Matthew Kreuzer understands the obsession, but one year after being taken first in the draft overall the talented youngster knows that the figures mean little once you pull on the guernsey and cross that white line.
"It doesn't matter what number you go in the draft, you get judged on what you do when you get out there in games," Kreuzer says.
"Once I got drafted I just tried to leave all that behind because it's only a number and when you get down to the club that's when the hard work starts. You've just got to put your best foot forward and try and get yourself in a position to play a few games."
It's hard enough to take your first tentative steps into the unforgiving world of AFL football, but to do it under the harsh glare of the spotlight that accompanies every No.1 draft pick makes a tough task even more difficult.
Kreuzer is grateful for the distraction supplied by fellow recruit Chris Judd, whose every move in his return from groin surgery was highly scrutinized and allowed the 19-year-old to maintain a healthy frame of mind on his way to 20 games in his debut season.
"You can have fun -- at least I did -- but it is hard work at the same time. You've got to be able to have a bit of fun with all the boys and make it an enjoyable experience," Kreuzer says of a rookie season that included highlights such as his three-goal efforts in wins against Port Adelaide and the Western Bulldogs.
"Those sorts of games do give you a bit of confidence to be able to go out there and have a go.
"I thought my first year was okay. I didn't really put any expectations on myself at the start of the year; I just wanted to go out and play a few games and get a taste for it and see how it went from there."
Kreuzer won wide approval from his coach and Blues' fans alike for his efforts in tirelessly leading Carlton's rucks week after week against bigger-bodied veterans. He admits it proved both mentally and physically draining in the latter stages of the season, but he enjoyed the challenge nonetheless.
"I would just try and do everything right during the week to help get my body right so I could get out there and play on the weekend. I enjoyed it," he says.
"I probably felt a bit worn down towards the end of the season between about rounds 15 to 20 I reckon. It sort of hit me a bit, but then I felt I bounced back for the last two [games].
"It was good though to be able to get that taste for it and see where I've got to get to and how hard I've got to work."
Kreuzer's bid to hit the track hard this pre-season received a minor setback in the form of a post-season operation on his hip – not the one that delayed his debut until round three – but he's just a week or two away from resuming a full program.
"I just kept getting scans to check on it, but it didn't really bother me to play with it because I couldn't really feel it was there. There was a bit of bone on my right side that had snapped off so they decided to clean it out," he explains.
"I just want to get as fit as possible and get back into training and work from there."
With Carlton's ruck brigade bolstered by the addition of Robbie Warnock during trade week, Kreuzer is confident the club has the personnel to take a big step forward in 2009.
"We've got an exciting ruck group now and hopefully we can all work together and help each other out," he says.
"I'm sure there will be a bit of competition there as well -- it will be good."
