In each of the five rounds, the 13 participating clubs (except West Coast, which instead received complete access to all West Australian footballers for the second year) all received one selection, the order of which was set in the reverse of the previous season's finishing positions.
Meanwhile, Jamie Cox opted for a first class cricket career with Tasmania over signing for Essendon.
The first choice was heavyweight ruckman Richard Lounder, who only played four senior matches for Richmond and has been described as the most derided number one national draft pick.
[1] However, Richmond had more success with the second round pick, Brendon 'Benny' Gale, who became a firm favourite at the club during his 244-game career.
Other 1987 draftees of note included Graham Wright of Collingwood and Melbourne's Stephen Tingay.