With the AFL Draft looming, pundits and analysts of every pay grade have their focus set on this year's top-end talent.

Should you spend enough time examining phantom drafts, highlights packages and anything uttered by the guru Kevin Sheehan, it becomes glaringly evident who will be taken with a first-round selection.

But what then of those names that slip? What about those that will miss out altogether?

Since 1997, the league has implemented a secondary Rookie Draft for the project players, sliders and risky names that failed to have their names called.

Although the rookie list now appears to be a haven for ageing champions instead of a home for up and comers, here's hoping that when the competition finally settles post COVID-19, that it can return to its initial purpose.

Across the 23 seasons of the Rookie Draft there have been multiple names that never made the senior grade, but for the multitude of untried delistees, there have been a handful of diamonds excavated from the rubble.

Here are the 10 biggest names that found their way onto AFL lists via the Rookie Draft.

6. Matthew Boyd

Although eventually selected in the stacked 2001 Draft class, it took the Bulldogs until the 23rd pick of the Rookie Draft to call out Matthew Boyd's name.

Recruited from Frankston, Boyd spent the entirety of the 2002 season in the reserves before eventually making his debut in the seventh round of 2003.

Despite the Dogs ending the year in last place, Boyd consolidated his position down back toward the back-end of the season and wouldn't vacate it for another 15 years.

Originally seen by many as just a dependable role player in the early stages of his career, the former Dandenong Stingray took his game to another level in 2009, with his first of three All-Australian selections and club Best and Fairests coming at its completion.

As hard at it as he was reliable, Boyd was named the Dogs captain for the 2011, โ€˜12 and โ€˜13 seasons.

Boyd finished his time at the kennel with a further two All-Australian blazers (2011 and 2012), another pair of Charles Sutton Medals (2011 and 2016) and a richly deserved Premiership in 2016.

His 292 games in red, white and blue still remains the eighth highest recorded total by a Bulldog.