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.

3. Josh Gibson

After stringing together some eye-catching football at Port Melbourne, Josh Gibson made the short move across town to Arden Street after the Roos took him with the 7th pick of the 2005 Rookie Draft.

With larger hair and a penchant for clangers, Gibson managed just 65 games over four seasons with North Melbourne before he was dealt to the Hawks along with pick 69 in exchange for picks 25 and 41 at the end of 2009.

It was after this move that the footballing world truly sat up and took notice of Gibson's defensive abilities. Across his eight seasons at Hawthorn, the former Oakleigh Charger grew to become one of the most reliable and consistent backman this side of the millennium.

With Premiership medallions won in 2013, '14 and '15, Gibson more than earnt his plaudits across the Hawks' three-peat seasons.

Although he never won a Norm Smith Medal, the defender did win a pair of Peter Crimmins Medals - 2013 and 2015 โ€“ in Premiership winning seasons.

Gibson's number six guernsey was unlikely to have been a best seller with names like Franklin, Hodge and Mitchell providing stiff competition at the cash register, however, his improvement and output after trading the colour of his jumper was rightfully rewarded.