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LESS than two months after playing for the Sydney Swans in the Grand Final, Xavier Richards' fledgling AFL career has been abruptly cut short after no club selected him in Monday's rookie draft.

It is a massive fall from favour for Richards, who rejected a reported two-year contract offer from the Swans and made the shock decision to request a trade during the NAB AFL Trade Period.

At the time his manager said the key reason behind his desire to return to Melbourne was the cost of living in Sydney.

However, he didn't find a new club, with Essendon deciding not to select him despite offering him the chance to train with the club ahead of the drafts.

Richards played 12 senior games in four years after the Swans selected him in the 2013 rookie draft and told News Corp at the start of November he was "not fazed" if he did not find another AFL club.

Richards was not the only experienced player overlooked on Monday with former West Coast defender Mitch Brown also failing to get picked up despite playing in the Eagles' losing elimination final team.

Brown played 94 games and had to overcome two knee reconstructions during his career.

Former Melbourne co-captain Jack Grimes also missed out on a rookie spot after playing in the VFL Grand Final.

Grimes played 100 games with the Demons and was keen to resurrect his career at another club.

Former Collingwood premiership forward Chris Dawes also looks to have played his last game of AFL football after Melbourne delisted him at the end of the season.

Dawes battled injury throughout his time at Melbourne, but did manage 50 games in four seasons and won the goalkicking in 2014 with 20 goals.

Mitch Clark's three-club career also looks to have ended on 106 games, with the talented former Lion, Demon and Cat kicking 111 goals.

Essendon speedster Courtenay Dempsey's fine career at the Bombers has been cut short at 133 games.

The 29-year-old held out some hope of continuing his AFL career, but after missing out he may now play in Queensland with his former club in Cairns keen to recruit him.

Defenders Cam O'Shea, Brad McKenzie and Angus Litherland are also off AFL lists, while Hawks premiership player Matt Spangher has reached the end of the line after becoming a fan favourite during his four years and 24 games at Hawthorn.

He carved out a 56-game career that lasted 10 seasons and saw him on the list at three clubs that won premierships. He was a member of the Hawks' 2014 premiership side.   

Former All Australian ruckman Will Minson announced he had retired ahead of the rookie draft after 191 games with the Western Bulldogs.

Minson spoke to Collingwood about the possibility of extending his career as a back-up ruckman and part-time coach during the trade period.