McCulloch, like Thorp, wasn't able to make the most of his chances in the AFL system.
Drafted by the Lions with pick 69 in 2008, McCulloch was delisted after two injury-plagued years before being given another chance in the 2010 rookie draft. However, he couldn't crack a senior game.
Returning home, he hooked up with Thorp, an old friend from his hometown of Longford, just south of Launceston.
After a slow start, McCulloch has developed into one of the Tasmanian State League's premium talls.
The 22-year-old won the Lefroy Medal as best-on-ground in the representative game last weekend against the NEAFL Eastern Conference at Skoda Stadium, gathering 23 disposals, 11 marks, 18 hit-outs, four tackles and kicking 3.3 in Tassie's 15.11 (101) to 8.13 (61) victory.
After the match, McCulloch said he still wanted to prove himself at the highest level.
"That opportunity [to get drafted] would be great if it came along," he told The Mercury.
"I think now if I got an opportunity, I'm a lot bigger and stronger and ready to play at the senior level."
Thorp, too, says he'd love to see his old friend given another AFL shot.
"Bart and I are both from Longford and had a lot of history together growing up, doing athletics and playing footy … it's funny how things work out," Thorp told AFL.com.au.
"He's a big boy, about 197cm, and very mobile. We play him forward but he can certainly ruck as well.
"When he came back here, he was probably a fair way off being re-drafted, but he's worked really hard. We both have AFL backgrounds and we have done a fair bit of work together this year … it's no coincidence that we're both playing some good footy together."
Tasmanian coach Matthew Armstrong has known Thorp and McCulloch since their junior days, and says he wouldn't be surprised if AFL recruiters came looking their way again.
"They are more mature now, both as footballers and men," he said.
"They were both very, very good (against the NEAFL) and they … have probably been the outstanding talls of the (TSL) competition. They’ve been the driving force behind South Launceston this year.
"I guess it gets down to what recruiters want – they just have to keep performing at a high level and you never know what might happen."
Niall Seewang is a sub-editor at AFL Media. Follow him on Twitter @AFL_NSeewang
