Rookie squeeze as AFL cuts lists

Sam Colquhoun was named SA's MVP for the recent national under-18 championships but missed at the draft. He could be one of less than 30 rookies taken next month. Picture: Noelle Bobrige. Source: AdelaideNow

AFL hopefuls who missed out at last week's national draft are facing a nervous wait ahead of what is shaping as the smallest rookie draft in history.

Fewer than 30 picks are likely to be used with the AFL slashing rookie lists from six to four in 2013 after a two-year spike as new franchises Gold Coast and GWS were introduced.

One player manager said it was unpredictable how clubs would attack the December 11 draft and said the squeeze would result in a number of AFL-standard players being stranded in 2013.

"We think there'll be about 28 picks,'' Justin Reid of Elite Sports Properties said.

"List management has got really tight because everyone loaded up on rookies because of the new franchises and there's been a real squeeze effect.''

Sam Colquhoun, Dayle Garlett, Darcy Fort, Jason Pongracic, Will Hams and Adam Saad lead the teenage crop of players hoping to graduate to AFL level next month, while St Kilda is close to snaring former Docker defender Dylan Roberton.

Several clubs will not have a single pick in the rookie draft after retaining their 2012 quota of rookies.

Geelong brought in just two new players at the national draft and will have no rookie selections.

Of the Cats six rookies this season, they were forced to cut Jon Simpkin (who signed at Hawthorn), promoted Jesse Stringer to the senior list and retained the rest.

Essendon is also set to baulk at holding a live pick in the rookie draft after committing to redrafting Ariel Steinberg.

Clubs can list a maximum of 40 senior players and four rookies next year, but many will adopt a 39-5 or 38-6 breakdown for salary cap purposes.

"I tend to think a lot of the clubs will be doing that because it's hard to carry 40 (senior players),'' Reid said.

"It's not a bad thing because it's while it's harder to get into the system it creates equality through the competition and hopefully a better competition.''

Calder Cannons talent manager Ian Kyte said in a normal rookie draft he would expect another two of his players to graduate but they were now ``borderline'' selections.

"The rookie draft has been so successful in having players listed go onto play many games at all AFL clubs,'' he said.

"We're going to suffer most in the first year. This is when the kids are going to find it harder to get onto an AFL list and I'm not sure how public it is to a lot of people.

"There will certainly be kids from last year that were hoping to go to VFL and then get rookied and it doesn't help them either.

"It's tough to get into this industry and this just means it might take a little bit longer and a bit more hard work.''

Kyte said while it was frustrating this season it should make the AFL a fairer competition given some clubs could struggle to continually prop up six rookies.

Collingwood could use up to three selections after clearing out most their rookies in September and are eyeing Ben Hudson and Port Melbourne midfielder Sam Dwyer.

The rookie and pre-season draft order is yet to be finalised and subject to the final list lodgement and salary cap standings.

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