Flynn Appleby grew up just 500 metres down the road from where his famous cousin learned to hit a golf ball in Cohuna before moving to Ballarat three years ago to attend school and further his football.

Living with drafted Docker Lloyd Meek and Ballarat Rebels captain Callan Wellings and working at the Ballarat Yacht Club, Appleby impressed as a defender during 2017 and has trained with Collingwood's VFL team in the past three weeks.

A standout junior at Cohuna he also returned to play one game for his local club this year and was best on ground against Lake Boga in the central murray league.

As well as adding the 18-year-old Appleby, the Magpies also re-rookied Adam Oxley and drafted Port Melbourne's 25-year-old premiership full-back Brody Mihocek shoring up their defence ahead of the season.

Appleby was one of 36 players added to clubs' rookie lists via the rookie draft, which lasted just 10 minutes, with Carlton also adding former Port Adelaide defender Cam O'Shea to his list via the pre-season draft after he showed good form with the Northern Blues.

As flagged Stewart Crameri joined Geelong and Lindsay Thomas returned to Port Adelaide, with the two veterans a chance to add some goalkicking power to the Cats and Port.

The Blues also added former Gold Coast wingman Matt Shaw while Dylan Buckley, the son of former Carlton premiership player, Jim, joined Greater Western Sydney where he may play as a defensive forward.

The Western Bulldogs selected former Carlton rookie Billy Gowers after he spent a year with the Footscray VFL team and Hawthorn rewarded 26-year-old Box Hill Hawks captain David Mirra for his persistence with a rookie spot.

Claye Beams, Adam Oxley, Alex Johnson, Matthew Hayball, Cam Ellis-Yolman, Mackenzie Willis, Sam Reid and Roarke Smith were re-rookied and Adelaide added Jackson Edwards, the son of club legend Tyson Edwards.

Several players missed out on a chance with Michael Close, Blaine Boekhorst, Sam Collins, Simon White, Tom Ruggles and Tom Lamb among the unfortunate to have their AFL career stall.

Under new rules rookies will be able to play in round one without needing to be elevated or wait for a teammate to be placed on the long-term injury list.

2017 AFL rookie draft selection

(Player) Claye Beams - (Selected by) Brisbane Lions

Joshua Jaska - Gold Coast Suns

Matt Shaw - Carlton

Thomas Murphy - North Melbourne

Bailey Banfield - Fremantle

Flynn Appleby - Collingwood

Harrison Jones - Hawthorn

Doulton Langlands - St Kilda

Billy Gowers - Western Bulldogs

Trent Mynott - Essendon

Lindsay Thomas - Port Adelaide

Ryan Burrows - West Coast Eagles

Angus Styles - Sydney Swans

Dylan Buckley - GWS Giants

Stewart Crameri - Geelong Cats

Patrick Wilson - Adelaide Crows

Liam Baker - Richmond

Nicholas Holman - Gold Coast Suns

Gordon Narrier - North Melbourne

Stefan Giro - Fremantle

Brody Mihocek - Collingwood

David Mirra - Hawthorn

Lewis Pierce - St Kilda

Roarke Smith - Western Bulldogs

Tony Olango - West Coast Eagles

Joel Amartey - FC Sydney Swans

Sam Reid - GWS Giants

Matthew Hayball - Geelong Cats

Cameron Ellis-Yolmen - Adelaide Crows

Mackenzie Willis - Gold Coast Suns

Adam Oxley - Collingwood

Dallas Willsmore - Hawthorn

Callan England - West Coast Eagles

Alex Johnson - Sydney Swans

Lachlan Murphy - Adelaide Crows

Jackson Edwards - Adelaide Crows