Essendon is currently set to take four selections into this week’s NAB AFL Draft and we’ve taken a look through the history books to see how each pick has fared over the journey.

The club, at this stage, may not enter the draft with a haul of early selections, but there has been no shortage of bargain picks throughout the Bombers’ draft history – something we looked into ahead of last year’s draft.

These picks are effectively certain to change by the time the Bombers make their selections due to likely academy bids and potential father-son selections, making it impossible to predict where the picks will eventually land. However, these are the picks as they stand, so why not have a look back and see what could also lie ahead?

The draft will again be run across two days, with the first round confirmed on Wednesday night and the remaining rounds running from 7:00pm on Thursday.

Pick 31

Drafts used – 33
Average games – 62
Total All-Australian selections – 5
Total premierships – 10
Essendon’s selections – Joel Reynolds, Ariel Steinberg, Jackson Merrett, Josh Begley
Best players selected – Simon Black, Paul Chapman, Shane Wakelin

Having to wait patiently until well into the second round can be a difficult task, but there is no reason not to be excited about the prospects of the talent left on the table.

Brisbane’s selection of Simon Black (322 games, 184 Brownlow votes, 2002 Brownlow Medal, 2003 Norm Smith Medal, three All-Australian selections) at pick 31 proved brilliant, with the three-time premiership player retiring as one of the classiest midfielders the game has seen, while Cat-turned-Don Paul Chapman (280 games, three flags, 2009 Norm Smith, two All-Australian selections) was another inspired choice.

The Bombers have used the same selection four times, with Jackson Merrett (56 games) and current Don Josh Begley among the success stories.

Paul Chapman kicked 30 goals from 29 games in the red and black. (Image: AFL Photos)

Pick 33

Drafts used – 33
Average games – 63
Total All-Australian selections – 2
Total premierships – 10
Essendon’s selections – Anthony Long
Best players selected – Martin Pike, Craig Bolton, Shaun Hart

There has been no shortage of guns found at selection 33 in the league’s 33 national drafts. Martin Pike was already a well-established premiership player and Brisbane swept him up in the draft in a move that would see him go on to claim three premierships with the Lions. Shaun Hart joined him in each of those flag successes, claiming the Norm Smith in the first part of the premiership hat-trick.

Essendon has only used the selection once, but new Bomber Tom Cutler was also picked up at 33 and is among plenty of quality players to emerge from the pick in the last decade including Saint Brad Hill, Demon Jeremy Howe and Swan Tom McCartin.

Pick 61

Drafts used – 32
Average games – 38
Total All-Australian selections – 1
Total premierships – 2
Essendon’s selections – Andrew Underwood
Best players selected – Mathew Stokes, Harris Andrews, Michael Rischitelli

Lion Harris Andrews became pick 61’s first All Australian this year and the academy selection still has plenty of football ahead of him. Mathew Stokes was a terrific contributor to Geelong’s premiership successes in 2007 and 2011, finishing his career with a year in the red and black to take his career games to 200.

Again, the Dons have only used this pick once, selecting Andrew Underwood back in the inaugural 1986 draft. He went on to play 12 games as a Bomber before doubling his tally at Richmond.

Mathew Stokes was an important top-up player for the Bombers in 2016. (Image: AFL Photos)

Pick 64

Drafts used – 30
Average games – 37
Total All-Australian selections – 1
Total premierships – 3
Essendon’s selections – Daniel McAlister, Luke Davis, Yestin Eades
Best players selected – Nick Malceski, Cameron Bruce, Tony Evans

Despite being such a late selection, clubs have been able to find a number of serious players at pick 64. Nick Malceski was a stalwart for the Swans, emerging as a hero of their 2012 premiership and finishing his career with 210 games and an All-Australian selection. Cameron Bruce claimed a best and fairest with Melbourne, while Tony Evans won two flags with the Eagles.

Unfortunately, the pick hasn’t been particularly kind to Essendon, but history shows there could easily be some gems available.