Kreuzer had been a standout that year with the Northern Knights in the TAC Cup. Indeed, he twice was selected in the TAC Cup teams of the year as a junior.

As reported by Fairfax Media on Sunday, Kreuzer has flourished in all key statistical areas in recent times, and was again one of the best afield in the stunning win over Greater Western Sydney on Sunday. He was awarded a combined eight votes by senior coaches Brendon Bolton and Leon Cameron, one behind best afield Sam Docherty, in the AFL Coaches Association award.

"I've had some OK years in the past but this has probably been one of my most consistent years," Kreuzer said.

That is true but in a 2007 draft that was loaded with talent, the 150-game veteran would struggle, retrospectively, to be chosen in the top 10.

That's a reflection of just how potent the 2007 draft has been, although not quite on the same ledger as the 2001 "super draft" that had Luke Hodge, Luke Ball and Chris Judd as its top three selections, Jimmy Bartel at No.8, Nick Dal Santo at No.13, James Jelly at No.17, Steve Johnson at No.24, Sam Mitchell at No.36, Leigh Montagna at No.37, Gary Ablett as a father-son at No.40, Jarrad Waite as a father-son by Carlton at No.46, Dane Swan at No.58 by Collingwood and Brian Lake at No.71 by the Western Bulldogs.

In terms of the top three picks, Judd and Hodge will be remembered as two of the game's greats, while Ball - his career hampered by injury - was a very good midfielder who would go on and play in the Magpies' 2010 flag.

The 2007 draft had Richmond skipper Trent Cotchin at No.2, Lachie Henderson at No.8, Patrick Dangerfield at No.10, Cyril Rioli at No.12, Brad Ebert at No.13, the now flourishing Robbie Tarrant at No.15, and Harry Taylor, Alex Rance and Callan Ward just inside the top 20. St Kilda midfielder Jack Steven was at No.42 and Adelaide skipper Taylor Walker at No.75 as a NSW scholarship holder.

In terms of the top three, Cotchin could yet be remembered as one of the game's greats, Kreuzer, dubbed a "two-in-one" player by Judd because of his groundwork, is very good, while Chris Masten has been a solid performer for the Eagles. But the top three of '01 wins that debate, although if Dangerfield, taken at No.10 by the Crows in '07, had gone higher, that argument would have changed.

"Kreuzer and Grundy are certainly the form ruckmen right now but if that draft was done today, how could you go past Dangerfield at No.1," said one club recruiter.

"He is a Brownlow medallist and has everything that's needed to dominate. Cotchin has had a great year but the Tigers have yet to win a final."

Cotchin, don't forget, is also a Brownlow medallist. He was retrospectively awarded the medal alongside Mitchell in December last year as a result of Jobe Watson being stripped of his 2012 award because of the anti-doping saga.

That piece of history has meant the 2007 draft has produced two Brownlow medallists. Dangerfield, who Bartel says is only getting better, and Cotchin are firmly in the running again this year.

From the 2001 batch, Judd and Ablett are dual Brownlow medallists, while Bartel, Swan and Mitchell claimed the top honour once. Dal Santo was close to winning on two occasions. Then there are the six Norm Smith medals, eight AFL Players Association MVP awards and 34 premiership medallions from the combined 2001 group.

Of the 2007 group, Dangerfield, Cotchin and Kreuzer - all at the peak of their powers - are among those yet to taste the ultimate team glory.

"It's hard to go past that 2001 draft," said the recruiter.

TIME MACHINE: 2007 NATIONAL DRAFT

1PS: Matthew Kreuzer (Carlton)

2: Trent Cotchin (Richmond)

3: Chris Masten (West Coast)

4: Cale Morton (Melbourne - no longer in AFL)

5: Jarrad Grant (Western Bulldogs - now at Gold Coast)

6: David Myers (Essendon)

7: Rhys Palmer (Fremantle - now at Carlton)

8: Lachie Henderson (Brisbane - now at Geelong)

9: Ben McEvoy (St Kilda - now at Hawthorn)

10: Patrick Dangerfield (Adelaide - now at Geelong)

11: Patrick Veszpremi (Sydney - no longer in the AFL)

12: Cyril Rioli (Hawthorn)

13: Brad Ebert (West Coast - now at Port Adelaide)

14: Jack Grimes (Melbourne - no longer in AFL)

15: Robbie Tarrant (North Melbourne)

16: Matthew Lobbe (Port Adelaide)

17: Harry Taylor (Geelong)

18PS: Alex Rance (Richmond)

19: Callan Ward (Western Bulldogs - now at GWS)

20: Tony Notte (West Coast - no longer in AFL)

*PS: Priority selection

IN HINDSIGHT: JON PIERIK REVISITS THE 2007 DRAFT AND OFFERS HIS TOP 10

1: Patrick Dangerfield (originally 10, now at Geelong)

The game's premier midfielder

2: Alex Rance (18 - still at Richmond)

The game's best defender

3: Cyril Rioli (12 - still at Hawthorn)

A match-winner who has done it on the biggest stage

4: Trent Cotchin (2 - still at Richmond)

Champion midfielder but yet to prove himself in September

5: Harry Taylor (17 - still at Geelong)

Has been a star centre half-back almost from day one

6: Taylor Walker (75 NSW scholarship holder - still at Adelaide)

One of the premier power forwards

7: Callan Ward (19 by Western Bulldogs, now at GWS)

Hard-running and courageous midfielder

8: Brad Ebert (13 by West Coast, now at Port Adelaide)

Now at the peak of his powers in the midfield

9: Cale Hooker (54 - still at Essendon)

Able to play key position at either end of the ground

10: Easton Wood (43 - still at Western Bulldogs)

A crucial defensive and rebounding cog of the Dogs' 2016 flag