AT LEAST four clubs are circling former Brisbane Lions and Gold Coast rookie Joel Tippett ahead of Wednesday's NAB AFL Rookie Draft, with his former West Adelaide coach Andrew Collins describing him as the best full-back outside the AFL.

AFL.com.au understands Tippett, the younger brother of Sydney Swan Kurt, has attracted strong interest from Melbourne, Fremantle, North Melbourne and St Kilda ahead of the Rookie Draft.

The key defender, 25, has had a change of heart this year after withdrawing his nomination for last year's Rookie Draft.

Tippett spent 2007-09 on the Lions' rookie list without playing a game, then, after a season with Southport in the QAFL, spent 2011 on Gold Coast's rookie list in the Suns' inaugural season.

Tippett played two AFL games with the Suns but was delisted at the end of 2011.

Keen for another chance in the AFL, Tippett is hoping to get a third opportunity as a rookie on Wednesday.

The Queenslander has spent the past two seasons in the SANFL with West Adelaide, where Collins was senior coach.

Collins told AFL.com.au on Monday any club that drafted Tippett would be getting a readymade AFL key defender.

"I think he's the best key defender, particularly the best full-back, outside the AFL," Collins said.

"He hasn't been beaten by anyone at state level for a couple of years now.

"He's tall, strong and athletic and I think he could do a great job on many of the key forwards in the AFL, particularly the low-post key forwards.

"I think he would step up to League footy straight away in a really good team."

Collins, a three-time Hawthorn premiership player who has recently taken over as Williamstown coach, said Tippett had improved significantly since his last AFL stint.

"Joel has added a real rebounding side to his game. He was a good mark when he got to West Adelaide but he's now also got the confidence to go for his contested marks, a bit like Brian Lake," Collins said.

Collins said Tippett had performed well on Adelaide key forward Lewis Johnston and Port Adelaide's Daniel Stewart when they had played in the SANFL.

Twitter: @AFL_Nick