Who will your club pick?

Ben Hudson is set to join his fourth AFL club when Collingwood recruits him tomorrow. Picture: Wayne Ludbey Source: Herald Sun

COLLINGWOOD holds the most aces as clubs prepare for their final dip in the 2012 talent pool.

Tomorrow's pre-season and rookie drafts present the last chance for players to win a spot on an AFL list for 2013.

And the challenge is even tougher this year, with clubs cutting their lists by two.

For most that means 40 on the senior list and four rookies, down from six.

But clubs can opt to have just 39 players on their senior list and five rookies, or 38 and six.

There are 17 picks in the pre-season draft order but many of those are likely to go unused as clubs save extra selections for the rookie draft, which follows immediately after the pre-season draft.

If the situation wasn't confusing enough already, there are also "category B" rookies on scholarships and from international backgrounds - and players can move between the different categories.

Pic gallery: Biggest pre-season draft bargains

Collingwood recruiting manager Derek Hine explains it like this on the Pies' website:

"In the past there's been 38 players plus your six rookies, where now you can have 38 players and six rookies, 39 players and five rookies and 40 players and four rookies. The numbers are similar but there are different ways that you can manipulate it.

"For the first time, clubs aren't mandated to take a selection, so they can choose to have their full quota of rookies, whatever that may be, or they can just choose to have none on the rookie list.

"We'll be filling every spot we can."

Pic gallery: Biggest pre-season draft flops

The Pies were on top of the changes early, slashing their rookie list weeks ago to create room for six selections tomorrow.

Most clubs won't have that many and some won't take any. The breakdown comes down to list and salary cap management.

But fans just want to know who will be the next rookie-list superstar, following the path of Dean Cox, Matthew Boyd and Stephen Milne.

And which discarded AFL players will get another chance.

Here's our run-down of how tomorrow's drafts - conducted via phone link from AFL House - will play out.

See all your club's recruits from 11am tomorrow on SuperFooty's draft tracker

WHO IS YOUR CLUB LOOKING AT?

ADELAIDE

With Kurt Tippett officially gone, Adelaide has a free spot on its list and will use it to re-draft Nick Joyce, who was cut as the Tippett saga dragged on. That leaves one rookie spot and the Crows have cut their options to 15 potential recruits. Former Swan Byron Sumner, who enjoyed a standout season with Woodville-West Torrens in the SANFL, is understood to have caught the Crows' eye.

BRISBANE LIONS

The Lions can take one player in the pre-season draft and two rookies. They have already committed to re-drafting midfielder Callum Bartlett, who has been cruelled by knee injuries in his three years at the club. Tall forward Jordon Bourke, son of former Geelong and Brisbane Bears ruckman Damian Bourke, has been training with the Lions.

CARLTON

Quiet during the trade and free agency period, will the Blues spring a surprise tomorrow? It doesn't seem likely, unless you count redrafting delisted forward Andrew Collins.

COLLINGWOOD

The Pies have manipulated their list expertly and go into tomorrow's drafts with a bucketful of selections. Two of them will be used on Peter Yagmoor and experienced ruckman Ben Hudson. That leaves four "live" selections and Hine says the Pies will target players who can play straight away. They have been linked to 23-year-old WAFL Sandover medallist Kane Mitchell (below) and Port Melbourne midfielder Sam Dwyer.

ROOKIE HOPEFUL: Kane Mitchell celebrates Claremont's WAFL premiership win over Subiaco. Picture: Daniel Wilkins Source: PerthNow

ESSENDON

The Bombers have to use one of their two picks tomorrow on Ariel Steinberg, who was delisted last month but has a contract for next season. That leaves one spot available and one of the big questions tomorrow is will James Hird use it to take a chance on WA bad boy Dayle Garlett? Rated a top-10 pick on talent, Garlett was overlooked in the national draft but has been training with the Bombers. But he isn't the only one, with fellow indigenous talent Shannon Taylor invited to train at Windy Hill along with Gippsland's Will Hams, South Australian midfielder Steven Baldasso and Subiaco small forward Chris Deluca.

FREMANTLE

The Dockers will be a big player tomorrow with two pre-season picks and two rookie picks. Freo has ruled out picking Kurt Tippett despite having a selection before Sydney, his preferred destination. Jesse Crichton, delisted last month, is likely to win a reprieve and the Dockers have a host of WAFL players training at the club. Tall defender Nick Rodda was unlucky to miss out in the national draft and is a big chance to go tomorrow.

GEELONG

The Cats have a full list. Happy to keep their rookie contingent from 2012, they won't take part in either of tomorrow's drafts.

GOLD COAST

The Suns have no pre-season draft selections and are expected to take two rookies. One could be 22-year-old Frankston defender Leigh Osborne, who is training with the Suns. The other pick might be used on Broadbeach midfielder Andrew Boston, who won All-Australian selection after starring for Queensland at this year's under-18 carnival.

Carlton's Bret Thornton celebrates a goal against the Tigers at the MCG Picture: Wayne Ludbey Source: News Limited

GWS

Kevin Sheedy considered throwing a lifeline to Jason Laycock after the former Bomber ruckman dominated the Tasmanian league this year, but a failed fitness test in Sydney last week ruled out that move - for this year at least. Kurt Tippett is also out of calculations. Instead, the Giants are set to offer delisted Carlton defender Bret Thornton a second chance. GWS will also redraft ruckman Dean Brogan.

HAWTHORN

With 40 players on its senior list, the Hawks can take one rookie tomorrow. Delisted Collingwood ruckman Jonathon Ceglar - who spent two years at the Pies but didn't play a senior game - has been training at Waverley.

MELBOURNE

No picks in the pre-season draft but versatile Central District ruckman Jack Hannath has been training with the Dees and is likely to win a rookie spot.

NORTH MELBOURNE

The Roos have three picks but have committed to using two to redraft delisted players Cameron Richardson and Ben Speight. No other players have been invited to Roos training so the target of the club's one "live" pick remains a mystery.

Liam Jarrah arrives at the Port Adelaide Football Club for a trial training run. Picture: Sarah Reed Source: The Advertiser

PORT ADELAIDE

Port will use its one PSD pick on ace SA teenager Sam Colquhoun, who was widely tipped to go in the second or third round of the national draft but somehow missed out altogether. That leaves two rookie picks and the dilemma of whether to use one on former Demon Liam Jurrah. Port is leaving a decision until the last minute but the feeling is Jurrah, who has been training with Port, could miss out. Port offered axed Bomber Brent Prismall a one-year contract but he knocked it back in the hope of being picked by a Victorian club. Former Carlton rookie Jaryd Cachia is a strong chance to be picked up after an outsanding year in the SANFL.

RICHMOND

Axed ruckmen Cameron Wood (Collingwood) and Orren Stephenson (Geelong) are training at Punt Rd and the Tigers are set to punt on Stephenson as a back-up to Ivan Maric. Delisted rookie Addam Maric is hoping to win back his spot on the rookie list while the Tigers could throw a rookie lifeline to Josh Toy, who quit the Gold Coast and has been overlooked by several clubs due to a rare heart condition. Injury concerns have ruled former Melbourne forward Ricky Petterd out of Richmond's calculations.

ST KILDA

After signing former Fremantle defender Dylan Roberton as a delisted free agent, the Saints' list is chock full and they won't get any picks tomorrow.

SYDNEY

The Swans have three picks in the pre-season draft but all the interest is in their first - pick 11, which they will use to recruit controversial ex-Crow Kurt Tippett. Despite carrying an 11-game suspension into next season, Sydney is still keen to add him to an already potent forward set-up. A number of NSW talents are training with the Swans including Brandon Jack and Xavier Richards, the younger brothers of premiership stars Kieren and Ted.

WEST COAST

The Eagles won't take part in the pre-season draft but have two rookie selections. With no potential recruits are training with West Coast, the Eagles are keeping their cards close to their chest.

WESTERN BULLDOGS

The Dogs have one spot left on their list after signing ex-Docker Nick Lower last week as a delisted free agent. That final spot is a race in two between ex-Bomber Brent Prismall and 28-year-old VFL player Brett Goodes, brother of Sydney champion Adam.

The Bulldogs have confirmed Brett Goodes is locked in a race with Brent Prismall for a fairytale shot at the AFL. Picture: George Salpigtidis Source: Herald Sun

2012 PRE-SEASON DRAFT

Round One
1 – GWS Giants
2 – Western Bulldogs
3 – Port Adelaide
4 – Brisbane Lions
5 – Richmond
6 – Essendon
7 – Carlton
8 – Fremantle
9 – Collingwood
10 – Adelaide Crows
11 – Sydney Swans

Round Two
12 – GWS Giants
13 – Carlton
14 – Fremantle
15 – Collingwood
16 – Sydney Swans