2008 AFL draft explained

2008 AFL draft
Date:	29 November 2008 16 December 2008
Sponsor:	National Australia Bank
Network:	Fox Sports
League:	AFL
First:	Jack Watts
Prev:	2007
Next:	2009

The 2008 AFL draft consisted of four opportunities for player acquisitions during the 2008/09 Australian Football League off-season. These were trade week (held between 6 October and 10 October), the national draft (held on 29 November), the pre-season draft (16 December) and the rookie draft (16 December).^[1] It was considered to be the last uncompromised draft before the draft concessions given to the and expansion teams restrict the existing AFL clubs' access to the best young players in the future years drafts.^[2]

Player changes

Trades

Throughout the year there was much speculation about high-profile players such as Jonathan Brown, Alan Didak and Daniel Kerr being likely to be traded during the AFL's annual trading period, but each re-signed with their clubs before the trading period started.^[3] The main discussions during trade week were the surprise request by Ryan O'Keefe to be traded from Sydney, as well as the destination of young Fremantle ruckman Robert Warnock, both of whom wished to be traded back to their home city of Melbourne.^[4] Other players to request trades include Andrew Lovett, Brent Prismall, Mark Seaby, Farren Ray, Josh Carr and Daniel Harris.

North Melbourne surprised many early in the week by naming Hamish McIntosh and Corey Jones as players available to trade, with McIntosh later being withdrawn from the offer after a backlash from his manager and club legend Glenn Archer.^{[5] [6]}

Like most years, no trades were completed during the first three days of the trade week and for the first time the AFL was requested to assist by providing a mediator to solve the stand-off between Fremantle and Carlton over the Warnock deal. Carlton had offered its second round selection, #24 overall, but Fremantle wanted its first round selection, the sixth overall.^{[7] [8]} On the final day of trade week Warnock was traded. The deal included Fremantle's pick No. 69, in exchange for Carlton's picks 24, 56 and 72.^[9]

In total only six trades were completed, with O'Keefe, Lovett, Seaby, Carr and Harris unable to finalise deals during the week.^[9] The low number of completed trades prompted calls by the AFLPA for a form of free agency to be introduced, although it could be explained as a one-off event due to a combination of the high regard for the players available in year's draft and the impending concessions to be given to the expansion teams, and in the coming years.^[10]

Player	Original club	New club	Traded for
Adam Thomson			draft pick #42
Rhyce Shaw and draft pick #61			draft pick #46
Anthony Corrie			draft pick #93
Farren Ray and draft pick #48			draft pick #31
Brent Prismall			draft pick #39
Robert Warnock and draft pick #69			draft pick #24, #56 and #72

Retirements and delistings

Name	Club	Date Retired	Reason
Beau McDonald		14 February	Retired due to ongoing injury^[11]
Danny Jacobs		12 March	Retired due to a hip injury.^[12]
Hugh Minson		9 April	Retired due to knee problems.^[13]
David Neitz		19 May	Retired due to neck problems.^[14]
Matthew Carr		19 May	Retired due to leg problems.^[15]
Michael Braun		7 July (finished season)	Retired^[16]
Peter Bell		7 July	Retired^[17]
Andrew McDougall		17 July	Retired^[18]
Shaun McManus		29 July	Retired^[19]
Michael Wilson		5 August	Retired due to ongoing injury.^[20]
Robert Harvey		6 August (finished season)	Retired^[21]
Heath Black		6 August	Retired due to ongoing injury^[22]
Mal Michael		15 August (finished season)	Retired^[23]
Rhett Biglands		18 August	Retired due to knee injury^[24]
Nigel Lappin		19 August	Retired due to an achilles injury .^[25]
Mark Johnson		20 August (finished season)	Retired^[26]
Jason Johnson		25 August	Retired^[27]
Adam Ramanauskas		25 August	Retired
Shannon Grant		26 August (finished season)	Retired^[28]
Luke Webster		27 August	Retired^[29]
Nathan Bassett		27 August (finished season)	Retired due to health concerns.^[30]
Ben Holland		30 August	Retired^[31]
Jeff Farmer		2 September	Retired^[32]
Nathan Ablett		2 September	Retired^[33]
Ben Mathews		2 September	Retired^[34]
Jess Sinclair		10 September	Retired^[35]
Peter Everitt		12 September	Retired^[36]
Fraser Gehrig		13 September	Retired^[37]
Ryan Lonie		15 September	Retired due to ongoing injury^[38]
Shane Wakelin		15 September	Retired^[39]
Nathan Thompson		19 September	Retired^[40]
Scott Burns		22 September	Retired^[41]
Ken McGregor		30 September	Retired^[42]
Jason Saddington		13 October	Retired^[43]
Shane Crawford		8 November	Retired^[44]
Courtney Johns		15 August	Delisted^[45]
Damien Peverill		25 August	Delisted^[46]
Jeff White		26 August	Delisted^[47]
Adem Yze		26 August	Delisted
Greg Tivendale		28 August	Delisted^[48]
Ryley Dunn		3 September	Delisted^[49]
Steven Armstrong		4 September	Delisted^[50]
Chad Jones		4 September	Delisted
James Thomson		4 September	Delisted
Jace Bode		4 September	Delisted^[51]
Isaac Weetra		4 September	Delisted
Robert Copeland		19 September	Delisted^[52]
Chris Schmidt		19 September	Delisted
Wayde Mills		19 September	Delisted
Haydn Kiel		19 September	Delisted
Brodie Holland		23 September	Delisted^[53]
Chris Egan		23 September	Delisted
Sam Iles		23 September	Delisted
Scott West		23 September	Delisted^[54]
Peter Street		23 September	Delisted
Nick Davis		12 October	Delisted^[55]
Liam Bedford		15 October	Delisted^[56]
Jason Davenport		15 October	Delisted
Chris Kangars		15 October	Delisted
Tim Clarke		16 October	Delisted^[57]
Zac Dawson		16 October	Delisted
Luke McEntee		16 October	Delisted
Garry Moss		16 October	Delisted
Jayden Attard		22 October	Delisted^[58]
Matthew Ferguson		22 October	Delisted
Michael Rix		22 October	Delisted
Shane Birss		22 October	Delisted
Charlie Gardiner		22 October	Delisted
Glenn Chivers		22 October	Delisted
Luke Van Rheenen		22 October	Delisted
Aaron Fiora		31 October	Delisted^[59]
Chris Johnson		31 October	Delisted^[60]

2008 national draft

The 2008 national draft was held on 29 November. Melbourne finished the 2008 AFL season in last position and had the first selection in the draft. As both Melbourne and West Coast Eagles won less than 5 games during the season, they were eligible for a priority pick. As this was the first year in which they qualified, the priority pick was allocated between the first and second rounds of selections.

Ayce Cordy was the first player selected in the draft as the only father–son selection. The Western Bulldogs had to use their 1st round selection, #14, to secure him after St Kilda bid their #1st round selection for him. His father, Brian, played 124 games for the Bulldogs in the 1980s.^[61]

The top two selections were widely tipped to be Jack Watts and Nic Naitanui, with Daniel Rich, Ty Vickery, Stephen Hill, Chris Yarran and Hamish Hartlett to fill the next few selections.^{[62] [63] [64]}

Round	Pick	Player	Recruited from	League	Club
1	1		Sandringham Dragons	TAC Cup
1	2	Nic Naitanui	Swan Districts	WAFL
1	3	Stephen Hill	West Perth	WAFL
1	4	Hamish Hartlett	West Adelaide	SANFL
1	5	Michael Hurley	Northern Knights	TAC Cup
1	6	Chris Yarran	Swan Districts	WAFL
1	7	Daniel Rich ^x	Subiaco	WAFL
1	8	Ty Vickery	Sandringham Dragons	TAC Cup
1	9	Jack Ziebell	Murray Bushrangers	TAC Cup
1	10	Phil Davis	North Adelaide	SANFL
1	11	Steele Sidebottom	Murray Bushrangers	TAC Cup
1	12	Lewis Johnston	North Adelaide	SANFL
1	13	Tom Lynch	Sandringham Dragons	TAC Cup
1	14 (F/S)		Geelong Falcons	TAC Cup
1	15	Mitchell Brown	Sandringham Dragons	TAC Cup
1	16	Ryan Schoenmakers	Norwood	SANFL
Priority	17	Sam Blease	Eastern Ranges	TAC Cup
Priority	18	Luke Shuey	Oakleigh Chargers	TAC Cup
2	19	James Strauss	Oakleigh Chargers	TAC Cup
2	20	Tom Swift	Claremont	WAFL
2	21	Hayden Ballantyne	Peel Thunder	WAFL
2	22	Jackson Trengove	Calder Cannons	TAC Cup
2	23	David Zaharakis	Northern Knights	TAC Cup
2	24	Nick Suban	North Ballarat Rebels	TAC Cup
2	25	Jack Redden	Glenelg	SANFL
2	26	Jayden Post	Western Jets	TAC Cup
2	27	Sam Wright	Murray Bushrangers	TAC Cup
2	28	Shaun McKernan	Calder Cannons	TAC Cup
2	29	Dayne Beams	Southport	QAFL
2	30	Dan Hannebery	Oakleigh Chargers	TAC Cup
2	31	Jordan Roughead	North Ballarat Rebels	TAC Cup
2	32	Liam Jones	North Hobart	TFL
2	33	Tom Gillies	Dandenong Stringrays	TAC Cup
2	34	Liam Shiels	Eastern Ranges	TAC Cup
3	35	Jamie Bennell	Swan Districts	WAFL
3	36	Ashley Smith	Dandenong Stingrays	TAC Cup
3	37	Zac Clarke	Oakleigh Chargers	TAC Cup
3	38	Matthew Broadbent	Woodville-West Torrens	SANFL
3	39	Steven Motlop	Wanderers	NTFL
3	40	Mitch Robinson	Tasmanian Devils	VFL
3	41	Todd Banfield	Swan Districts	WAFL
3	42	Mitch Banner	Western Jets	TAC Cup
3	43	Liam Anthony	East Fremantle	WAFL
3	44	Rory Sloane	Eastern Ranges	TAC Cup
3	45	Jarrad Blight	Swan Districts	WAFL
3	46	Luke Rounds	Geelong Falcons	TAC Cup
3	47	Rhys Stanley	West Adelaide	SANFL
3	48	Nicholas Heyne	Gippsland Power	TAC Cup
3	49	Taylor Hunt	Sandringham Dragons	TAC Cup
3	50	Jordan Lisle	Oakleigh Chargers	TAC Cup
4	51	Neville Jetta	Swan Districts	WAFL
4	52	Jordan Jones	Geelong Falcons	TAC Cup
4	53	Michael Walters	Swan Districts	WAFL
4	54	Jarrad Redden	Woodville-West Torrens	SANFL
4	55	Michael Still	Northern Knights	TAC Cup
4	56	Ben Bucovaz	Geelong Falcons	TAC Cup
4	57	Aaron Cornelius	Tasmanian Devils	VFL
4	58	Tom Hislop	Essendon	AFL
4	59	Nathan O'Keefe	Eastern Ranges	TAC Cup
4	60	Tom Lee	Claremont	WAFL
4	61	Campbell Heath	Gippsland Power	TAC Cup
4	62	Alistair Smith	Perth	WAFL
4	63	Luke Lowden	Sandringham Dragons	TAC Cup
5	64	Rohan Bail	Mount Gravatt	QAFL
5	65	Rhys O'Keeffe	North Adelaide	SANFL
5	66	Glenn Dawson	Woodville-West Torrens	SANFL
5	67	Tyson Slattery	West Adelaide	SANFL
5	68	Tim Ruffles	North Ballarat Rebels	TAC Cup
5	69	Bart McCulloch	South Launceston	TFL
5	70	Pass
5	71	Warren Benjamin	Claremont	WAFL
5	72	Will Young	North Ballarat Rebels	TAC Cup
5	73	Leigh Brown	North Melbourne	AFL
5	74	Paul Cahill	Sturt	SANFL
5	75	Shane Savage	Dandenong Stingrays	TAC Cup
6	76	Pass
6	77	Chris Hall	Woodville-West Torrens	SANFL
6	78	Jason Davenport	Geelong	AFL
6	79	Pass
6	80	Caleb Tiller	Murray Bushrangers	TAC Cup
6	81	Kieran King	East Fremantle	WAFL
6	82	Pass
6	83	Colm Begley	Brisbane Lions	AFL
7	84	Pass
7	85	Pass

2009 pre-season draft

The pre-season draft was held on 16 December 2008 (but is referred to as the 2009 pre-season draft in continuation from the early years of the AFL draft when it was held in January or February) and most pre-draft interest was on whether or not former West Coast Eagles captain and Brownlow Medal winner Ben Cousins would be selected by the Richmond Football Club. Richmond, the only club to show interest in recruiting Cousins, had one selection in the pre-season draft (because it had only one space left on its senior list). In the week leading up to the pre-season draft, Richmond requested to have Graham Polak (who had been hit by a tram the previous season, with it not clear at this stage whether or not the resulting injuries would end his career) moved to the rookie list, to free up an additional list space and give them a second selection in the pre-season draft. The request was similar to one made by and granted to the Essendon Football Club a few years earlier with respect to Adam Ramanauskas, but there were key differences which led to Richmond's request being rejected by the AFL and a majority of rival clubs on 15 December.^[65] Although Richmond had maintained throughout the previous week that it would draft Cousins only if its request to put Polak on the rookie list was granted, they selected Cousins anyway with their only selection in the pre-season draft. Josh Carr's return to Port Adelaide was the other major player move.^[66]

Round	Pick	Player	Recruited from	League	Club
1	1	Liam Jurrah	Yuendumu	CAFL
1	2	Josh Carr		AFL
1	3	Hayden Skipworth	Bendigo Bombers	VFL
1	4	Chris Johnson		AFL
1	5	Tom Rockliff	Murray Bushrangers	TAC Cup
1	6	Ben Cousins	West Coast Eagles	AFL

2009 rookie draft

Due to the expansion in the number of rookie places available for clubs to use - from the previous maximum of six players to the maximum of eight rookies and veteran listed players combined - the 2009 rookie draft featured more selections than usual.

Round	Pick	Player	Recruited from	Club
1	1	Jordie McKenzie	Geelong Falcons
1	2	Liam Bedford	Geelong Football Club
1	3	Casey Sibosado	Oakleigh Chargers
1	4	Wade Thompson	North Adelaide
1	5	Bryce Carroll	Western Jets
1	6	Jeff Garlett	Swan Districts
1	7	Daniel Murray	East Perth
1	8	Robin Nahas	Oakleigh Chargers
1	9	Marcus White	Calder Cannons
1	10	Ricky Henderson	Trentham
1	11	Tristan Francis	Gippsland Power
1	12	Kristin Thornton	Sydney Swans
1	13	Zac Dawson	Hawthorn
1	14	Jamason Daniels	Murray Bushrangers
1	15	Adam Varcoe	Central District
1	16	Riley Milne	Murray Bushrangers
2	17	Rhys Healey	Bendigo Pioneers
2	18	Adam Cockie	Subiaco
2	19	Matt de Boer	Claremont
2	20	Danny Meyer	Richmond
2	21	Thomas German	Calder Cannons
2	22	Luke Stanton	Northern Knights
2	23	Pass
2	24	David Gourdis	Richmond
2	25	Luke Delaney	Geelong Falcons
2	26	Chris Schmidt	Brisbane Lions
2	27	Jarryd Blair	Gippsland Power
2	28	Taylor Gilchrist	Sandringham Dragons
2	29	Tom Simpkin	Geelong Falcons
2	30	Liam Picken	Williamstown
2	31	Bryn Weadon	North Ballarat Rebels
2	32	Haydn Kiel	Brisbane Lions
3	33	Daniel Hughes	Melbourne
3	34	Hamish Shepheard	East Perth
3	35	Daniel Stewart	Labrador
3	36	Christian Bock	Woodville-West Torrens
3	37	Greg Bentley	Port Adelaide
3	38	Pass
3	39	Andrew Browne	Murray Bushrangers
3	40	Ben Speight	Norwood
3	41	Pass
3	42	Johnny Bennell	Peel Thunder
3	43	Kyle Coney	Tyrone GAA (Ireland)
3	44	Brad Howard	St Kilda
3	45	Pass
3	46	Tom Allwright	North Hobart Demons
3	47	Luke Breust	Temora
4	48	Clancee Pearce	Swan Districts
4	49	Matthew Martin	West Adelaide
4	50	Kade Klemke	Murray Bushrangers
4	51	Darren Pfeiffer	Carlton
4	52	Pass
4	53	Alroy Gilligan	Claremont
4	54	Alan Obst	North Melbourne
4	55	Brian Donnelly	Louth GAA (Ireland)
4	56	Tobais Thoolen	Collingwood
4	57	Mike Pyke	Canada (international rookie)
4	58	Steven Gaertner	Dandenong Stingrays
4	59	Pass
4	60	Ranga Ediriwickrama	NSW AFL scholarship program
4	61	Carl Peterson	Richmond
5	62	Jay van Berlo	West Perth
5	63	Jesse Laurie	Claremont
5	64	Michael Quinn	Longford GAA (Ireland)
5	65	Lachie Hill	Carlton
5	66	Adam Spackman	Morningside
5	67	Pass
5	68	Conor Meredith	Laois GAA (Ireland)
5	69	Lachlan Keeffe	3-year non-registration
5	70	Pass
5	71	Ross Tungatulum	St Mary's
5	72	Christopher Ogle	NSW AFL scholarship program
5	73	Garry Moss	Hawthorn
6	74	Greg Broughton	Subiaco
6	75	Pass
6	76	Sam Jacobs	Carlton
6	77	Daniel Dzufer	Brisbane Lions
6	78	Scott Reed	NSW AFL scholarship program
6	79	Pass
6	80	Samuel McGarry	Sandringham Dragons
6	81	Matt Suckling	Sandringham Dragons
7	82	Joel Tippett	Brisbane Lions
7	83	Pass
7	84	Blake McGrath	NSW AFL scholarship program
7	85	Will Sierakowski	NSW AFL scholarship program

Rookie elevation

A total of 15 players were promoted from their respective clubs' rookie lists to the club's primary lists at the conclusion of the 2008 season.^[67]

Player	Recruited from	Club
	Woodville-West Torrens
	Morningside
	North Ballarat
	Gippsland Power
	Perth
	Bendigo Bombers
	Norwood
	Central District
	North Adelaide
	Woodville-West Torrens
	Gippsland Power
	Gippsland Power
	Calder Cannons
	Oakleigh Chargers
	Claremont

Selections by league

National and pre-season draft selection totals by leagues:

League	Players selected	State
TAC Cup	40	VIC
WAFL	16	WA
SANFL	13	SA
VFL	3	VIC
TFL	2	TAS
QAFL	2	QLD
NTFL	1	NT
CAFL	1	NT

Notes and References

1. https://web.archive.org/web/20080718040037/http://www.afl.com.au/News/NEWSARTICLE/tabid/208/Default.aspx?newsId=63364 2008 Key Dates
2. Gough, Paul; Lovett, O'Keefe the big prizes ; Sportal; 6 October 2008
3. News: Clubs to tread carefully in trade week. AAP. 2008-10-05. Foxsports. 2008-10-08.
4. News: O'Keefe keen to deal - at a price. Gullan. Scott. 2008-10-06. Foxsports. 2008-10-08.
5. News: Archer baffled by McIntosh trade option. AAP. 2008-10-07. The Age. 2008-10-08. https://web.archive.org/web/20081010171041/http://news.theage.com.au/sport/archer-baffled-by-mcintosh-trade-option-20081007-4vt0.html. 10 October 2008. dead. dmy-all.
6. News: McIntosh off AFL trade table. AAP. 2008-10-08. Sydney Morning Herald. 2008-10-08. https://web.archive.org/web/20081009061651/http://news.smh.com.au/sport/mcintosh-off-afl-trade-table-20081008-4wnn.html. 9 October 2008. dead. dmy-all.
7. News: Mediation to Settle Score Between Blueing Clubs. Prestipino. David. 2008-10-08. WA Today. 2008-10-08. https://web.archive.org/web/20081008215011/http://www.watoday.com.au/sport/mediation-to-settle-score-between-blueing-clubs-20081008-4w7d.html. 8 October 2008. dead. dmy-all.
8. News: War over Robbie Warnock. Stevens, Mark. Ralph, Jon. 2008-10-09. Herald Sun. 2008-10-08.
9. Web site: Prismall a Bomber, Warnock a Blue. Fox Sports. Adam Cooper. Sam Lienert. 10 October 2008. 4 November 2008.
10. News: Players union renews call for free agency. AAP. WA Today. 10 October 2008. 4 November 2008. https://web.archive.org/web/20090206223032/http://www.watoday.com.au/sport/players-union-renews-call-for-free-agency-20081010-4yan.html?page=-1. 6 February 2009. dead. dmy-all.
11. News: Injuries end it for Big Beau. The Courier Mail. 14 February 2008 . 14 February 2008 . Andrew . Hamilton.
12. News: Danny Jacobs Announces Retirement. AFL. 12 March 2008 . 12 March 2008. https://web.archive.org/web/20080313233010/http://afl.com.au/tabid/208/default.aspx?newsid=56126. 13 March 2008 . dead.
13. News: Hugh Minson retires. Port Adelaide Football Club. 9 April 2008. 17 April 2008. https://web.archive.org/web/20080826072504/http://www.portadelaidefc.com.au/tabid/6038/Default.aspx?newsid=57629. 26 August 2008. dead.
14. News: Neitz announces immediate retirement. AFL website. 19 May 2008 . 19 May 2008. https://web.archive.org/web/20080520014207/http://www.afl.com.au/tabid/208/Default.aspx?newsid=59840. 20 May 2008 . dead.
15. News: Matthew Carr pulls pin on Freo career. https://web.archive.org/web/20080827163125/http://www.afl.com.au/tabid/208/Default.aspx?newsid=59858. dead. 27 August 2008. AFL website. 19 May 2008 . 19 May 2008.
16. News: Eagle champ Braun announces retirement. AFL website. 7 July 2008 . 7 July 2008. https://web.archive.org/web/20080710113126/http://www.afl.com.au/tabid/208/Default.aspx?newsid=62822. 10 July 2008 . dead.
17. News: Bell calls an end to a glittering career. AFL website. 7 July 2008 . 7 July 2008. https://web.archive.org/web/20080710074513/http://www.afl.com.au/tabid/208/Default.aspx?newsid=62841. 10 July 2008 . dead.
18. News: Bulldog McDougall calls it quits. WB website. 17 July 2008. 17 July 2008. https://web.archive.org/web/20110706113611/http://www.westernbulldogs.com.au/tabid/4112/Default.aspx?newsid=63540. 6 July 2011. dead.
19. News: McManus to retire after Sunday's derby. AFL website. 29 July 2008 . 29 July 2008. https://web.archive.org/web/20080803020607/http://afl.com.au/tabid/208/default.aspx?newsid=64312. 3 August 2008 . dead.
20. News: Power veteran Wilson calls it quits. AFL website. 5 August 2008 . 5 August 2008. https://web.archive.org/web/20080807042733/http://afl.com.au/News/NEWSARTICLE/tabid/208/Default.aspx?newsId=64821. 7 August 2008 . dead.
21. News: Robert Harvey retires. AFL website. 6 August 2008 . 6 August 2008. https://web.archive.org/web/20080826115112/http://www.afl.com.au/News/NEWSARTICLE/tabid/208/Default.aspx?newsId=64904. 26 August 2008 . dead.
22. News: Freo defender Black announces retirement. https://web.archive.org/web/20110524180732/http://www.afl.com.au/News/NEWSARTICLE/tabid/208/Default.aspx?newsId=64943. dead. 24 May 2011. AFL website. 6 August 2008 . 6 August 2008.
23. News: Mal Michael retires .. again. AFL website. 15 August 2008 . 15 August 2008. https://web.archive.org/web/20080817130423/http://www.afl.com.au/News/NEWSARTICLE/tabid/208/Default.aspx?newsId=65563. 17 August 2008 . dead.
24. News: Knee injury forces Biglands to retire. AFL website. 18 August 2008 . 18 August 2008. https://web.archive.org/web/20080821234024/http://afl.com.au/News/NEWSARTICLE/tabid/208/Default.aspx?newsId=65743. 21 August 2008 . dead.
25. News: Nigel Lappin calls it quits . AFL website . 19 August 2008 . 19 August 2008 . https://web.archive.org/web/20080820100656/http://www.afl.com.au/News/NEWSARTICLE/tabid/208/Default.aspx?newsId=65815 . 20 August 2008 . dead .
26. News: Freo's Johnson will retire at end of season. AFL website. 20 August 2008 . 20 August 2008. https://web.archive.org/web/20080823013859/http://www.afl.com.au/News/NEWSARTICLE/tabid/208/Default.aspx?newsId=65923. 23 August 2008 . dead.
27. News: Johnson and Rama retire. AFL website. 25 August 2008 . 25 August 2008. https://web.archive.org/web/20080828030609/http://www.afl.com.au/News/NEWSARTICLE/tabid/208/Default.aspx?newsId=66247. 28 August 2008 . dead.
28. News: Shannon Grant calls it quits. AFL website. 26 August 2008 . 26 August 2008. https://web.archive.org/web/20080826095533/http://www.afl.com.au/News/NEWSARTICLE/tabid/208/Default.aspx?newsId=66308. 26 August 2008 . dead.
29. News: Luke Webster latest Docker to quit. PerthNow. 27 August 2008 . 31 August 2008.
30. News: Veteran Crow calls it quits. AFL website. 27 August 2008 . 27 August 2008. https://web.archive.org/web/20080827163032/http://www.afl.com.au/News/NEWSARTICLE/tabid/208/Default.aspx?newsId=66396. 27 August 2008 . dead.
31. News: Demon Holland announces retirement. AFL website. 30 August 2008 . 30 August 2008. https://web.archive.org/web/20080918052747/http://www.afl.com.au/News/NEWSARTICLE/tabid/208/Default.aspx?newsId=66634. 18 September 2008 . dead.
32. News: Farmer, 'The Wizard' calls it quits. AFL website. 2 September 2008 . 2 September 2008. https://web.archive.org/web/20080903173925/http://www.afl.com.au/News/NEWSARTICLE/tabid/208/Default.aspx?newsId=66909. 3 September 2008 . dead.
33. News: Nathan Ablett to stop playing football. AFL website. 2 September 2008 . 2 September 2008. https://web.archive.org/web/20080903173930/http://www.afl.com.au/News/NEWSARTICLE/tabid/208/Default.aspx?newsId=66910. 3 September 2008 . dead.
34. News: No more for Swan Mathews. AFL website. 4 September 2008 . 4 September 2008. https://web.archive.org/web/20080905215151/http://www.afl.com.au/News/NEWSARTICLE/tabid/208/Default.aspx?newsId=67092. 5 September 2008 . dead.
35. News: Roo Sinclair to bound no more. AFL website. 10 September 2008 . 10 September 2008. https://web.archive.org/web/20080910200933/http://www.afl.com.au/News/NEWSARTICLE/tabid/208/Default.aspx?newsId=67442. 10 September 2008 . dead.
36. News: Sad swansong for spida. AFL website. 12 September 2008 . 12 September 2008. https://web.archive.org/web/20080914225437/http://www.afl.com.au/News/NEWSARTICLE/tabid/208/Default.aspx?newsId=67590. 14 September 2008 . dead.
37. News: End of the line for the G-Train. AFL website. 13 September 2008 . 13 September 2008. https://web.archive.org/web/20080915225813/http://www.afl.com.au/News/NEWSARTICLE/tabid/208/Default.aspx?newsId=67621. 15 September 2008 . dead.
38. News: Lonie quits, Burns ponders future. AFL website. 15 September 2008 . 15 September 2008. https://web.archive.org/web/20080915102406/http://www.afl.com.au/News/NEWSARTICLE/tabid/208/Default.aspx?newsId=67654. 15 September 2008 . dead.
39. News: Wakelin calls it a day as Pies look ahead. Realfooty website. 15 September 2008 . 15 September 2008. https://web.archive.org/web/20080915122154/http://www.realfooty.com.au/news/news/wakelin-calls-it-a-day-as-pies-look-ahead/2008/09/14/1221330651747.html. 15 September 2008 . live.
40. News: North's Thompson announces retirement. AFL website. 19 September 2008 . 19 September 2008. https://web.archive.org/web/20080922030353/http://www.afl.com.au/News/NEWSARTICLE/tabid/208/Default.aspx?newsId=67934. 22 September 2008 . dead.
41. News: Burns calls an end to career. AFL website. 22 September 2008 . 22 September 2008. https://web.archive.org/web/20080923210643/http://www.afl.com.au/News/NEWSARTICLE/tabid/208/Default.aspx?newsId=68028. 23 September 2008 . dead.
42. News: McGregor calls end to AFL career. AFL website. 30 September 2008 . 30 September 2008. https://web.archive.org/web/20081002114328/http://www.afl.com.au/News/NEWSARTICLE/tabid/208/Default.aspx?newsId=68463. 2 October 2008 . dead.
43. News: Six and out for Blues. AFL website. 13 October 2008 . 13 October 2008. https://web.archive.org/web/20081015044400/http://www.afl.com.au/News/NEWSARTICLE/tabid/208/Default.aspx?newsId=68961. 15 October 2008 . dead.
44. News: Hawks shock: Veteran retires. AFL website. 8 November 2008 . 8 November 2008. https://web.archive.org/web/20081211201717/http://www.afl.com.au/News/NEWSARTICLE/tabid/208/Default.aspx?newsId=69611. 11 December 2008 . dead.
45. News: Johns axed. AFL Website. 15 August 2008 . 15 August 2008. https://web.archive.org/web/20080818062906/http://www.afl.com.au/News/NEWSARTICLE/tabid/208/Default.aspx?newsId=65589. 18 August 2008 . dead.
46. News: Delisted Peverill hopes to play elsewhere. https://web.archive.org/web/20110524185119/http://www.afl.com.au/News/NEWSARTICLE/tabid/208/Default.aspx?newsId=66268. dead. 24 May 2011. AFL Website. 25 August 2008 . 25 August 2008.
47. News: Melbourne dumps Yze and White. AFL Website. 26 August 2008 . 26 August 2008. https://web.archive.org/web/20080829125600/http://www.afl.com.au/News/NEWSARTICLE/tabid/208/Default.aspx?newsId=66326. 29 August 2008 . dead.
48. News: Tivendale's Tiger days over. AFL Website. 28 August 2008 . 28 August 2008. https://web.archive.org/web/20080830003658/http://www.afl.com.au/News/NEWSARTICLE/tabid/208/Default.aspx?newsId=66503. 30 August 2008 . dead.
49. News: Ryley Dunn Departs. AFL Website. 3 September 2008. 3 September 2008. https://web.archive.org/web/20110706104234/http://www.fremantlefc.com.au/News/NewsArticle/tabid/7009/Default.aspx?newsId=66998. 6 July 2011. dead.
50. News: Eagles axe three . AFL Website . 4 September 2008 . 4 September 2008 . https://web.archive.org/web/20080905215156/http://www.afl.com.au/News/NEWSARTICLE/tabid/208/Default.aspx?newsId=67093 . 5 September 2008 . dead .
51. News: Bode and Weetra delisted. Melbourne fc.com.au. 4 September 2008. 4 September 2008. https://web.archive.org/web/20091013040726/http://www.melbournefc.com.au/tabid/7415/Default.aspx?newsid=67035. 13 October 2009. dead.
52. News: Brisbane Lions discard premiership player Copeland . AFL Website . 19 September 2008 . 19 September 2008 . https://web.archive.org/web/20080922012252/http://www.afl.com.au/News/NEWSARTICLE/tabid/208/Default.aspx?newsId=67930 . 22 September 2008 . dead .
53. News: Magpies cut Holland, Egan and Iles. AFL Website. 23 September 2008 . 23 September 2008. https://web.archive.org/web/20080924162503/http://afl.com.au/News/NEWSARTICLE/tabid/208/Default.aspx?newsId=68129. 24 September 2008 . dead.
54. News: Scott West 'to part ways with Bulldogs'. Real Footy Website. 23 September 2008 . 23 September 2008. https://web.archive.org/web/20080924075414/http://news.realfooty.com.au/sport/scott-west-to-part-ways-with-bulldogs-20080923-4mgr.html. 24 September 2008 . live.
55. News: Sydney says Rhyce Shaw in, Nick Davis out. Heraldsun Website. 12 October 2008 . 12 October 2008 . Jackie . Epstein.
56. News: Nathan Ablett cut as player culls continue. Herald Sun . Australia. 15 October 2008. 27 September 2008.
57. News: Hawthorn delists four. Official AFL Website. 16 October 2008 . 9 November 2008. https://web.archive.org/web/20081019031933/http://www.afl.com.au/News/NEWSARTICLE/tabid/208/Default.aspx?newsId=69039. 19 October 2008 . dead.
58. News: St Kilda boots seven ahead of AFL National Draft . Heraldsun Website . 22 October 2008 . 22 October 2008 . Sam . Edmund . https://web.archive.org/web/20081024141540/http://www.news.com.au/heraldsun/sport/afl/story/0%2C26576%2C24531902-19742%2C00.html . 24 October 2008 . dead .
59. News: Saints Axe Fiora . Heraldsun Website . 31 October 2008 . 31 October 2008 . https://web.archive.org/web/20081102130633/http://www.news.com.au/heraldsun/sport/afl/story/0%2C26576%2C24580238-19742%2C00.html . 2 November 2008 . dead .
60. News: Bailey speaks out at Johnson loss. Melbournefc.com.au. 31 October 2008. 31 October 2008. https://web.archive.org/web/20091011020739/http://www.melbournefc.com.au/tabid/7415/Default.aspx?newsid=69495. 11 October 2009. dead.
61. News: AFL Bulldogs have Ayce up their sleeve . AAP . 2008-10-06 . The Age . 2008-10-08 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20090206205641/http://news.theage.com.au/sport/afl-bulldogs-have-ayce-up-their-sleeve-20081006-4um4.html . 6 February 2009 .
62. News: The four tops. 2008-10-01. Realfooty.com.au. 2008-10-08. https://web.archive.org/web/20081005035845/http://www.realfooty.com.au/news/news/the-four-tops/2008/10/01/1222651177545.html?page=fullpage. 5 October 2008 . live.
63. Web site: It's here! 2008 Phantom Draft. Burgin. Matt. 26 November 2008. afl.com.au. 2008-11-27. https://web.archive.org/web/20081207135013/http://www.afl.com.au/News/AFLBlogs/BlogArticle/tabid/8123/Default.aspx?newsId=70169. 7 December 2008 . dead.
64. Web site: Judgement Day. Quayle. Emma. 23 November 2008. Realfooty.com.au. 2008-11-27.
65. http://www.foxsports.com.au/story/0,8659,24802125-23211,00.html Ben Cousins denied AFL return
66. https://web.archive.org/web/20090211011356/http://www.afl.com.au/tabid/208/default.aspx?newsid=70852 2009 NAB AFL Pre-Season and rookie drafts
67. Book: Michael Lovett. AFL Record Season Guide 2009. 2009. The Slattery Media Group. 978-0-9805162-6-5. 341, 458. The Draft.