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Coming off a premiership, North had traded away its top-end selections in the 1999 Draft. It increased the pressure on the recruiting team to find a diamond in the rough, and they got one in Troy Makepeace.
Originally from Moe and recruited from the Gippsland Power in the TAC Cup, Makepeace broke into the reigning premiers’ side in Round 4 of 2000 and never looked back.
[RELATED: Every North selection from every draft in history]
As a back pocket, Makepeace was a reliable piece of North’s defensive half throughout his seven-years at the club. He also had a happy knack for a crucial goal – comebacks against Sydney in 2004 and Port Adelaide in 2005 may not have happened without him kicking truly in big moments.
The 1999 off-season was a busy one for North. It still had six late picks in the Draft, acquired Leigh Colbert and David Calthorpe and farewelled Scott Welsh and Cameron Mooney.
After his AFL and VFL career ended, Makepeace headed home to take a position as captain-coach of the Moe Lions in the Gippsland League from 2009 to 2011. He is currently an assistant coach for the Lions.
Troy Makepeace
Pick: #81, 1999 National
Games: 139
Goals: 37
Pick before Makepeace: Jeremy Dukes, Carlton (0 games)
Pick after Makepeace: Nick Stone, Collingwood (20 games)
North at the 1999 National Draft
| Pick | Player | Recruited from | Games for North |
| 53 | Clayton Lasscock | West Perth, WA | 0 |
| 61 | Mark Ainley | Prahran U18, VIC | 0 |
| 74 | Matthew Burton | Fremantle, AFL | 77 |
| 77 | Lindsay Smith | Glenelg, SA | 1 |
| 81 | Troy Makepeace | Gippsland U18, VIC | 139 |
| 87 | Christian Woodley | Subiaco, WA | 0 |
| Rookie elevation | Kent Kingsley | 12 |
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