The true value of the VFL stand-alone team may not be about its position in the top eight at the end of the season but  the pathway it provides untried youngsters rejected  in the AFL draft.

Gibbons, a 20-year-old former Murray Bushrangers skipper, has excelled under Collins as coach this season and  under the tutelage of another former Hawk, Robbie Campbell.  At 174 centimetres and 70 kilograms, Gibbons, like Frankston's Ben Cavarra, may be small but is dynamic at the stoppages and has been a  revelation.

Gibbons has pace, can break tackles and loves to sneak forward and kick a goal.

Of course, he isn't the only Seagull taking advantage of a lone nest without AFL talent to compete against. Collins also points to ex-TAC Cup talent Jake Owen and Jake McKenzie along with proven talent such as ex-Port Adelaide midfielder Mitch Banner and Adam Marcon among others to impress AFL recruiters.

"Thirty to 40 of my players would love to be on an AFL list," Collins said.

"Hopefully recruiters will come to a game like this [Sunday's clash against Footscray] and see players play really well and understand they could be on an AFL list."

Collins marvels at the success rate of VFL players heading into the AFL, but doesn't understand why  more of them are not picked up by AFL recruiters.

"I thought [Richmond's] Kane Lambert was outstanding  against Hawthorn. And here he was less than 12 months ago, playing for Williamstown," Collins said.

"It's amazing the success rate of VFL and state league players drafted and the influence they have on AFL teams. And yet, recruiters always continue to go for the younger players. I think AFL recruiters really need to look at that," he said.

Coburg's promotion of Adam Saad to the Gold Coast last season and now the emergence of another Muslim youngster Ozgur Uysal have followed the club's  alignment split with Richmond at the end of the 2013 season.

Uysal, a Turk,  said the environment had "actually been better" and given him more opportunities to play matches like his last one; a 37-disposal effort against Port Melbourne in a statement game for both club and player.

Uysal, a midfielder, is hopeful that he adds to the recent influx of practicing Muslims in the AFL, following St Kilda's Ahmed Saad and Richmond's Bachar Houli, plucked from the north-western suburbs where there is a corridor of Lebanese Muslims aspiring to play AFL.

The 23-year-old, who is an electrician, is willing to sacrifice his job and less pay to prove himself as an AFL rookie. He has attracted interest from Essendon in the past after attending state screening sessions.

Uysal, who was attracted to Aussie Rules through his father Guven who played local footy in the eastern suburbs, was tempted by offers from rival VFL clubs but wanted to stay at Coburg, primarily because of the teachings of coach Peter German and the recent draft success of Saad.

Coburg have an abundance of other talent that is likely to be headhunted by AFL clubs. Daniel Venditti, similarly to Uysal, has been dynamic against AFL-listed talent along with Daniel Younan and Michael Hartley, who is a key defensive prospect to watch.

SUNDAY WATCH

Essendon v Werribee Tigers, Windy Hill, Noon

North Ballarat v Geelong, Eureka Stadium, 1:30pm

Box Hill Hawks v Casey Scorpions, Box Hill City Oval, 2pm

Williamstown v Footscray,

Burbank Oval, 2pm

Frankston v Coburg, Frankston Oval, 2pm

Sandringham v Port

Melbourne, Trevor Barker

Beach Oval, 2pm