BLAINE Boekhorst was the name on everyone's lips after Carlton sprang a surprise by picking up the relatively unknown midfielder with selection No.19 in last year's NAB AFL Draft.

The 22-year-old Swan Districts product was the only mature-age player taken, although the rookie draft has long been a gold mine for clubs trying to dig up readymade nuggets - think onballer Kane Lambert at Richmond or Melbourne tough nut Aaron VandenBerg.

So who are the state league gems plying their trade across Australia who might just hear their names called when the national and rookie drafts roll around later this year? 

West Australian Football League

MARCUS ADAMS
West Perth, 22, 193cm, 98kg
Enticed back to football by West Perth after leaving the WAFL system for two years for personal reasons, Adams returned in 2014 and started the season at centre half-forward before hitting his straps down back. Can play tall or small, doing the job on Subi danger man Shane Yarran and Claremont key forward Beau Maister – the former Eagle and Saint – in consecutive weeks.

NATHAN BROAD
Swan Districts, 22, 191cm, 82kg
Finished 4th in Swans' best and fairest after a standout year at half-back, where he played as either a lock-down defender or rebounding possession-winner. Averaged nearly 20 disposals per game after blossoming in his fourth season at senior WAFL level and took out the repeat sprint tests at the state combine in front of representatives from every AFL club. 

SAM MENEGOLA
Subiaco, 23, 188cm, 90kg
The strong-bodied midfielder has already been through the wringer at two AFL clubs – Hawthorn and Fremantle – as a rookie, but there's a chance he could earn another shot. Menegola averaged 27 disposals and booted 21 goals from 14 games for the WAFL premiers. Finished third in the Sandover Medal, despite not playing until round 11 due to an ankle injury, and impressed again at the state combine by winning the beep test with a standout 14.13 effort.

MARLON PICKETT
South Fremantle, 23, 187cm, 83kg
A tough and explosive footballer who was picked for the WA state team thanks to a breakout year after switching from defence to attack. Was invited to the state combine and finished third in the Bulldogs' best and fairest. Loves the contest and boasts plenty of X-factor.

SHANE YARRAN
Subiaco, 26, 186cm, 76kg
Was the WAFL's leading goalkicker and finished with 54 majors after bagging five in the Grand Final triumph over West Perth. The mercurial forward hurt his knee in the season-decider, but tested at the state combine and will loom on clubs' radars after two outstanding seasons with the Lions during their back-to-back premiership reign.

North East Australian Football League

MATT UEBERGANG 
Redland, 20, 194cm, 91kg
After graduating from the Brisbane Lions Academy as a key forward last year, Uebergang was thought to be a big chance to earn a spot through the rookie draft, but missed out. The 20-year-old went back to the NEAFL and broadened his game, proving an excellent mid-sized defender with good hands who reads the play well. He is capable of doing special things – as shown by his hanger in the representative game against the best from the Tasmanian State League – and was named the NEAFL Rising Star winner and finished top three in Redland's best and fairest voting. 

JOSH WAGNER
Aspley, 21, 189cm, 80kg
The older brother of Queensland under-18 player and draft hopeful Corey, Wagner could also find himself attracting AFL interest after an excellent season in the NEAFL. Having always had the skill, the 21-year-old matched it with workrate in 2015 to have greater influence coming off half-back. He's a poised left-footer who racked up big numbers and was a major reason behind Aspley's surge to the NEAFL Grand Final. 

TOM YOUNG
Sydney University, 23, 192cm, 90kg
A shallow draft pool might present Young, a big-bodied onballer for the Students, a third chance at the elite level. The former Magpies and Bulldogs utility spent five years in the AFL before he was delisted last year after 28 games. But putting that behind him, he returned to his former club and starred. Young averaged 26 touches and six clearances, clinching the NEAFL MVP award by a solitary vote from ex-Richmond and Adelaide player Richard Tambling. 

Can Tom Young find a third AFL home after an excellent NEAFL season? Picture: AFL Media

South Australian National Football League

TOM KEOUGH
West Adelaide, 23, 194cm, 91kg
A versatile key defender who can play tall or small, Keough received the Fos Williams Medal after restricting WA goalsneak Shane Yarran in this year's state game. The 23-year-old has developed into of the SANFL's premier tall backmen, played in Wests' premiership triumph this season and attracted sufficient interest from AFL clubs to earn an invitation to the state combine.

PAT LEVICKI
Norwood, 23, 196cm, 90kg
The powerfully-built tall defender impressed with his high-leaping at the SA state combine, registering a 91cm running jump and 76cm standing vertical jump. The mobile big man played only one senior SANFL game last year, which spurred him to undertake a huge pre-season program where he bulked up and also improved his running and kicking. Levicki appeared in 14 senior matches in a breakout 2015 and flew onto recruiters' radars. 

Pat Levicki, pictured at the 2011 NAB AFL U18 Champs, is on recruiters' radars. Picture: AFL Media

CHRIS JANSEN
Central District, 20, 189cm, 84kg
Bounced back from medial ligament damage to both knees from the one unlucky incident late in the season by running a 14.1 beep test at the recent SA state combine. The hard-running defender is a powerful athlete and also performed an 87cm running jump. Recruited from Canberra, Jansen racked up disposals across half-back before his season-ending injury in round 15 and was nominated as a rising star of the competition for his 20-possession, four clearance and four inside 50s in round seven.

Tasmanian State League

MACKENZIE WILLIS 
Kingborough Tigers, 20, 183cm, 82kg
After undergoing a shoulder reconstruction which ruined his 2014 campaign, the midfielder returned in style this season and has attracted interest from AFL clubs – including Gold Coast. Willis ticks plenty of boxes for recruiters – he's tough, competitive, fairly quick and strong overhead – as well as being a leader for the Tigers. Looms as a rookie chance.

STUART DONNELLY 
Kingborough Tigers, 20, 186cm
A dashing defender who has continued to come along with his development after representing Tasmania at under-18 level. More of an outside chance to get drafted, but he has the rare blend of pace and endurance, which clubs could be looking for after the interchange cap was slashed and substituted rule scrapped for 2016.

Victorian Football League

MITCH BROWN
Sandringham, 25, 196cm, 93kg
Essendon, Fremantle and St Kilda – whose VFL affiliate Brown played for this season – are among the clubs interested in the former Cat. Brown kicked 23 goals in 21 appearances playing forward and back for the Zebras, and has overcome the lingering shoulder issues which restricted him to just 15 games in six seasons at Geelong. The former No.15 draft pick, who was a top-up player for the Bombers in pre-season, ran an impressive 13.8 at the recent state combine.

SAM COLLINS
Box Hill, 21, 193cm, 87kg
Became a regular holding down a key defensive post for the losing Grand Finalists and his efforts won't have gone unnoticed by AFL scouts. Collins boasts excellent closing speed and gives his heart and soul in every contest. The fact that the Oakleigh Chargers product is only 21 and part of Box Hill's leadership group speaks volumes about his character.

Sam Collins is at the right age to catch the attention of recruiters. Picture: AFL Images

ANDREW GALLUCCI
Williamstown, 21, 178cm, 67kg
Quick and talented, Gallucci knuckled down over pre-season and has reaped the rewards. The former Calder Cannon has bagged 29 goals – three in the Grand Final triumph – from 19 games playing across half-forward and up on a wing, where used his pace and foot skills to damaging effect. Was the only non-key position player invited to the Victorian combine and won the beep test with a 14.1 effort while he also ran a 25.35 second 30m repeat sprint.

MICHAEL HARTLEY 
Coburg, 22, 198cm, 102kg
Is still on AFL clubs' radars and hopeful of a second chance after shoulder injuries derailed his two seasons on Collingwood's rookie list in 2011-12. The 22-year-old put together a solid season for the Lions and performed against the likes of AFL-listed big men Majak Daw, Liam McBean and Ty Vickery. Hartley has listened to queries over his aerobic capacity and ran a 13.4 beep test at the state combine.

CHRIS JONES
Box Hill, 20, 196cm, 85kg
Part of the VFL Academy, the big forward has come into his own later in the year and kicked five goals on senior VFL debut against Geelong after breaking into the powerful Box Hill outfit. Jones missed plenty of football at TAC Cup level due to back and leg injuries and he needs to add size to his skinny frame, but his outstanding form in the second half of the season saw him burst onto AFL recruiters' radars.

ADAM MARCON
Williamstown, 23, 180cm, 80kg
The success of Lambert at Richmond should keep Marcon feeling positive about his hopes of fulfilling his AFL dream. The hard-running midfielder was tagged week-in, week-out but wasn't fazed and continued racking up disposals while booting 12 goals for the Seagulls. Had 22 touches in the Grand Final victory and looms as a ready-made onballer for clubs keen to boost their mature-age stocks. 

Williamstown's Adam Marcon has been a standout for a number of years. Picture: AFL Media

JAKE WILSON
Werribee, 23, 193cm, 94kg
Was part of the VFL Academy two years ago and was invited to the state combine, but his AFL hopes were dashed when went back with the flight of the ball and suffered a ruptured spleen. But the red-headed defender, who didn't go through the TAC Cup system and took up golf for a while, has become one of the VFL's most dependable backmen and won the repeat 30m sprint at this year's state combine (25.16 seconds).