With the AFL Draft approaching, we look back at our recent pick 11s.  

A 17-year-old Brad Johnson became the Bulldogs’ first pick 11 in the 1993 National Draft.

A product of the Western Jets, Johnson went onto become one of the best small forwards in the game.

364 senior matches for 558 goals, to go with three Charles Sutton Medals, six All Australian blazers, Australian Football Hall of Fame induction and a five-season stint as captain – the list of achievements is near endless.

And on the eve of last year’s draft, Johnson reflected on the night his AFL dreams were realised.

“In the lead up I spoke to a few clubs and then I was invited to the national draft which was I think pretty much one of the first years it was televised,” Johnson recalled to foxfooty.com.au last year.

“I remember going there not knowing anything much. I’d spoken with the Dogs the night before for literally five seconds and they asked if I was still around would I be keen to go to the Dogs and I said ‘Yes, of course!’”

“I turned up to the draft and got picked at Pick 11, so it happened pretty quickly, which was nice because the nerves were pretty high.

“I thought I looked cool but looking back I had the worst shirt you could imagine - but it was a good day.”

The Bulldogs’ next pick 11 came over a decade later.

A fresh-faced Shaun Higgins became the other notable Pick 11 for the red, white and blue, taken in the first round of the 2005 National Draft.

Raised in Geelong, Higgins would forge a solid career for the Bulldogs, playing 129 games and kicking 128 goals.

During the early years, Higgins remarked that he never felt he would end up at the Bulldogs.

"I spoke to the Bulldogs at the Draft Camp, and then I caught up with them once after that," he said.

"I actually didn't think I'd go to the Bulldogs, I thought a couple of the other clubs who had earlier shown interest were more keen, and then for whatever reason, I slipped through and went to the Bulldogs, which has been perfect.”

Injuries would curtail his time at Whitten Oval, moving to North Melbourne at the beginning of 2015.

Higgins claimed two best & fairest gongs for the Kangaroos, as well as being named in the All-Australian team in 2018.

The journeyman would finish his career in his hometown of Geelong, playing two seasons in the hoops.