CLUBS are keeping their cards close to their chest ahead of one of the most open and mysterious drafts in years.

Only Carlton and St Kilda are auditioning prospective draftees in the open – excluding players remaining at the teams they were delisted from – as part of their pre-season training group.

The Blues are considering bringing back one-time top-20 pick Blaine Boekhorst, as well as giving a lifeline to ex-Suns utility Matt Shaw and former Power defender Cam O'Shea.

O'Shea, 25, spent the 2017 season with Carlton's VFL affiliate Northern Blues, winning the club's best and fairest and being selected in the competition's Team of the Year at centre half-back.

Endurance king Tom Lamb (West Coast), key backman Sam Collins (Fremantle) and midfielder Will Fordham (North Melbourne) are all trying their luck with the Saints at Seaford.

Lamb, whose grandfather Ian Cooper was best afield in St Kilda's 1966 Grand Final triumph, won his potential second club's 1km time trial last week.

The Saints have also committed to redrafting ruck-forward Lewis Pierce as a rookie.

It is the same story for Cam Ellis-Yolmen (Adelaide), Cian Hanley and Claye Beams (Brisbane Lions), Adam Oxley (Collingwood), Sam Reid (GWS), Dallas Willsmore (Hawthorn) and Roarke Smith (Western Bulldogs).

Injury-prone defender Jackson Ramsay is also training with the Magpies without the same promise as Oxley.

Geelong invited key backman Tom Ruggles to join its pre-season campaign after delisting him in October, while Corey Wagner is back at North Melbourne training this week in a bid to keep his career alive.

Sydney's 2012 premiership defender Alex Johnson, who played his first match in 1736 days in the NEAFL in July after a fifth knee reconstruction, and forward Sam Fisher are hoping for reprieves at the Swans.

Fremantle is taking a closer look at Next Generation Academy prospect Jason Carter, a 17-year-old indigenous speedster from the Kimberley.

Carter, eligible for the 2018 draft, earned All Australian honours at the 2016 NAB AFL Under-16 Championships, but missed this year's under-18 equivalent with a knee injury.