The investment in former basketballer Hugh Greenwood has paid off with his seamless transition to the Crows' midfield. Another mature-aged recruit, Jono
Jonathon
The West Adelaide premiership winner has played the past three games after making his debut in the round 12 win against St Kilda. The 26-year-old has been handy on a half-forward flank.
Hugh Greenwood
Years of attempting to get the US college basketballer to return to football have paid off. A tough inside midfielder, the 25-year-old has played six games after making his debut against the Brisbane Lions in round nine. Greenwood joined the Crows at the end of 2015 as a Category
Paul Hunter
The 24-year-old – recruited from NEAFL club Redlands - is the third ruckman at the Crows behind Sam Jacobs and Reilly O'Brien. Sharing the ruck duties in the SANFL with O'Brien and also plays up forward.
Ben Jarman
The son of Crows legend Darren has improved with every game in his first season of senior football. Playing as a half-forward and on a wing, Jarman's pace has been his standout attribute in the SANFL, while the 19-year-old has also kicked a couple of cracking goals.
Alex Keath
The former Victorian cricketer joined the Crows at the end of 2015 as a Category
The Lions have generally gone for some slightly more mature bodies to fill out their list in the past year or two. In
Jake Barrett
The mature recruit from GWS has excelled in his first season. Elevated to the senior list, Barrett has played 11 games as a small forward, kicked nine goals and averaged five tackles.
Matthew Eagles
Won 'The Recruit' reality TV program and has made a big improvement as a Category
Blake Grewar
A proven NEAFL performer, the 24-year-old former Redland ball-magnet has developed into a
Matthew Hammelmann
In his third year, Hammelmann has been thrust back to the forward line after a year in
Cian Hanley
The younger brother of Pearce, Cian has finally got on the field in his third year after a horror run of injuries. While the skills are still on the improve, Hanley keeps his feet in the contest and has great potential. He'll be back in 2018.
Mitchell Hinge
The teenage South Australian has settled at half-back in the NEAFL and made a good fist of things. Is aggressive, has a long left boot and is capable of playing senior footy.
Oscar McInerney
The 22-year-old giant is having a terrific first season. For someone standing 204cm, McInerney is great at ground level, has excellent hands, and has kicked 17 goals when going forward in the NEAFL. Needs to add a bit more aggression, but has a real chance and should be around next year.
Reuben William
Possessed with blistering speed, William has been hampered by injury. He's played as a small forward as well as a running defender and needs to work on his disposal to become a regular senior player. - Michael Whiting
The Blues have shown faith in their rookies this year and are using the list to address specific needs. Korcheck and Sheehan are project players, Gallucci and
Andrew Gallucci
Second year on the rookie list for the small forward after his 2016 season ended prematurely because of a shoulder injury. Provides excellent forward pressure and has displayed superb goal sense.
Jesse Glass-McCasker
Has recovered from a jaw injury earlier this season to regain a regular VFL spot.
Matt Korcheck
The American has taken on more responsibility in the ruck with the injuries to Andrew Phillips and Daniel Gorringe. Learning the craft, but is still a fair way off the elite level.
Kym Lebois
Showed some exciting glimpses in the JLT Community Series before injuring a quad, which set him back for a while. Has speed and excellent skills, but struggling to make his mark at VFL level.
Ciaran Sheehan
Alex Silvagni
Former Docker had an immediate impact when elevated in round six, doing a superb job on star Swan Lance Franklin. Has been missed since injuring his knee against GWS in round 12. - Howard
The Magpies have traditionally enjoyed great success with rookies, with six members of the club's 2010 premiership team rising from their rookie list. As their current batch shows, the Pies have used the rookie list for various purposes – to provide an opportunity for youngsters who missed out on the national draft, to develop raw project players like US import Mason Cox, and to give another chance for mature-age types like Henry Schade and Josh Thomas (who was retained after serving a doping ban).
Mason Cox
A third-year international rookie, the 'American Pie' has played 16 AFL games
Max Lynch
The 18-year-old ruckman from Jindera, near Albury, has steadily improved his craft and in his past two outings has averaged 25
Liam Mackie
The Pies would love for the first-year rookie from South Australia to develop into a rebounding defender even half as good as his cousin, Geelong veteran Andrew Mackie, and the 18-year-old has made a moderate start in the VFL. Worth persisting with.
Mitch McCarthy
The former basketballer, 19, overcame a serious foot injury and then early-season soreness, but the
Henry Schade
The former
Josh Thomas
It was always to be tough for the 25-year-old to find a spot in a strong midfield group after a two-year doping suspension, but he finally did it on Sunday and made a reasonable fist of it. Pressure is on to perform. - Ben Collins
American Pie Mason Cox had a breakout game against the Hawks with three goals. Picture: AFL Photos
Essendon's most recent rookie success story is Anthony McDonald-Tipungwuti, who the Bombers grabbed at the end of 2015 after his improved form at VFL level. McDonald-Tipungwuti has quickly developed into a cult figure and fan
Sam Draper
The Bombers are excited by what Draper has shown in his first season at the club, particularly after missing all of the pre-season through injury. They grabbed the athletic big man with the first pick at last year's NAB AFL Rookie Draft and he has got a few talking about his potential.
The small forward was released from his contract earlier this year and will be formally delisted at the end of the season. He did not play a senior game for the Bombers after being drafted in 2015 and then downgraded to the rookie list this year.
Jake Long
Long's position on the list will be in jeopardy if he can't break into the senior side in the final stretch of games this season. The lively half-forward/wingman, who is the son of Essendon great Michael, played the final three games of last season but hasn't added to that tally in 2017.
Shaun McKernan
McKernan ran out for the Bombers two weeks ago and booted two goals in their loss to Sydney, but he is more of a back-up ruckman/forward option than a first-choice pick. McKernan has played 52 games in his career but hasn't been able to become a consistent AFL option.
Ben McNiece
Essendon handed the Category
The Dockers have used their rookie list for development and to offer some delisted players another chance at making
Josh Deluca
Made his long-awaited debut against Geelong in round 14 after originally being recruited in the same 2014 draft as Connor Blakely, Lachie
The rangy 19-year-old has settled in at Peel averaging 16.9 touches in 10 games in his first season on Freo's rookie list.
Brady Grey
Brought some tenacity to the forward line in round three and has played every game since, bar one due to a hamstring. Averaging 4.7 tackles and kicked eight goals. The 2013 draft pick has grabbed his chance after being delisted last year.
Ryan Nyhuis
Was close to an AFL debut before the bye after overcoming a shin injury to start the season and performing strongly at Peel to earn elevation to the senior list. Good-sized defender in his second season.
Luke
Raw forward-ruck has averaged nearly 10 disposals and booted six goals in 10 League games for the Thunder in his first season at Fremantle.
Matthew Uebergang
Showed promise last year in the WAFL before suffering a serious hamstring injury midway through the season and is unlikely to be seen at all this year. His future is clouded. - Travis King
Five new names joined James Parsons on the Cats' rookie list at the end of last season and three - Zach Guthrie, Mark
Zach Guthrie
Excellent debut season having played well in the JLT Community Series before
Jack Henry
A super athlete, he was sidelined with appendicitis after making a slow start, but he has performed well in recent weeks. Has shown an ability to leap and his running power is strong. Can play at both ends.
Impressing at training but Jones is yet to deliver in games. He was always a development project, and has some tricks, but needs to work hard to give himself a chance.
Mark O'Connor
An impressive athlete, he was given a taste of AFL football in rounds eight and nine after arriving from Ireland in pre-season. Popular and hard-working, he is a long-term project with a huge upside.
James Parsons
A superb talent, he has played 10 games and missed two through suspension. He is still inconsistent and occasionally tries to do too much, but he has great balance, is a long kick, has good evasive skills and shapes as a Joel Corey-type.
Sam Simpson
Thin as Salvador Dali's
For the past few
Keegan
Now in his third year at the Suns,
Ryan Davis
Like
Cameron Loersch
The lanky key forward has made small strides in his second season but managed to kick seven goals at the weekend. Needs a big end
Darcy Macpherson
The little terrier has been a consistent performer at NEAFL level. Was recently given a chance in the seniors and did well. Is versatile, clever and loves to apply pressure.
Max Spencer
A Suns Academy graduate, this has been a learning year for the teenage defender. Needs to improve, but should get another year. - Michael Whiting
The Giants have gone down the mature-age rookie path over the past couple of seasons, with Sam Reid and Daniel Lloyd in 2015, and Tendai Mzungu last year adding depth to the list, and all three have played senior footy. They also picked academy product Zach
Daniel Lloyd
Plucked from country footy the 25-year-old hasn't looked out of place in six games this year playing as a
Tendai Mzungu
The former Docker was upgraded to the senior list and debuted in round one but suffered a serious hamstring tear. Leadership and professionalism have been important.
Joel Patfull
The former defender is only on the list as a Total Player Payments obligation and is no longer at the club after retiring at the end of last season.
Sam Reid
The versatile utility has played some important roles as a forward and in
Zach Sproule
The Giants' leading goalkicker with 22 in the NEAFL, Sproule is a good size for a tall forward at
Jake Stein
The Commonwealth Games decathlete is a category
The Hawks have enjoyed solid success with rookies in recent years, with Jonathon Ceglar, Will Langford, Kade Stewart, Dallas Willsmore and Kurt Heatherley graduating to the main list. Of the current batch, James Cousins and Jack Fitzpatrick played in the AFL this season. The Irish experiment appears to be paying dividends, with Conor Glass and Conor Nash developing well.
James Cousins
Cousins, who won the Murray Bushrangers' best and fairest last year, looks likely to be elevated onto Hawthorn's primary list next season after a promising start to his career. The midfielder immediately adapted his busy game to VFL level and won so much of the ball he earned three-straight senior matches.
Jack Fitzpatrick
The former Melbourne ruckman-forward, in his second season at Waverley Park, barged his way into the Hawks' senior side with strong VFL form, including a five-goal haul. But Fitzpatrick's career is under threat because of another concussion in his one AFL game this year.
Conor Glass
Looks to have benefited from his VFL development league exposure in
Oliver Hanrahan
A project for the Hawks after skipping the TAC Cup system and only switching his focus from cricket to football late last year. Hanrahan has played just four VFL matches, including one in the development
Conor Nash
The other Irishman on the Hawks' list is in his first season and, at 197cm, will take time, but is already looking a capable prospect down back. A hamstring injury has sidelined him since mid-May.
Luke Surman
Surman, a key defender, quit the club in May after reportedly losing his passion for the game. The ex-basketballer did not earn AFL selection in his season-and-a-half at Hawthorn. - Marc McGowan
Melbourne's rookie list is filled with players who were overlooked in previous drafts and who went back to VFL football and worked hard on improving their games. The Demons also have two former basketballers on their list, with teams having to be more creative with their talent spotting. With so many talented youngsters on the senior list, Melbourne has plenty of depth on its rookie list to rely on.
Tim Smith
The mature-age forward played two senior matches earlier in the season before being struck down by injury. Smith suffered broken ribs and a punctured lung against Richmond in round five before being ruled out for the season with a navicular foot injury. The Demons are big admirers of the 26-year-old's competitiveness and will back him in to return after his rehab.
Mitch White
The solid defender has managed four games in three seasons on Melbourne's rookie list and played his first match for the year against Sydney on Friday. Can no longer remain on the rookie list, so will need to be added to the primary list. Has a fight on his hands to prove he deserves another contract.
Joel Smith
The category
Declan Keilty
Keilty has played up forward, in the ruck and even down back in the VFL this season. His strength is his versatility and that will help as he pushes for a run in the seniors. The query will be whether he can take the next step to AFL level.
Lachlan Filipovic
The developing ruckman has been sidelined by a hip injury and will miss at least the next month of football. Added to the Demons' list in last year's NAB AFL Rookie Draft with the club needing extra depth in the ruck department, Filipovic remains a work in progress.
Corey Maynard
Nearing a senior debut after an impressive debut campaign in the VFL. Signed as a category
Despite an injury on debut, Joel Smith showed enough to earn a contract extension. Picture: AFL Photos
Cult ruckman Braydon Preuss is internal proof of what is possible with rookies and has captured the AFL world's attention since joining the senior list this season. The Roos are lighter on for rookies compared to most clubs, with only four at Arden St in 2017. Cameron Zurhaar looks the best prospect of the
Will Fordham
In his third year on the rookie list and entering a critical juncture in his career. Fordham is a hard runner, finds a fair bit of the ball and regularly kicks goals, but the biggest knock on him is the quality of his disposal. Could yet earn an AFL call-up before season's end.
Oscar Junker
Broke his right leg in a VFL practice match in February and last year's Western Jets co-captain remains without a timetable to return to the field. Will almost certainly get another year to prove himself after a strong pre-season had him in JLT Community Series contention.
Matthew Taylor
On an AFL list for the first time after missing out in the 2015 draft then forcing his way back onto the radar at WAFL level last year. Found himself in the development league last weekend after eight games in
Cameron Zurhaar
We all saw the footage of his back-to-back Dustin Martin-like fend-offs against Richmond's VFL side in June, in an illustration of his aggression and strength. The highlights look great, but the Roos would love to see Zurhaar win more possession, be more consistent within matches and improve his endurance. - Marc McGowan
The Power have used the rookie list wisely, with Dan Houston proving to be a promising addition across half-back. Mature-aged forward Brett Eddy played the first three games of the
Brett Eddy
Rewarded with a rookie list spot after a bucket of goals in the SANFL. The 27-year-old key forward debuted in round one and played the first three games, but his defensive work needs improving.
Cameron Hewett
The younger brother of Sydney's George Hewett has
Dan Houston
Impressed across half-back in 10 games for the Power this season. The 19-year-old hits targets with his kicking and shows poise under pressure.
Emmanuel Irra
Recruited from South Adelaide, the 23-year-old Ugandan-born defender joined the Power as a Category
Peter
A giant lump of a lad, the 203cm ruckman is honing his craft in the SANFL. The 19-year-old is splitting his time between the ruck and in
Jarrod Lienert
A member of Sturt's premiership-winning team last year, the 22-year-old has been handy across half-back for Port Adelaide in the SANFL. But could be hard to crack into the senior side with the Power having no shortage of quality rebounding defenders. - Lee Gaskin
Dan Houston has been a great find for the Power. Picture: AFL Photos
The Tigers backed most of their 2016 rookies in for another season in 2017 and have found players worth investing in. After trying mature-age rookies with mixed success, their strategy now is to recruit promising young players who have missed the draft and develop them. Chol and Soldo have
Jason Castagna
Looks set for promotion to the senior list after becoming a mainstay in 2017, playing every game as a pressure small forward.
Mabior Chol
The second-year rookie has shown glimpses of his talent but is not performing consistently enough to demand promotion or senior selection. The Tigers have invested in the exciting tall and it is unlikely they would give up on him now.
Callum Moore
An ankle injury has interrupted the versatile tall's second year on the rookie list. Used both forward and in
Ivan Soldo
A project ruckman who has shown great progress while learning the game in his three seasons. Acquitted himself well when called on to make his debut in round seven, he now looks like an AFL player if the Tigers promote him as their
Tyson Stengle
The only addition to Richmond's rookie list this year, Stengle has excited the Tigers and is a real find. A natural footballer, he made his debut against Port Adelaide with two goals in round 15 and is certainly worth retaining if not promoting in 2018. – Nathan Schmook
Expect some consistency with the rookies the Saints take into 2018. Rowan Marshall looks an exciting prospect while Irishmen Ray Connellan and Darragh Joyce are in their first season. Nick O'Kearney and Nick Coughlan are in their second year on the rookie list and are yet to debut, but both have shown signs of promise.
Ray Connellan
This Irishman has serious speed. He has spent most of his time playing down back for Sandringham but played forward against Werribee last Sunday and was named in the best for his two-goal performance.
Nick Coughlan
Injuries have hurt the defender in 2017. He is currently sidelined with a hamstring strain while a stress fracture in his right foot in the lead-up to the season affected his preparation. The 193cm backman is good in the air.
Darragh Joyce
A tall defender, Joyce is a little behind Connellan in terms of picking up the game. The club is not flooded with young tall backmen so if Joyce can develop, he would help fill a hole.
Rowan Marshall
The key forward can clunk marks and kick goals. Marshall has really impressed in his first season. He has slowed slightly in the past few weeks and although St Kilda has multiple marking options in attack, the 21-year-old has a place at the Saints.
Nick O'Kearney
Showing improvement across half-forward and through the midfield. Has been winning his fair share of the footy in the VFL and is creative. - Dinny Navaratnam
The Swans pick their rookies with a view that they're very much an extended part of the list and should be able to play senior footy. Heath Grundy, Nick
Shaun Edwards
The former Giant and Bomber has been upgraded twice already this season but hasn't quite cracked a senior game. Dominating the NEAFL and could be worth a punt in the next month.
Sam Fisher
The GWS
Robbie Fox
Played three senior games early in the season when the Swans battled injury
Lewis Melican
Has stepped into senior footy to give the Swans a strong presence in
Sam Murray
Possesses plenty of speed and has averaged 23 touches per game in the NEAFL, but would be touch and go to get another deal, unless he finished the season strongly.
Colin O'Riordan
The Irishman was picked in the NEAFL team of the year in 2016 but hasn't backed that up this season. A promising rebounding defender who should be given a chance to keep developing.
Ben Ronke
The hard-tackling small forward has kicked seven goals from four games after coming back from
The anomaly on the Eagles' rookie list is former North Melbourne star Drew Petrie who has offered plenty on and off the field. Time could be running out for luckless Simon Tunbridge. The Eagles took a punt on some youngsters from outside the traditional pathways and had the maximum three category
The speedy Sudanese youngster joined West Coast as a category
Paddy Brophy
The talented Irishman cut his AFL experiment short in April and returned home after three years at the club. Brophy regularly played League for East Perth but didn't quite make the elite level.
Tom Gorter
The 20-year-old tall defender has played every senior game for original club East Perth this season and been a solid performer down back.
Fraser McInnes
Played two games as a stop-gap ruck option in rounds eight and nine. Impresses with his physicality but is almost 24 and has only played 11 games since he was drafted in 2011.
Drew Petrie
Some questioned the 34-year-old's recruitment after he was delisted by North Melbourne, but Petrie's recent form has been excellent in Josh Kennedy's absence and he has been an extremely popular addition to the playing group.
Jordan Snadden
Simon Tunbridge
The powerful but injury-plagued forward is still on the comeback trail after undergoing a revolutionary hybrid-LARS knee reconstruction in December in a bid to play in 2017 and save his career.
Francis Watson
Exciting mature-age recruit lit up East Perth's matches early in the season before suffering an ankle issue which has stalled his progress. Has a bright future. - Travis King
Brad Lynch
A player in the
Nathan Mullenger-McHugh
The raw and versatile tall has been impressive at times playing at both ends of the ground in
Josh Prudden
Demoted to the rookie list at the end of 2016, the utility hasn't added to his four senior games.
Roarke Smith
The dashing defender succumbed to his second ACL tear in 18 months during the JLT Community series, and won't play again this season. Showed plenty in his two senior games and should be retained at season's end.
Tristan Tweedie
The category
Could Brad Lynch be the ideal replacement for veteran skipper Robert Murphy? Picture: AFL Photos
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