Defining success in a draft class is difficult. In fact, it’s almost impossible to know if you drafted well or poorly until years after the event.

After a disappointing 14th place finish in 2006, North Melbourne took a strong hand into the upcoming NAB AFL Draft, including its first top three selection since Daniel Wells four years earlier.

North Media looks back on the club’s 2006 national draft selections.

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Lachie Hansen’s recruitment with pick three was seen as a no-brainer at the time, with the 197-centimetre key-position player widely regarded as one of best talls in the draft.

Hip issues and a myriad of severe injuries may have limited him to just 151 games in 10 years, but at his best Hansen was a force at either end of the ground, capably playing the role of intercept defender or marking forward.

North selected medium defender Gavin Urquhart with its second selection, and the 21st pick in the draft.

He showed signs of great promise, with a famous tackle on Farren Ray one of his finest moments as he established himself in 2008 and 2009.

Unfortunately injuries affected Urquhart’s ability to get on the field and he went on to play just 41 games.  

At pick 37, North selected a rangy former basketballer by the name of Todd Goldstein. A raw talent who, at the time, was still relatively new to football.

A long-term ruck prospect, Goldstein spent his whole first season on the list playing VFL football, and only made three senior appearances in 2008.

Since establishing himself in the team though, ‘Goldy’ has become one of the greatest rucks of all-time, recently overtaking Fremantle’s Aaron Sandilands for the all-time hitout record in the AFL.

After earning a Syd Barker Medal and All-Australian selection in 2015, the now 33-year-old Goldstein has played 273 games for the club and shows little sign of slowing down.

Lindsay Thomas finished his AFL career having gained the reputation as a fiercely competitive forward absolutely dripping with x-factor.

His rise from his position as the 53rd overall selection in the 2006 NAB AFL Draft is exceptional, impressing enough in his first pre-season to debut in Round 1 of 2007, where he kicked five behinds against Collingwood.

After 205 games in a decade at the club, including finishing as North’s leading goal-kicker in 2010 and 2013, Thomas left Arden Street as one of the club’s all-time best small-forwards, finishing his AFL career in his home state with Port Adelaide.

Medium-forward prospect Ben Warren was selected with the 69th overall selection, playing 29 games and kicking 34 goals for the club, while former Eagle Aaron Edwards was recruited with the 82nd pick after winning both the JJ Liston Trophy and Frosty Miller Medal with Frankston. He went on to play 78 games and kick 122 goals for North.

Edwards was known for his outstanding marking ability, pulling down some memorable grabs, including a stunner against Hawthorn in the 2007 Semi-Final.

Leigh Adams threatened to be the steal of his draft class, slipping to the third pick of the 2007 rookie draft.

After impressing at the under 18’s championships with Vic Metro, the 176-centimetre Adams was hampered by injury at the draft combine, but every other team’s loss was North’s gain.

After winning the best-and-fairest for North’s VFL affiliate, the Tasmanian Devils, in his first season at the club, he went on to play 104 times for the senior side.

Concussion problems forced him into an early retirement, but Adams is now a development coach at the club, also taking charge of its VFL program.

Matt Campbell, selected with the 34th selection in the rookie draft, might offer the greatest bargain of any selection in the draft.

The small, evasive forward played 82 times for the club, kicking 79 goals, including a career-best season in 2008 where he kicked 32 goals in 22 games.

Ben Ross was recruited in the pre-season draft and played 14 games for the club, while Ben Hughes and Tom Hutchison were also taken in the rookie draft, although neither made a senior appearance.

Overall, North’s 2006 draft class has made 977 appearances for the club, kicking 857 goals and, with Goldstein still on the list, those numbers could yet climb higher.

While the club has had other strong draft classes, including the Ben Cunnington led class of 2009, and the Jy Simpkin led class of 2016, North’s 2006 class is certainly one of the club’s most memorable.