FEWER than 30 untried youngsters could find AFL homes at Wednesday's NAB AFL Rookie Draft, as some clubs look to add experience to their lists.
After 76 players joined senior lists at last week's national draft in a deep crop, the talent pool has been thinned for the pre-season and rookie intakes.
The pre-season draft could feature just one selection for the second straight year – with Carlton to take former Western Bulldog Jason Tutt with one of its picks.
Last year, Jed Lamb was the only player to join a club through the pre-season draft when he crossed to GWS from the Sydney Swans.
The rookie draft will follow, but is expected to be a quick affair, with some clubs considering not using all of their selections and instead going into next year with shorter lists.
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Many clubs have already committed to redrafting senior-listed players as rookies, with Tony Armstrong (Collingwood), Tanner Smith (Fremantle), Kurt Aylett (Essendon), Matthew Arnot (Richmond), Daniel Pearce (Western Bulldogs), Greg Broughton (Gold Coast) and Sam Grimley (Hawthorn) among them.
St Kilda will also draft Adam Schneider as a rookie, with Port Adelaide to do the same with Tom Logan.
Ahmed Saad is likely to revive his AFL career as a rookie, with a handful of clubs showing interest in the former Saint, who was suspended after testing positive for a banned substance last year.
It's also expected a number of other delisted players who haven't been picked up could be taken as rookies, after many clubs' lists of 'draftable' players was exhausted last week.
Jared Petrenko, training with St Kilda, has been raised as a possible rookie option having been cut by Adelaide, and Andrew Raines has been training at the Gold Coast, where it is expected he will be picked.
After just two ruckmen were chosen at last week's draft, it is more likely a handful of big men will be picked as rookies. Brayden Preuss, Paul Hunter and Sam Baulderstone are in contention, as are versatile talls Sean McLaren and Rowan Marshall.
Midfielder Josh Glenn is a strong chance to be selected as a rookie, while tall defender Keenan Ramsey has also attracted the interest of several clubs.
Billy Evans, Will Fordham and Daniel Capiron are others who may be considered by clubs.