petracca's TAC Cup coach Darren Bewick believes the No.2 pick was the biggest steal, saying "St Kilda would regret not taking him." With Christian in bed, the who's who of the draft converged to talk shop deep into the night, but it was the bubbly Petracca family who were at the heart of the action. They belted out a rendition of the Demons" "It's a Grand Old Flag" theme song and celebrated mum Elvira's birthday in style after her youngest son graduated to the AFL. Dad Tony was thrilled at the irony of Christian going from a Saint to a Demon - and we're confident they also had the lyrics of St Kilda's tune down pat. It was great to see. Anthony Hudson interviews picks two and three for the Melbourne Demons; Christian Petracca and Angus Brayshaw THE saying goes that one club jokingly requested if Stephen Wells could stop stealing their players after the master Geelong recruiter peeled off three impressive late picks in quick succession. Other clubs believe Wells" selections skewed the draft back on track after some surprises. Geelong pair Corey Gregson and Dean Gore - two versatile, inside players who can run and have played at senior SANFL level - were complemented nicely by the outside and long-kicking Jordan Cunico. Gold Coast excelled earlier, taking Peter Wright (No.8) and his outgoing Calder and Vic Metro teammate Touk Miller (29), which will help the pair settle in. The infectious Miller, a small but powerful inside midfielder, was Wright's captain in both teams and rated on the edge of the top 10 for some clubs. Geelong-bound South Australians Cory Gregson and Dean Gore. IT was the peculiar deal finalised minutes before the craziest trade period ended - but Geelong and Adelaide can take a bow. The Crows" bold decision to slip from selection 10 to 14 and elevate their next pick 12 rungs looks inspired. They got their man at 14 in Jake Lever, the key defender they rated above Goddard and Durdin and who was on track to be a top-three pick before rupturing an ACL. And the Cats pounced on one-game marvel Nakia Cockatoo with their first top-10 pick since Joel Selwood, swooping on the excitement machine a pick before a keen West Coast had the chance. Adelaide backed it up by selecting local boy Harrison Wigg at No.35, a neat and tidy All-Australian defender with a thumping left leg. Jake Lever was picked up by Adelaide at No.14. IN 2013 Toby McLean was rejected from the Dandenong Stingrays, so the high-flying half-forward decided to play senior football for Narre Warren. Fifty goals and a best-and-fairest still wasn't enough to make the Rays, so McLean fought his way onto Oakleigh Chargers" list in January instead. Rising to every challenge, McLean capped his breakout year with the best-afield medal in Oakleigh's premiership and won a late call-up to the national draft combine. He was taken with the Bulldogs" first pick (26) on Thursday - and they love his devastating game smarts - with his draft story similar to fellow Chargers" product and Dog Jack Macrae. Strong-marking defender Caleb Marchbank was the late bolter, moving from a predicted No.19 selection (Carlton) to pick six (GWS) after a tweak in the Giants" draft plans. Toby McLean flies high to take the mark during the TAC Cup. AS always, a couple of players slid outside their expected range. Two clubs in particular, Essendon and St Kilda, were delighted with the outcomes of their picks at Nos.20 and 21 respectively. New 189cm Bomber Jayden Laverde "could be anything," according to Essendon's list chief Adrian Dodoro, the way he can sidestep out of trouble and reel in big marks, even when he seems out positioned. Carlton fans will watch his development anxiously after the Blues chose Blaine Boekhorst at No.19. The Saints, meanwhile, were thrilled that Hugh Goddard fell to them at 21, helping lock in the club's two bookends with Goddard and Paddy McCartin, perhaps, for the next decade. Goddard can improve his ability to thwart opponents in marking situations, but will scoop the ball up and use it well by foot on the rebound. Jayden Laverde slipped through to Essendon at pick No.20. HAS West Coast found another Jack Darling? In 2010, Darling slid to the Eagles" pick No.26 and on Thursday night they were again surprised to see utility Tom Lamb still on the board at 32. Even the Eagles remain a little unsure what Lamb's best position is, after an up-and-down year. But with his athleticism and running power, he is sure to give their midfield mix a new edge. It was a good-looking draft from the Eagles, snaring wingman Liam Duggan (11), flanker Jackson Nelson (51) and the hard-running Damien Cavka (66). Tom Lamb takes part at the AFL Draft combine. RICHMOND has plenty of key forward options, but could not pass up 196cm goalkicker Reece McKenzie at No.77. The spearhead was one of the best contested marks in the draft pool and is lightning-quick, posting the equal second-fastest 20m sprint time (2.87sec) at the draft camp. Carlton also got its hands on a late gem, Clem Smith at No.60. He's one of the shorter players taken at 177cm, but his breakaway pace and clean ball-use mean good things often happen when he's around the footy. The Blues are keen to unleash Smith forward to help offset the loss of Eddie Betts and Jeff Garlett in the past 13 months. Clem Smith might be short of stature but he knows how to find the ball. MELBOURNE is probably headed for another tough year, but expect the club to begin the long climb up the ladder soon. At least, that is the plan, anyway. The Demons would have taken Paddy McCartin at No.2 or No.3 if he was still available, but you wonder whether midfield jewels Christian Petracca and Angus Brayshaw better suited them, given they already have spearheads Jesse Hogan and Chris Dawes. Patrick McKenna has chosen football over cricket despite captaining Australia. LIKE Geelong midfielder George-Horlin Smith, the AFL welcomed another gun cricketer, Pat McKenna, at the draft. McKenna captained Australia's under-19 cricket team but decided on footy after producing standout form for Gisborne in the Bendigo Football League. The Giants nabbed the 186cm midfielder and excellent ball-user with pick No.23. Giants football manager Simon Katich will have someone to have a hit with in summer.