We don't normally judge the AFL National Draft in the hours immediately after its conclusion but it is fair to say that the 2010 version belonged to the Gold Coast and not just because it took place just a short stroll from the delightful Broadbeach surf.

With eight picks in the first round and a host of the best 17 year olds taken a year ago - names such as Josh Toy and Maverick Weller have barely been heard from but can seriously play - the Suns will have about 15 or so first-round calibre teenagers on their list, not to mention free agent selections headed by Gary Ablett, Michael Rischitelli, Jared Brennan, Campbell Brown and Nathan Bock.

So that's one compromised draft down, with one to go. Next year, it will the turn of Kevin Sheedy's GWS Giants to scoop the cream from the top of the draft pool. Not until 2012, will a degree of normality return to the draft, but perhaps by then North Melbourne will be on their way to Cairns or some other exotic location and in need of some sort of special assistance.

As noted the other day, who really knows who won and who lost at the 2010 draft, apart from the Suns, but there were a few observations to be made.

• North Melbourne would be delighted to land Shaun Atley, who slid to no.17 after talk he could have been in the first six or seven. An athletic midfielder who uses the ball well, he adds to an imposing group of young midfielders at North Melbourne.
• Reports that Geelong traded back into the middle of the first round to land Isaac Smith proved to be wrong. The Cats looked in their own back yard and grabbed defender Billie Smedts, whose dad Albie played with Footscray and St Kilda. Perhaps this marks the start of the Cats looking at life after Matthew Scarlett.
• Smith went to Hawthorn. Youtube features a highlights reel of Smith just from this year's VFL grand final and that alone should excite any Hawthorn supporter given the lack of run and carry that finally crippled their side at the end of last season.
• Carlton went tall with most of its selections, a recognition that it's all very well for Chris Judd to rack up 30 touches a game and 30 Brownlow votes a year, but who the heck does he kick the ball to? Maybe their Pick No.70 Nicholas Duigan, from Norwood, who is not just a Podsiadly-esque 26 years of age but has just completed a Master of Psychology degree. Wonder what Big Nick will make of that.
• There was no Luke Ball in this year's draft. Matt Spangher went from West Coast to Sydney, Ryan Gamble and Dean Polo to St Kilda from Geelong and Richmond, respectively, but others such as Cameron Bruce, Bachar Houli, Travis Johnstone and John Anthony will bide their time until next month's pre-season draft. The Suns passed on their final selection and are thought to be in the market for John Anthony, despite the former Pie having already decamped to Perth in the hope of being taken by Fremantle. Bruce, meanwhile, is training with the Hawks ahead of his likely selection next month.
• As for the TV coverage? A debacle, at least for those of us who went for the 'purist' reb-button coverage. The first time we tried, there was no sound. Then we tried again, and the audio from the general feed was over-riding the sound from the clubs making their selections. Then there was the shoddy camera work, with one poor cameraman seemingly having to dart from one club as it made its selection to the next, which might have been on the other side of the room. Apparently Gary Ablett was interviewed at one stage. The biggest name in football he might be, but what exactly does he have to do with the draft?

Finally, BackPageLead noticed that lots of friends and colleagues in the sports media had finagled their way to the Gold Coast for the draft. No doubt, by the time it was done and their stories filed that they were thirsty, hungry and ready for action. Heaven help the locals if that lot get let off the leash.