WITH KEY defenders in high demand and short supply, former Collingwood rookie Michael Hartley could get a second chance in the AFL later this year.

Hartley spent 2012-13 on Collingwood's rookie list, but after playing in four NAB Cup games at the end of his first pre-season with the Magpies two serious shoulder injuries limited him to five VFL games over the next two years.

Since being delisted by Collingwood, Hartley has put his injury problems behind him and produced two outstanding seasons with Coburg in the VFL.

At 198cm and 102kg, he has more than held his own against AFL-listed forwards such as Richmond's Tyrone Vickery and Liam McBean, and North Melbourne's Majak Daw, while he's been equally comfortable minding resting opposition ruckmen.

The 22-year-old will participate in this year's Victorian state combine on October 11, an event to which players are only invited if at least two AFL clubs have expressed interest in them.

Hartley told AFL.com.au he is hopeful of impressing clubs enough there to earn a second chance in this year's national or rookie draft, but is taking nothing for granted after participating in last year's Victorian combine and being overlooked.

Coburg coach Peter German is adamant, however, that Hartley is far better prepared to succeed in the AFL second time around.

"I think he's cherry ripe now to go back into the AFL system and be a player of note," German said.

"In the couple of years he had at Collingwood, he didn't play much footy because of injury and I think perhaps he was not up to speed with what the demands of AFL footy were having come from a non-football state (New South Wales).

"But now he's had time to reflect on that and in his past two years with us he's been able to get his body right and hone his skills as a defender on big players in a good competition.

"He's gone into our leadership group this year too, so he's really matured as a footballer and even as a person.

"He's absolutely ready for AFL football again."

Hartley, himself, is confident of what he can do if given an AFL lifeline, but admits he still has room for improvement.

"I still have a bit to offer, I feel. I would like to have a real crack at it because I didn't get much of a crack at it before," Hartley says.

"I'm probably not aerobically amazing, I'm more of a jumping sort of player, but if I can just work on the aerobic stuff a little bit more hopefully that will help me."

Hartley has already been doing extra work on his fitness, completing a weekly bike session at the ProSport gym in Richmond with Coburg teammates Ozgur Uysal and Daniel Vendetta.

Usyal, 23, is also hoping to be drafted this year after backing up his selection in the 2014 VFL team of the year with another excellent season this year.

Usyal was overlooked in the 2010 and 2011 drafts after two seasons in the TAC Cup with the Calder Cannons. But the midfielder has taken heart watching his former Coburg teammate Adam Saad star as a mature-age recruit in his debut season with Gold Coast this year.

"We used to just give Adam the ball and let him do his thing and he's pretty much been able to do the same in the AFL," Uysal said.

"Hopefully clubs see what he's been able to do and are prepared to give other guys in the VFL a go."