THE ROOKIE list has had many famous and successful graduates since it was established nearly 20 years ago, including West Coast pair Dean Cox and Matt Priddis, Fremantle ruckman Aaron Sandilands, and St Kilda goalkicker Stephen Milne.

But does it still have a place in modern list management?

It is a question that bubbles away at club level, with many officials and recruiters believing the senior list should be extended from 40 to 44 players and in turn wipe out the rookie list.

Such a move would mean every player on a club's list would be eligible to play at any given time of the season - a more fluid structure that has many clubs supportive of the concept.

"For all parties – clubs, managers, players and the AFL – it just makes sense," one senior club official told AFL.com.au.

"If you have one list of 44 players, you can play your 44th player or your first, it doesn't matter. It would be so much easier."

The idea has been previously raised in discussions with the AFL. The League's focus has been on developing a new bidding system for academy and father-son prospects and a free agency review, but it appears unlikely any change to the rookie list would be introduced any time soon.

The AFL sees the rookie list as an important list management skill and equalisation tool. If clubs did have a senior list of 44 players, without rookies, some suggest clubs would be able to stockpile and 'warehouse' players.

For instance, if Hawthorn had a list of 44 senior players last year, the reigning premiers may have been able to keep Mitch Hallahan instead of trading him to the Gold Coast when their list squeeze was on. In essence, merely by its presence the rookie list forces clubs to make hard calls on players.

Since being introduced in 1997, the rookie list has gradually become more and more flexible for clubs, encouraging the recruitment of prospects who are not from the traditional talent pathway. It has also had many variations – originally with age restrictions – and during the expansion years clubs were permitted to have up to eight players on their rookie list.

Losing the rookie list and extending the senior list to make it one entity would require a salary cap boost, which is expected to come via the next broadcast rights deal (to start in 2017). At the moment, there are varying and complex rules relating to how much of a rookie's salary goes into the total player payments, if at all.

Although the rookies appear safe for the foreseeable future, it hasn't stopped clubs from wondering about how a single primary list would work.

They think a shift that way would also open the opportunity for Additional Services Agreements (payments players receive for marketing and non-football deals) to be included under the same TPP cap.

"It would be simpler to have one list in terms of the administration, and everyone's on the list so there's not an extra layer of paperwork in how rookies bounce up and down," one recruiter said.

"I think ultimately clubs would be comfortable enough in not having the rookie list, and having extra players on your list."

Another said the current rookie list was simply a layer of 'red tape' that stopped fit and prepared players from being eligible for selection. A range of club officials and recruiters were in unison that there still remained a role for Category B rookies to sit outside a mooted single senior list.

Category B rookies under current rules pertain to international recruits and athletes from alternative sports.

"There should be at least two spots for those on some sort of rookie list, otherwise you're probably not going to speculate on them if you have to put them on a primary list," a recruiter said.

The 'take a chance' philosophy that comes with a rookie choice is why other club officials believe the list should remain in its present form. They also point to it being a cheap way to add players to their squad.

"We think it's vital. You can take a bit of maturity or be a bit more speculative, whichever way you want to go," a club official said. "It's certainly really, really important."

Even with the AFL expected to stick with the rookie list in the future, some clubs are keen for more versatility around the rules of elevating players.

Presently the only opportunities to lift a rookie onto the senior list come when a player has a long-term injury, when the club does not already have 40 primary-listed players before the season or when they can afford a nominated rookie midway through the year. Alternative talent rookies can also be elevated at any time.

"There needs to be more easy movement of players between the two lists during the season based on performance or lack of performance," a recruiter said.

"We should be able to move up players who are going well at state level and then push down others who either aren't ready or not playing well. I like the competition that would bring inside the club if we couldn't have a single list."

Sixty-four players were picked in last year's rookie draft, including several who were re-selected by their clubs having previously been senior-listed.