The Bendigo Pioneers have had six first round selections in three years after Brodie Kemp and Thomson Dow found AFL homes on Wednesday night.
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Kemp is the fourth Bendigo Pioneer to be selected by Carlton in the AFL National Draft in the past three years, while Dow is on his way to the reigning premiers after Richmond used the final pick of the first round to select the classy midfielder.
Kemp, from Echuca, was selected by the Blues with pick 17 in Wednesday night's draft after the Blues traded pick 11 for Gold Coast's 17 and 22 selections.
Kemp follows 2017 draftees Paddy Dow, Lochie O'Brien and Angus Schumacher to Princes Park.
Originally expected to be a top-10 selection in the draft, Kemp slid down the draft board after suffering a season-ending knee injury in a school game for Geelong Grammar in July.
After undergoing a knee reconstruction, Kemp won't play much footy in 2020, but that mattered little to the Blues.
Fittingly, Kemp was presented with a Carlton jumper at the draft by Patrick Cripps and Sam Docherty.
Dow, the younger brother of Carlton midfielder Paddy Dow, was somewhat of a shock selection in the first round.
The ball magnet was expected to be selected in the second round of the draft on Thursday night, but the Tigers pounced.
Dow, from Swan Hill, is the first Pioneer to be drafted by Richmond since Dustin Martin with pick three in 2009.
Pioneers regional talent manager Steve Sharp said the club was proud of the way Kemp and Dow developed as people and footballers.
"As a player there's not too many players out there like Brodie, which is why he was so appealing to Carlton,'' Sharp said.
"He can play as a marking forward, or go down in defence and he has the capabilities of being a midfielder. He's a special player.
"Thomson just knows how to get the footy. He has some elite level skills, particularly with his hands. I'm elated to see him get a chance with the Tigers.
"Both Brodie and Thomson made really mature decisions as 17-year-olds to go away from home to school at Geelong Grammar. They're both really respectful young men and I'm sure the Blues and Tigers will be really happy to have them."
The remainder of the AFL National Draft will be completed on Thursday night.
Elusive half-back/wingman Flynn Perez is tipped to be drafted early on Thursday night, while pacy defender Brady Rowles, ruckman Aaron Gundry, defender James Schischka and Ben Worme are other Pioneers players in the draft mix.
The AFL rookie draft will be held on Friday.
AFL Draft first round selections:
1. Gold Coast Suns - Matt Rowell (Oakleigh Chargers)
2. Gold Coast Suns - Noah Anderson (Oakleigh Chargers)
3. Melbourne - Luke Jackson (East Fremantle)
4. GWS Giants - Lachlan Ash (Murray Bushrangers)
5. Sydney Swans - Dylan Stephens (Norwood)
6. Adelaide Crows - Fischer McAsey (Sandringham Dragons)
7. Fremantle - Hayden Young (Dandenong Stingrays)
8. Fremantle - Caleb Serong (Gippsland Power)
9. Fremantle (matched Carlton's bid) - Liam Henry (Claremont)
10. GWS Giants (matched Carlton's bid) - Tom Green (GWS Academy)
11. Gold Coast Suns - Sam Flanders (Gippsland Power)
12. Melbourne - Kysaiah Kropinyeri-Pickett (Woodville-West Torrens)
13. Hawthorn - Will Day (West Adelaide)
14. Port Adelaide - Miles Bergman (Sandringham Dragons)
15. Western Bulldogs - Cody Weightman (Dandenong Stingrays)
16. Geelong Cats - Cooper Stephens (Geelong Falcons)
17. Carlton - Brodie Kemp (Bendigo Pioneers)
18. Port Adelaide - Mitch Georgiades (Subiaco)
19. Geelong Cats - Sam De Koning (Dandenong Stingrays)
20. Carlton - Sam Philp (Northern Knights)
21. Richmond - Thomson Dow (Bendigo Pioneers)
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