WHILE 58 fresh faces found a home across two nights during the National AFL Draft, many more are still looking for their opportunity at the elite level. They won’t have to wait long for a potential chance, with this afternoon’s Rookie Draft offering a lifeline for those who slipped through the cracks.

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As has become custom throughout the years, several clubs will use their rookie lists to retain players formerly on the primary list, while others will opt against making a selection altogether. Meanwhile, Callum Ah Chee looks set to land at Adelaide as the standalone Pre-Season Draft pick.

Port Adelaide made history as the first club not to select a new player at the National Draft, but has three rookie spots open after promoting Logan Evans alongside three others. On top of the Ah Chee acquisition, cross-town rival Adelaide will also re-list 2024 father-son pick Tyler Welsh.

There looms a tough decision to make for Collingwood, who will likely choose between listing aligned players Thomas McGuane and Jai Saxena. Geelong is in a similar spot with Next Generation Academy prospects Jesse Mellor and Ben Rongdit still available – the former looking more likely.

Father-son nominees Kalani White (Melbourne) and Louis Kellaway (Richmond) also remain on the table having not attracted bids in the National Draft, while clubs like Greater Western Sydney (GWS), Fremantle, and West Coast have their own NGA prospects in the pipeline.

The Giants were transparent in their plans, opting to re-list Conor Stone while placing academy graduate Riley Hamilton onto the Category B rookie list. Sydney did not confirm, but looks poised to give Noah Chamberlain an opportunity on top of re-listing veterans Dane Rampe and Jake Lloyd.

Like GWS, Fremantle disclosed its intention to add Toby Whan and Ryda Luke as Cat B rookies. West Coast also has a Cat B spot open, which will likely see Wesley Walley get his opportunity.

Several clubs will not be selecting at the Rookie Draft, including Carlton, despite having a list spot available. Others will purely fulfil re-listing commitments. For the rest, plenty of highly regarded prospects will be itching to earn their chance in the open pool. We highlight five names to watch.

ROOKIE DRAFT PROSPECTS

Oliver Greeves (Eastern Ranges/Vic Metro)
Midfielder | 191cm | 07/02/2007

Power Ranking: #16

Greeves has long been touted as one of this year’s top prospects, but is also a prospect with clear improvement areas. Clubs have questioned his speed and work rate out of possession, but there is no denying Greeves’ class when the ball enters his area. He offers clean stoppage craft and poised decision making skills, while also capable of impacting inside forward 50. As the great-nephew of Geelong great Carji Greeves, the Cats have been an obvious link along with Hawthorn, who tried to claim first dibs on Greeves via its Next Generation Academy earlier this year.

Liam Hetherton (Murray Bushrangers/NSW)
Key Forward/Ruck | 198cm | 02/05/2007

Power Ranking: N/A

Hetherton was among the key position prospects who garnered attention in the National Draft, but was ultimately overlooked. Perhaps his relatively small sample size played a role in that, with the Murray Bushrangers product missing much of the year through injury. At his best, he’s a mobile marking forward with plenty of power and deceptive speed for his size. He can also chop out in the ruck and clubs will see upside in his game with a clean run – if not now, then certainly as an over-ager next year.

Noah Hibbins-Hargreaves (Dandenong Stingrays/Vic Country)
Forward/Wing | 186cm | 16/11/2007

Power Ranking: #17

Arguably the surprise slider of the draft, Hibbins-Hargreaves possesses enormous quality on his day. The Dandenong Stingrays co-captain is a game-winner who has regularly kicked important goals throughout his junior career. He’s quick off the mark and strong overhead, while possessing clean skills around the ground. Whether as a natural forward, wingman, or onballer, he has upside aplenty and looks like an ideal rookie choice for that reason. Not many players of his class get overlooked for very long.

Marcus Krasnadamskis (Eastern Ranges/Vic Metro)
Ruck | 201cm | 18/06/2007

Power Ranking: N/A

One of the great finds of the year, Krasnadamskis is the type of prospect rookie drafts were made for. The athletic basketball convert has already showcased a steep rate of improvement and has plenty of development left in his footy craft. Some clubs had him up there as the crop’s second-best ruck and he had plenty of interest in the National Draft. Krasnadamskis now awaits his opportunity as a rookie, but would otherwise be the ideal over-age candidate as a highly competitive and fast-learning tall.

Fred Rodriguez (South Fremantle/Western Australia)
Midfielder | 184cm | 10/07/2007

Power Ranking: #45

One of two state MVPs to be overlooked in the National Draft, Rodriguez has plenty to offer to an AFL club. He’s a dual-footed midfielder who can go inside and out, getting his hands dirty and driving the ball forward on the outside. The South Fremantle star is also a consistent and competitive performer whose leadership qualities saw him named captain for Western Australia. He was also part of the National Academy this year and was highly touted as a bottom-ager, so is well and truly on the radar.