Richards - who last month turned down a two-year contract offer from Sydney and sought a trade to Victoria - was overlooked in Monday's rookie draft. It capped a remarkable fall from grace for the tall player who revitalised his career by moving to the forward line in the NEAFL midway through this year. It led to a run of 10 straight senior games in the second half of 2016 as the Swans charged to the grand final - only to lose to the Western Bulldogs.

But rather than recommit to the club where his recently-retired brother Ted won a premiership in 2012, Richards asked for a move back to his home state. He attracted limited interest from Victorian clubs in the trade period, and despite a stint training at Essendon this month, wasn't picked up as a delisted free agent, or a mature-age rookie.

His agent Phil Mullen of Stride Sports Management said shortly after the draft on Monday that it was too early to know what his client would do next, but that Richards was far from distraught.

"He's fine. He's a good, mature boy. He's a little disappointed, but that's the way the world works. He understands that," Mullen said.

Recruited by the Swans in the 2013 rookie draft, Richards played 12 games in four years with the club. He kicked three goals in this year's finals, but was underwhelming in the grand final, limited to just 10 disposals and four marks.

Richards was among many delisted players who failed to get a lifeline on Monday.

Like Richards, injury-prone tall utility Mitch Brown turned down a contract to remain at West Coast, declining the one-year deal in order to return home to Victoria for family reasons. His wife Shae recently joined Collingwood in the newly-formed National Netball League. Like Richards, Brown was left without an AFL home after the rookie draft. His twin brother Nathan moved last month from Collingwood to St Kilda as a free agent.

Former Melbourne captain Jack Grimes went unwanted, as did his former Demons teammate and 2010 Magpies premiership player Chris Dawes. Defender Cameron O'Shea - delisted by Port Adelaide last month - was another to miss out. Delisted St Kilda forward Eli Templeton had been linked to Sydney, but was not selected.

The career of veteran former Western Bulldogs ruckman Will Minson has also come to an end, although like Dawes he remains involved in the AFL system, with both still sitting on the AFL Players' Association board as negotiations between the players' union and the league over the new collective bargaining agreement continue.

Of the draft-age players to be overlooked, South Australian Jonty Scharenberg, the brother of Collingwood's Matthew, Victorian Hamish Brayshaw, whose brother Angus plays for Melbourne, South Australian defender Sam Walker, Victorian backman Bailey Morrish and the Northern Territory ruckman Tony Olango were among the most notable.