Several players have been thrown a lifeline to begin summer training. A total of 15 players have been given permission to train at a club, with intentions to be picked up at the national and rookie draft later this month.
Seven of those players return to their club after being delisted at the conclusion of the 2019 season. Josh Deluca, Carlton's first overall selection in the mid-season draft headlines the list, while Hawks forward and former Saint Darren Minchington returns to Waverley Park.
A formidable WAFL player, Deluca was given the opportunity to don the Navy Blue in the back half of the season playing 10 matches.
Deluca was delisted a month ago, but the Blues expressed willingly that they would "provide him with all the support he needs to continue his playing career".
The 23-year-old, who had played four games with Fremantle prior to being selected by Carlton, vented his frustration after being axed.
"It was quite disappointing," Deluca told SEN.
"The writing was on the wall a bit. I hadn't had a contract offered to me for some time after the season.
"I was in limbo, sort of. I was pretty disappointed with the result. I really want to be at the club and I loved my time there."
Injury-ridden midfielder Lukas Webb has also been invited down to train with Carlton, in a resurgent attempt to save his career after playing just 24 games in five seasons with the Western Bulldogs.
The Blues said both Deluca and Webb were training "without any guarantee of being drafted".
The players returning to their clubs with permission to train are Tom McKenzie (North Melbourne), Jack Maibaum (Sydney), Josh Schoenfeld (Gold Coast), and Dockers duo Hugh Dixon and Tom North have also been granted permission to train. While Darren Minchington will be looking for a contract with the Hawks, after injury restricted him to just eight games in the VFL this year.
Former Blues defender Angus Schumacher will train with St Kilda after managing just one senior game at Carlton, while ex-Port Adelaide speedster Aidyn Johnson (Sydney) has also been thrown a lifeline.
Sudanese ruck Bigoa Nyuon will also train at St Kilda, he could join the club as a category B rookie through the next generation program.
The AFL national draft commences on November 27.
The rookie draft will take place on November 28/29.
Adelaide: James Matthews (McLaren)
Carlton: Josh Deluca (Carlton), Lukas Webb (Western Bulldogs)
Fremantle: Hugh Dixon (Fremantle), Tom North (Fremantle)
Gold Coast: Josh Schoenfeld (Gold Coast)
Hawthorn: Darren Minchington (Hawthorn)
North Melbourne: Tom McKenzie (North Melbourne)
St Kilda: Angus Schumacher (Carlton), Bigoa Nyuon (Dandenong Stingrays)
Sydney: Jake Bartholomaeus (Sydney Uni), Jai Florent (Sandringham Dragons), Ryan Hebron (Werribee VFL), Aidyn Johnson (Port Adelaide), Jack Maibaum (Sydney)