The Rookie Draft has proven to be a happy hunting ground for recruiters since its introduction in 1996, with clubs finding hidden gems in the aftermath of the National Draft.

Despite being overlooked in the more traditional pathway to the AFL, the National Draft, a plethora of key players have emerged as bonafide guns after being selected as rookies.

Dean Cox

Pick No. 28 (2000) – West Coast
290 games
2008 best and fairest
2006 premiership
6 x All-Australian – 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2011, 2012

Stephen Milne

Pick No. 23 (2000) – St Kilda
275 games
574 goals
2 x All-Australian
4 x St Kilda leading goal kicker

Matthew Boyd

Pick No. 23 (2002) – Western Bulldogs
282 games*
3 x best and fairest – 2009, 2011, 2012
2016 premiership
3 x All-Australian – 2009, 2011, 2016
Western Bulldogs captain 2011-2013

Aaron Sandilands

Pick No. 33 (2002) – Fremantle
244 games*
2 x best and fairest – 2009, 2015
4 x All-Australian – 2008, 2009, 2010, 2014
2 x Ross Glendinning Medal – 2009 (rd. 17), 2010 (rd. 18)

Brett Kirk

Pick No. 40 (1999) – Sydney
241 games
2 x best and fairest – 2005, 2007
2005 premiership
2004 All-Australian
2006 Robert Rose Award (AFLPA Most Courageous)
Sydney captain 2006-2010

Nick Maxwell

Pick No. 15 (2002) – Collingwood
208 games
2010 Collingwood premiership captain
2009 All-Australian
Collingwood captain 2009-2013
4 x Gavin Brown Award – 2007, 2008, 2009, 2012

Josh Gibson

Pick No. 7 (2000) – North Melbourne
213 games*
3 x Hawthorn premiership – 2013, 2014, 2015
2 x Peter Crimmins Medallist – 2013, 2015
2015 All-Australian

Brad Sewell

Pick No. 7 (2003) – Hawthorn
200 games
2 x premiership – 2008, 2013
2007 best and fairest

*Currently still playing in the AFL