The Soaring

National Draft 1992
#1 Drew Banfield
#8 Paul Symmons
#19 Lee Walker
#21 Shane Bond
#34 Travis Burton
#49 Jarrad Schofield
#64 Tony Godden
#79 Brett Spinks
#94 Rhys Croxford
#109 David Muir
#124 Brayden Lyle

No 3 in the All-time best National Drafts for the West Coast Eagles is the stellar year of 1992. What’s remarkable about the 1992 draft is not so much the West Coast Eagles superstars it produced, but the the stunning draft success of the selection. An incredible 10 of the 12 selections played AFL football, and whilst there were limitations on this draft for West Australian selections, 10 out of 12 AFL calibre selections in these early drafting years was unheard of. For pure red-hot strike rate the 1992 draft gets very high marks.

The number one pick, traded by Sydney in exchange for the gnome Scott Watters and Tony Begovich, was used to select a young man from Quairding, Drew Banfield. Thirteen seasons, 250 plus games (incl 25 in 2005), 1996 club championship and a premiership medallion later Banners has vindicated that top billing and is arguably the best number 1 pick in the history of the draft.

Whilst in time that mantle will go, it is worth remembering that 1992 draft was just the fifth draft in AFL history, and in a time when drafting was speculative at best and throwing a dart at the board at worst, the selection of Banfield for the Eagles was an inspired move.

A terrific team player, physically robust and tremendous competitor Banfield made his name as a dogged midfielder often in a close checking role but also proving himself to be a consistent ball winner and a reliable disposer of the leather. In latter seasons and after some injury concerns, Banfield has countered premature calls for his head to be relocated back of centre as a defender of poise, balance and rock solid determination. Having signed on 2006, Banfield will go down in Eagles history as one of the highest games played players; a fine return from the front of the 92 draft.

Banfield was the Eagles’ star of this draft without question. The rest of the drafted names could be rated between serviceable, marginal and unlucky for the Eagles, although some went on to play their best football with other AFL teams.

Paul Symmons finished his career on 99 games after seven seasons with the Eagles spanning 1994 - 2000. In my opinion, his career carries more weight than those figures disclose.

A fleet footed and highly skilled wingman, Symmons had a body that was apparently sculpted at the Dean Kemp school of body building. It did however, prove to be capable of getting through the rigours of AFL football particularly during the height of his career in seasons 95-98 during which he turned out in 78 of his 99 career games. It should be noted that the Eagles were very much a high performance unit in those years and so the performances of Symmons in that team holds a high value in my book. The highlight of this time was a third in the B&F in 1997.

Lee Walker could’ve been anything, except for the 78 knee reconstructions he suffered during his fleeting career. 200cm and with exceptional athleticism that enabled him to play in a number of positions, Walker was in some ways a prototype ahead of his time. He eventually made the grade with Collingwood before yet more knee injuries took him off the field. Currently has an off-field development type role with the Dockers.

Shane Bond was a goalkicking rover who was a member of the Eagles 2004 premiership side. Seemingly a Malthouse favourite despite not possessing any of the usual Malthouse traits of a defensive minded footballer, Bond’s career peaked early and soon burnt out. Was traded back to Port Adelaide and played 50 odd games at Alberton before ending his career with 91 career games.

Travis Burton. Brother of Matthew, the other Spider, Burton. Not as tall as Matthew. Or as good. Overall, not up to scratch.

Jarrad Schofield is probably the second best player to come out of the picks taken by the Eagles in this draft. Now at his third club (after stints with the Eagles and Port Adelaide) Schofield like Banfield are the only players still on AFL lists. Limited opportunities with the Eagles precipitated a trade to Port in exchange for the living hamburger disposal unit, Scott Cummings, Schofield played in the 04 premiership side for Port and has displayed over his career to be a capable and enduring AFL player. A quality selection at #49.

Tony Godden. Modest AFL player. Was traded to the Dockers giving the Eagles the right to select a compensatory player which was turned into David Wirrpunda. For that, #64 was a worthwhile pick.

Brett Spinks burst on to the scene as a heavy boned youngster in 1994 as the great white hope at CHF. In the end he just turned out to be heavy boned. That is unfair, he did play some decent games for Perth in the WAFL. Was eventually offloaded to Geelong in what he been an enduring tradition of raping the Cats at the trade table for could be key position could-be’s.

Rhys Croxford. Like Burton did not make the grade, but at least he can say that unlike Burton he was a decent WAFL player with East Perth and Claremont.

David Muir. Heavily set utility was eventually part of the Dockers original squad and played some early games in the candy colour combination of the Dockers. Seem to recall Muir also being on North Melbourne’s list prior to that.

For #124 in any draft Brayden Lyle can be well pleased with his career. Lyle played 26 games in two seasons with the Eagles (95 & 96) before being traded to Port with Bond and Downsborough as part of the package that delivered the Eagles Michael Gardiner. But Lyle made his mark at Port, eventually becoming Vice Captain and playing a further 90 AFL games for a tally of 116. For such a late selection, Lyle proved himself to be a bargain as over his career he proved himself to be capable of holding his own through the midfield with the AFL’s best.

Overall, I rate this draft so highly simply for the remarkably high strike rate. Banfield, Schofield, Symmons and Lyle were the picks of this draft and could be considered as AFL drafting successes, whilst others like Spinks, Bond and Walker had their moments. This was not a gold mine for the West Coast Eagles directly, but good drafting does have indirect benefits throw list depth which allows for trading and list top ups. Clearly, the 1992 draft with 10 AFL quality players taken by the Eagles, was a notable success from this perspective.