The Kangaroos and Port Adelaide surprised by recruiting untried players, but other clubs gave seven AFL discards career lifelines in the pre-season draft.
Carlton selected former St Kilda ruckman Cain Ackland and Essendon picked up former Brisbane defender Mal Michael with the first two picks, as expected.
But the Kangaroos, who had the third selection, drafted Ben Ross from under-18 side Gippsland Power, while Port Adelaide recruited Adam Cockshell from SANFL club Norwood.
Former Geelong four-time leading goalkicker Kent Kingsley was picked up by Richmond, while St Kilda bolstered its ruck stocks by drafting ex-Adelaide veteran Matthew Clarke.
Arch-rivals Collingwood and Carlton effectively swapped ruckmen, with the Magpies drafting ex-Blue Chris Bryan, while the Blues swooped on Collingwood discard Cameron Cloke.
Hawthorn redrafted its own delisted key position prospect Josh Thurgood.
A large number of delisted AFL players were also given a second chance in the rookie draft.
Adam Ramanauskas, delisted by Essendon after having his career stalled by cancer, was placed on the Bombers' rookie list, after a special exemption was granted by the AFL.
Geelong youngster Tom Lonergan, who had a kidney removed after a horrific on-field collision earlier this year, was placed on the Cats' rookie list.
The Cats also picked up former Essendon player Joel Reynolds.
Brisbane rookie-listed its own discard, Anthony Corrie and redrafted rookie William Hamill.
Several other ex-Brisbane players were given fresh starts by other clubs.
West Coast drafted former Lion Llane Spaanderman, while St Kilda picked up another Brisbane discard Jayden Attard.
The Western Bulldogs drafted former Brisbane rookie Marty Pask, as well as their own delisted player, Michael West.
Sydney gave ex-Hawthorn youngster Luke Brennan a new life.
West Coast drafted former Kangaroo Chad Jones, as well as redrafting three of its own rookies - Ben Sharp, Beau Wilkes and Ashley Thornton.
The Kangaroos picked up their own discarded player, Tim Hutchison.
Sydney added its own delisted duo, Matthew Davis and Earl Shaw, to its rookie list, as well as redrafting rookie James Wall.
The draft ends the career of several axed AFL players who were hoping to find new homes, but were overlooked.
Decorated Adelaide veteran Ben Hart failed to persuade a new club to take him on, while Crows youngster Hayden Skipworth was also overlooked.
Axed Collingwood defender Jason Cloke was passed over, as were Brisbane premiership ruckman Clark Keating, courageous ex-Richmond defender Andrew Kellaway, Tiger teammate Tom Roach and discarded Saint Troy Schwarze.
The top pick in the rookie draft was 18-year-old ruckman Sam Jacobs, recruited by Carlton from SANFL club Woodville-West Torrens.
