Four SANFL players found new homes at AFL level through the 2024 AFL Mid-season Draft on Wednesday night.
Toby Murray (Adelaide Crows), Kelsey Rypstra (Western Bulldogs), Logan Evans (Port Adelaide) and Luke Beecken (Brisbane Lions) were all picked up as rookie listed players.
Murray and Evans opted for 18-month contracts while Beecken and Rypstra received six-month deals.
Some of these names will be unfamiliar to AFL fans, while others have been on the radar for some time, so let's take a look at each and what they can offer their new club.
Originally from Henty in southern NSW, Murray played his U18s football for the Murray Bushrangers before playing senior football for Wangaratta in the Ovens and Murray League last season.
The 20-year-old signed on as a SANFL contracted player for the Crows late last year, joining his brother Nick at the club.
Measuring in at 200 cm, Murray plays primarily as a key forward but can also play ruck when needed, offering the Crows versatility in their big man stocks.
Murray has played five SANFL games so far this season, kicking six goals and averaging nearly five marks per game.
He was named the breakthrough player of the round in his debut game against South Adelaide in Round 1, kicking four goals while also pinch-hitting in the ruck.
Murray also bagged two goals in the Crows' Round 4 clash with North Adelaide and took seven marks from 16 disposals in the win over Port Adelaide in round five.
Moving on to the Crows' rookie list, Murray will still be eligible to play SANFL football when not selected for the AFL side.
Overlooked in his draft year following a devastating knee reconstruction, Kelsey Rypstra has burst onto the league football scene this year to earn notice from recruiters.
Rypstra started the year in North Adelaide's reserves, but was called up to the senior team in Round 3 following their disastrous start to the season.
The 173cm dynamo took the opportunity with both hands to play five consecutive league matches before his AFL selection.
Playing predominantly as a midfielder in his U18 year before the knee injury, Rypstra has made his name as a lethal small forward.
Possessing exceptional running capacity and blistering speed, he can work high up the ground to get involved in transition play and deliver the ball inside 50 with sublime skill.
As with all good small forwards, he is a sharpshooter inside 50, able to find the goals from almost any angle and create goals out of nothing.
His first goal at league level was a snapshot into what he can produce, roving the ball off the pack in the forward pocket and snapping a clever goal in amongst a sea of opponents.
While his energy and creativity will be missed by North Adelaide for the remainder of the season, there are several options the Roosters can lean on to fill the void.
Tariek Newchurch was sent back to the reserves in Round 3 after an underwhelming start to the season but recaptured his best form in last week's thumping win over West Adelaide, kicking 5.4 from 20 disposals to signal his intent to earn a recall.
Another option could be the 170cm Max Blacker, whose only game at senior level this year was the 92-point hiding from Woodville-West Torrens.
He has played the last five games in the reserves and is averaging 17 disposals as a high half-forward, making him a likely candidate to fill Rypstra's role.
Initially a Norwood junior, Evans played four games of senior football last season as a 17-year-old and impressed against mature bodies.
He was picked up by Port Adelaide earlier this year as part of the SANFL Rookies program, training at Alberton and gaining access to AFL facilities.
Playing the first four games at senior level for the Magpies this season, Evans is now the first player from this program to be drafted onto an AFL list.
A mobile rebounding defender, Evans has looked comfortable in a defence that has been under siege for most of the season.
It was against his old club at Alberton in Round 4 where he announced himself, collecting 26 disposals and nine rebound 50s in a stellar display.
With an acute ability to read the ball in the air and terrific foot skills, Evans is both defensively sound and a dangerous attacking threat from the half-backline.
At 188cm, he can play on a variety of opponents and is equally adept at ground level, as he showed with six tackles and three clearances in the clash with Norwood.
Evans has missed the past three games with a back injury but is due to return in the coming weeks, giving him plenty of time to make an impression on AFL selectors.
Like Murray, Evans has moved on to Port Adelaide's rookie list, making him eligible to play for the Magpies when not selected at AFL level.
Long admired by those who follow the SANFL, Beecken has finally earned his chance at AFL level after several years of consistent senior-level performance.
Beecken spent his U18 year largely as a hybrid forward, averaging more than a goal per game but could not find a home at the AFL draft.
He emerged as a regular senior player for the Eagles in 2021 as a rebounding defender, playing 16 games including the premiership triumph over Glenelg.
With lightning pace and a raking right foot, Beecken is a serious weapon at half-back who can turn defence into attack in an instant.
He has the confidence to take the game on and use his creativity with ball in hand to catch out opposition defences, occasionally sneaking forward to kick a long-range goal.
Along with his attacking flair, the 184cm Beecken is also a reliable one-on-one player and can play lockdown roles when needed on a variety of opponents.
Now with 50 games of league experience under his belt at the age of 23, Beecken took another step this year to announce himself as one of the best half-backs outside the AFL.
Across his first seven games he averaged 23 disposals, five marks and four rebound 50s, earning him selection in the recent State Game against Western Australia.
He was not overawed by the occasion, collecting 25 disposals and five marks as a key playmaker in the Croweaters' dominant victory.
Beecken served as the springboard for much of Woodville-West Torrens' fast transition football that has made them the most potent scoring team in 2024.
Such a unique player with his speed and creative ball use, Beecken will be almost irreplaceable for the Eagles in the second half of the season.
Fortunately, marquee recruit Cameron Fleeton could return to the senior side as soon as this weekend and add defensive stability with his intercept marking.
The speedy Zane Williams has been playing more midfield time this season but spent much of last year in defence and could return there to provide some zip out of the back half.
Zac Buck started out his league career as a small defender but was thrown forward midway through last year to bolster the attack.
He too could potentially move back and add some creativity and dashing speed, although Sam Jacobs is unlikely to want to move these vital magnets in what has been a flying start to 2024.