In the days leading up to the 2017 NAB AFL Draft, we'll be counting down Hawthorn's top 10 draft classes from the last 30 years, with one class revealed each day...
The 2009 draft would turn out to be a critical one for the Hawks who netted a pair of key premiership defenders despite their first selection not coming until the third round.
With pick number 46, their second overall, the Hawthorn recruiting team selected 20-year-old East Perth defender Ben Stratton who was well-regarded for his versatility and pace.
Stratton made his debut in just Round 3 of the 2010 AFL season, receiving an AFL Rising Star nomination later that year as well as the Hawks’ Best First Year Player award.
The defender cemented his position in the Hawks’ back six, playing in the losing 2012 grand final side before forming a crucial part of the 2013-15 premiership three-peat.
Stratton is now a member of Hawthorn's leadership group.
The Hawks also claimed a draft steal with pick 69 as they took 179 cm forward Taylor Duryea.
Recruited from the Murray Bushrangers, Duryea made his debut in 2013, playing 18 games, and became the second graduate of the ’09 draft to take out the club’s Best First Year Player award.
Duryea’s superb foot skills saw him become a prominent fixture in the Hawk’s backline and was a key part of the ‘14 and ’15 premiership sides, before playing more as a defensive forward in 2017, with 101 games under his belt.
Dual-premiership player Matt Suckling was also upgraded to the senior list after he was initially taken as a rookie in 2006.
The remaining six draftees failed to make an impression in the brown and gold, averaging 4.5 games before being delisted - or in Hooper's case, traded to the Lions.
However, with seven premiership medallions and numerous other accolades between Stratton, Duryea and Suckling, 2009 well and truly deserves its place in this countdown.
Catch up - Hawthorn's draft class countdown: No.9
2009 NATIONAL DRAFT
PICK 39: SAM GRIMLEY
PICK 46: BEN STRATTON
PICK 57: JORDAN WILLIAMS
PICK 58: RHAN HOOPER
PICK 69: TAYLOR DURYEA
PICK 70: MATT SUCKLING (Rookie promotion)
ROOKIE DRAFT
PICK 13: WAYDE SKIPPER
PICK 29: JARROD KAYLER-THOMSON
PICK 42: MICHAEL JOHNSTON
