SOME are favourite sons, others new arrivals from other clubs or much-touted youngsters who haven't quite come on. They are the forgotten men who are plying their trade mainly in the state leagues rather than the big time.

AFL.com.au takes a look at who's on the outer at your club, and other players who are kicking off the dew in suburbia.

BRAD CROUCH
Expected to develop into one of the brightest young midfielders in the game this season, Crouch's year got off on the wrong foot when he suffered a hamstring injury. He returned through the SANFL but was dropped two weeks after his round seven AFL return. Needs to improve his disposal efficiency to be a regular, but could be back in the senior team this week after a 37-possession game in the SANFL.

Anyone else?
Former skipper Nathan van Berlo appears to no longer be in the Crows' best 22 and has spent six weeks of the season in the SANFL. A strong performer across half-back at that level, the 29-year-old earned an AFL recall in round nine. Andy Otten and Troy Menzel are yet to play at AFL level this season, while Ricky Henderson spent the first six weeks in the SANFL. - Nathan Schmook   

JOSH GREEN
A regular over recent seasons, Green has led the club's goalkicking the past two years but was dropped following the loss to Collingwood. He has been left out in favour of youngster Ben Keays, and is one of a number of players relegated to the reserves so far this season. Green responded well in the twos last week and, with the Lions' struggles to kick goals, it won't be a surprise to see him back in the senior team soon.

Anyone else?
Green's fellow small forward Lewy Taylor was dropped for the first time in his short career earlier this season to show he was no sure thing, while Sam Mayes has responded well since his one game in the twos. - Michael Whiting

JASON TUTT
The former Bulldog managed 13 games in his first season at Ikon Park last year but has yet to break into the seniors in 2016. Tutt's role as a small forward has been filled by others such as Liam Sumner, Jed Lamb, Matthew Wright and Dale Thomas, although he would be in strong contention for this Sunday's match after collecting 37 disposals in the VFL last Sunday. 

Anyone else?
There were high hopes for Nick Graham and Dylan Buckley pre-season but they have struggled for consistency, Graham managing five games and Buckley four. Former Swan Matthew Dick has been doing well in the VFL without breaking through and Kristian Jaksch may be given his chance this Sunday. - Howard Kotton 

Jason Tutt has yet to break into the Blues side this season. Picture: AFL Media 

TRAVIS CLOKE
Collingwood's premier forward of the past decade has spent the past month in the VFL after kicking just eight goals in his previous 10 AFL games. In Cloke's defence, he'd had only limited opportunities with the Magpies' midfield struggling. Cloke, 29, will return when he strings together some solid performances, and a four-goal haul on Saturday was a positive step. He seemingly needs to break the mental shackles, reach more contests and get back to simply launching himself at the ball.

Anyone else?
Ex-Lion James Aish has been slower to acclimatise to the change of scenery than expected, being overlooked for selection in round one, playing five games and being dropped twice. However, the Pies are preaching patience, confident the third-year midfielder will eventually deliver on his promise. - Ben Collins 

JACKSON MERRETT
Merrett gathered 28 disposals in Essendon's round two win over Melbourne, which was the second highest tally of his career at the club. But he managed just seven touches the following week against Port Adelaide, he was dropped and hasn't been able to break into the senior team since despite some solid VFL form. This year – Merrett's fifth at Essendon – loomed as an opportunity for him to cement his place in the best 22, particularly given the absence of 12 senior players through WADA bans. He will be hoping that comes in the second half of the year. 

Anyone else?
Shaun Edwards hasn't featured at senior level so far this year, and is out of contract at the end of the season. He showed glimpses of his talent last year but needs to find more consistency. Shaun McKernan and Nick Kommer are others who haven't been able to break into the side regularly this year. - Callum Twomey 

MATT DE BOER
One of Ross Lyon's favourite players in years past, de Boer has struggled to break into the 22 this year, playing just one game back in round three. A defensive forward or midfielder, he appears to be the victim of his role becoming less essential. Three times de Boer has been a senior emergency, so opportunities might not be far away in an injury-depleted team.

Anyone else?
For the first time since Lyon arrived ahead of the 2012 season, Michael Barlow was dropped to the WAFL two weeks ago. Former regular Tendai Mzungu (three games in 2015) has found it tough, while Garrick Ibbotson had a spell in the WAFL a month ago. - Nathan Schmook 

NATHAN VARDY
Most would have included Nathan Vardy in the Cats' best team at the start of the season but a combination of injury, ordinary form in the VFL, the elimination of the substitute and the improvement of teammates has restricted him to just one game this season. A strained foot suffered in a VFL practice match kept him sidelined for a month. The tall forward can play in the ruck but he is behind the Zac Smith-Rhys Stanley combination while Shane Kersten has been filling the lead-up, second tall forward role. Vardy could provide an X-factor if he can strike form and he is still a live chance to play a big part in the Cats' fortunes.

Anyone else?
Jordan Murdoch has not played a senior game since round four after being a semi-permanent fixture in the previous two seasons. He is reworking his game slightly in the VFL, taking on a senior role around stoppages and working on giving the first option. He has talent but the next stage in his maturation is to focus on doing the basics well over and over. - Peter Ryan 

Nathan Vardy has been restricted to just one senior match this season. Picture: AFL Media

TOM NICHOLLS
When fit, the giant Sun has been the club's first-choice ruckman the past three seasons, but has now been passed by North Melbourne recruit Dan Currie. Nicholls has been dropped twice in the past month and got his one reprieve against GWS when Currie was injured, but was immediately sent back to the reserves the following week. He has plenty of upside and needs to rediscover his competitiveness around the contest to win his way back into the senior team.

Anyone else?
Young forward Jarrod Garlett is struggling in his second season. He played nine games in an injury-interrupted 2015, but despite the Suns' huge injury toll, has played just once this year. Fellow small forward Brandon Matera has been in and out of the team, as has young defender Henry Schade, who played 15 games last year. - Michael Whiting

ADAM TOMLINSON
Tomlinson has dominated at reserves level this season, including 52 disposals last week, but just hasn't been able to reproduce that form in his only two opportunities at senior level. Star forward Jeremy Cameron, Jon Patton and the exciting Rory Lobb are the preferred tall options inside 50, meaning Tomlinson can't get a crack at it, despite his obvious talent and versatility. 

Anyone else?
Injuries and inconsistency has seenthe exciting Will Hoskin-Elliott fall out of favour, with the speedy forward unable to repeat the form he showed when he kicked 26 goals from 20 games in 2014. - Adam Curley

BRENDAN WHITECROSS
Whitecross made it back for four games in 2015 after back-to-back ACL injuries that wiped out two seasons. He chose to remain with the Hawks in 2016 despite interest from elsewhere, but has yet to taste senior football this year. He has been solid, but not outstanding at VFL level but his ability to play a number of positions makes him a valuable depth player at the Hawks.

Anyone else?
It will be interesting to see whether the Hawks have a role for Matt Spangher now that he is fully fit. He has played the last four weeks in the VFL after a series of leg injuries delayed his start to the season, but with Kaiden Brand establishing himself as the second key defender and the rest of the backline settled, where does the 2014 premiership cult hero fit into the side? - Ashley Browne

LYNDEN DUNN
The veteran defender cannot get a look in at Melbourne despite consistently strong performances at VFL level. Dunn, last year's vice-captain, has played just four games at senior level this year. A pre-season groin injury meant he was overlooked for round one and he was only recalled in round three. Even as Melbourne's lack of height in defence has been exposed at times, the Demons appear to have moved on from selecting the 165-game stalwart. They have, instead, preferred to get games into the developing Oscar McDonald. 

Anyone else?
Jack Grimes is yet to play a senior game for the Demons this year as Melbourne's improved midfield depth has squeezed him out of the team. The former co-captain has not lost focus and will almost certainly get his chance in the next few weeks, after starring for the Casey Scorpions in the VFL. Dean Terlich, third in Melbourne's 2013 best and fairest count, has also found the going tough to find a place in the team and has not played a senior game since round 19, 2014. - Ben Guthrie

Lynden Dunn has been performing well in the VFL but battling to break into the seniors. Picture: AFL Media

AARON BLACK
The 192cm forward seemed set to lead North Melbourne's forward line for the best part of a decade when he burst on to the scene with 33 goals in 18 games back in 2013. But Black's production dipped (26 goals from 25 games) the next season and it's been a swift fall from grace since. The arrival of Jarrad Waite and Ben Brown's development squeezed Black out and he hasn't had a look in this season after only three appearances last year. Unless injuries strike, it's difficult to see anything changing.

Anyone else?
Before suffering concussion two weeks ago, Lachie Hansen had only played once at AFL level – after being a late call-up – and is no longer a regular feature of the Roos' defence. Majak Daw got a game against Essendon, but is still only a back-up for Todd Goldstein and the trio of tall forwards. - Travis King 

SAM GRAY
Looked set to make the leap into the Power's first-choice midfield set-up after a stellar pre-season. The 24-year-old played the first six games of the season before being dropped ahead of the Power's round seven clash against the Brisbane Lions. Gray had 37 disposals in round one but his form slowly tapered off from there and he has not reappeared since being omitted. The ball-winning midfielder had 32 disposals in the SANFL at the weekend and may find himself back in the side sooner rather than later.

Anyone else?
Jimmy Toumpas is yet to cement his place in the side after being traded from Melbourne in the off-season. Toumpas was dropped after round seven. Matthew Lobbe was also omitted from the side before suffering a serious knee injury in the SANFL earlier this month. Even Jared Polec got a public blast from coach Ken Hinkley before redeeming himself with improved form over the past month. - Ben Guthrie

IVAN MARIC
Often referred to as the Tigers' "spiritual leader", Maric has been available for selection since round three but played four of the seven games since in the VFL and just two in the senior team. Shaun Hampson has moved into the No.1 ruck role and performed more than adequately, particularly at centre bounces. Maric needs more VFL minutes under his belt before he resurfaces at AFL level, where there will be serious competition for the spot.

Anyone else?
Prized youngster Ben Lennon was dropped ahead of last year's elimination final and has only played two games since. Defender Jake Batchelor isn't a walk-up start in the back six, while midfield recruit Jacob Townsend has played more VFL than senior games. - Nathan Schmook 

Tigers cult figure Ivan Maric has made two only AFL appearances this season. Picture: AFL Media

BILLY LONGER
Last year's primary ruckman is no longer the first-choice big man. Tom Hickey has assumed that role and filled it with aplomb. Longer is not even the clear-cut second option – Jason Holmes was the emergency against Essendon. Admittedly, Longer was coming off a concussion a fortnight ago, but after 18 games in 2015, he has certainly fallen a long way.

Anyone else?
Tom Lee played twice this season but the Saints did not select him against West Coast, even though key defender Sam Fisher missed that game.  Two games is also the tally for Eli Templeton, whose VFL form is consistently very good. - Dinny Navaratnam 

BRANDON JACK
The hard nut played nine of the last 10 games last year and looked set to finally cement a spot in John Longmire's team, but hasn't seen any senior action despite some strong form in the NEAFL. Jack's biggest asset is his forward pressure but the emergence of Tom Papley and George Hewett has kept him in the reserves this year.

Anyone else?
Sam Reid hasn't been seen since he tore his hamstring in last year's loss to Fremantle in the qualifying final and his issues have continued to dog him in 2016, although he will return to play his first game of the year this week. - Adam Curley

MITCH BROWN
Brown has an injured finger, so it's a touch harsh to say he is on the outer when the defender hasn't been given the chance to prove himself. Looking ahead though, it's tough to see where Brown's spot is. With Jeremy McGovern, Will Schofield and Eric Mackenzie back there, the 27-year-old may be playing WAFL for a while when he returns.

Anyone else?
Jamie Bennell is a running defender who took to the field for West Coast's opening two matches but has since been consigned to the WAFL, while Patrick McGinnity's whole year has been played at East Perth. - Dinny Navaratnam  

WILL MINSON
The cult hero has been a great servant since he arrived at Whitten Oval back in 2002, but after Luke Beveridge and his mantra demanding versatility landed 18 months ago, the bullocking ruckman has been in and out of the team. Out of contract at season's end and stranded on 181 games, the 31-year-old looks unlikely to reach the 200-game mark after not playing a senior game since last year's elimination final loss to Adelaide.  

Anyone else?
Midfielder Nathan Hrovat has battled injury and inconsistency over the past few years and he could seek a fresh start at another club. Defender Josh Prudden's chances of getting a new deal look slim after rupturing his ACL in the VFL. The 21-year-old has played only four games in four seasons at the club. - Ryan Davidson

Will Minson last played for the Dogs in the 2015 second elimination final. Picture: AFL Media