NOSTALGIA ain't what it used to be. Nor is recycling — in a football sense, at least.
Back in 2000, at the dawn of the millennium, Shane Wakelin, Martin Pike and Saverio Rocca all found new clubs via the AFL national draft. Rocca, who had kicked 514 goals in 156 games with Collingwood, went to the Kangaroos at pick No. 30 and played a further 72 games and kicked 171 more goals.
Pike, a troubled but productive premiership player with the Kangaroos and before that Melbourne, went to the Brisbane Lions at pick 33, became less troubled and even more productive. He played in the Lions' 2001, 2002 and 2003 premiership sides and in the losing grand final side in 2004.
Wakelin, having played 94 games in seven seasons with St Kilda, went to Collingwood at pick 49, and has stretched a seven-year career to 14 and another 138 games, and is saddling up again in 2008.
Until 2003, recycling was a regular feature of the national draft, despite its reputation as a showcase for the nation's young AFL talent. But in the past three drafts, the number of recycled players has dropped sharply, leaving the pre-season draft as the main avenue back into football for players dropped by their club.
Some big names are in the recycle bin for this year's draft. Fraser Gehrig lived up to his mercurial reputation by nominating in the past few days. Former Essendon best and fairest Mark Johnson is in the bin, as is gifted but erratic West Coast small forward Ashley Sampi. Collingwood ruckman Guy Richards provides a ruck option for any club chasing big men.
Kepler Bradley, a No. 6 pick for Essendon in the 2003 national draft, is back in the mix four years later, as are the likes of James Walker (formerly of Fremantle), Andrew Krakouer (Richmond), Daniel Chick (West Coast) and Simon Godfrey (Melbourne).
There is some expectation that the 2007 draft will look kindly at experienced players as the youth pool is not quite as deep as in the best years. That may be, but like tomorrow's other big event, expectations can go astray. As in politics, the only poll that counts is the one on the day.
A hopeful sign for the "oldies" in this draft is the success Port Adelaide had in drafting David Rodan last year. Port took the former Tiger at pick No. 86 and he rewarded it by playing every game and helping his new club to a grand final.
Rarely does the recycle bin contain "as new" or "low mileage" offerings, but one such player tomorrow is Darren Pfeiffer. A first-round pick in 2005, the 20-year-old midfielder has not played a senior game mainly due to back stress fractures. He has been training with Richmond.
Gehrig, Johnson and Richards, by contrast, have plenty of miles on the clock and will be among a group of players hoping to find a club seeking to bolster its list rather than rebuild it.
Another intriguing veteran is Port Adelaide premiership forward Stuart Dew, who retired after the 2006 season. Hawthorn is one club thought to be interested.
Others will be picked out of the recycling bin by the same clubs who put them there. Adelaide's Robert Shirley, Sydney's Amon Buchanan and Richmond's Chris Hyde are three recent examples of players redrafted after being cut.
Whatever the outcomes, those players selected for the first, second or third time should enjoy the moment. It may be the last time their new club has nothing but good things to say about them.
