Have you noticed, now more than ever, clubs being forthright with their decision to delist former stars, premiership players, and depth options only to be committed to redrafting the players as rookies?
A smart piece of business by clubs who engage in the shrewd list movement, it allows the organisation to essentially open a vacancy on the primary list, enabling more draft prospects to walk in the door.
As stipulated in the rules, any player drafted in the National Draft automatically finds themselves on the primary list, with it ranging between 36 and 38 players.
SEE MORE: All the Ins and Outs at YOUR club
Clubs are also entitled to up to six Category A (players with traditional Australian rules football development) and three Category B (represent players from non-traditional recruiting backgrounds) rookies.
In 2024, we have seen premiership pair Jack Gunston (Hawthorn) and Oleg Markov (Collingwood) delisted, with the notion the club will pick them up in the rookie draft, which takes place on November 22.
Gunston - will enter his 16th AFL season as a rookie - has played 260 games and sits 20th in all-time matches among current players.
A total of 16 players have entered this group, causing many commentators and followers to question the legitimacy of the rookie spots.
Introduced ahead of the 1997 season, the Rookie list and subsequent draft allowed clubs more flexibility in the way players could enter the competition.
Initially, it had an age limit, with players between 18 and 23 only allowed onto the list, which was removed to encourage mature-age players to continue vying for their AFL dream.
The rookie list allowed the lesser-known and perhaps the less talented players an opportunity to thrive in a high-performance environment, which they wouldn't usually receive.
Nowadays, clubs use the list of spots to manipulate senior players who, at times, play consistent senior football.
Despite his wretched run with injuries, St Kilda midfielder Brad Crouch would be a walk-up for Ross Lyon; GWS tall Lachie Keefe played in the two finals games; Brisbane's Darragh Joyce was close to senior selection for the 2024 finals series.
Of the 16 that will be redrafted at the club they spent at least the past few seasons at, only three are under the age of 23.
Former Port Adelaide champion Kane Cornes and Hawthorn player Daniel Harford both called the rule a "farce", pleading with the AFL to alter its laws.
Surprisingly, the "list manoeuvre" backfired on Gold Coast at the completion of the 2021 AFL season when they delisted Hugh Greenwood from their list to redraft him as a rookie.
Still On The Primary List
Still On The Same Contract
Still Been Medically Cleared To Train/Play For Over A Month
Still At The Suns
Still See Everyone Round 1
Was happy to cop the odd clickbait article & social nuff if it meant assisting the clubโs overall list strategy. ๐ค๐ผ— Hugh Greenwood (@HGreenwood3) November 11, 2021
Greenwood was then approached by North Melbourne, who reportedly came to him with a "significant offer", of which he accepted shortly after his social media post.
In what was a rare occurrence, clubs do have the capability to "poach" delisted players in the rookie draft, pending their pick is before their rivals.
