Many players go on to have successful and long careers in the AFL, but a portion of players have their careers cut short. Some are star players who just didn't get a good crack to show what they have, or succumbed to the nasty history and role that injuries play in the game.
We take a look at 10 of the most notable names who had their promising careers end prematurely.
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7. Anthony Morabito
Picked at number four in the 2009 national draft, injuries prevented Anthony Morabito from reaching the potential he was touted to have, given he was often compared to Sydney great Adam Goodes.
After a great debut season, including one of the goals of the season in the elimination final win over the Hawks, Morabito ruptured his ACL in his left knee during pre-season training, requiring a full knee reconstruction.
He returned in 2012, in the WAFL for Peel Thunder, but was limited to seven games, after several leg injuries and a concussion. He also re-injured the same knee, requiring a second knee reconstruction.
The following year, in January, he once again injured his left knee while training, resulting in a third operation.
Morabito returned after 1369 days, in Round 16 2014, as a substitute.
He would miss all of 2015 and would eventually get delisted before being redrafted in the rookie draft at pick 50. Morabito failed to play an AFL game in 2016 and be delisted again.
The promise he showed in his first season and prior to being drafted was never realised, playing just 26 games in seven seasons.
