GEELONG Falcon Joe Dare and Northern Knight Dylan Grimes will be among the leading contenders in the NAB AFL Pre-Season/Rookie Drafts, after they were surprisingly overlooked in Thursday night's NAB AFL Draft.

Dare and Grimes, both defenders, were expected to be claimed in the top 50 at worst, but some shock early selections forced clubs to change tack.

The pair is nevertheless expected to begin training with an AFL club reasonably quickly, with sides now turning their attentions to the December drafts, when 60-plus players will find their way onto AFL lists.

Northern Territorian Liam Patrick (the cousin of Melbourne's Liam Jurrah) was also overlooked, despite bolting into contention after some exciting performances with Wanderers in the NTFL.

An 185cm tall with an outstanding vertical leap. Patrick has been playing ruck despite his lack of height and appears a likely target for several clubs in the upcoming drafts.

Sudanese-born Majak Daw, a 194cm tall athlete with Nic Naitanui-like qualities, was another to miss out on Thursday, with North Melbourne understood to have been interested.

Many clubs view Daw as a classic rookie - with raw, natural talent which needs to be nurtured in the AFL system.

From South Australia, key forward Matthew Panos, Derick Wanganeen (the cousin of 1993 Brownlow Medallist Gavin) and ruckman Jack Hannath were unlucky to miss.

Panos had an outstanding NAB AFL under-18 championship - he was All-Australian - and is sure to come under notice as a rookie.

VFL stars Michael Barlow (Werribee) and Sam Iles (ex-Collingwood) are also near-certain future rookies.

Also likely to attract interest from Victoria are Mitch Fisher (Geelong Falcons), Josh Donaldson (West Perth), Jack Weston (Gippsland Power), Serhat Temel (Calder Cannons), Andrew Hooper (North Ballarat Rebels) and Josh Dyson (Eastern Ranges).

New rules allowing clubs to add at least two players older than 23 years old open the door for some experienced hands.

In theory, players such as former Demon Russell Robertson, ex-Tiger Mark Couglan and 2005 premiership player Luke Ablett could become rookies.

Other players with AFL experience set to be in contention as mature rookies include Mitch Thorp, Kane Tenace, Cameron Cloke, Scott Harding and Sam Power.

afl.com.au will have live coverage of the 2010 NAB AFL Pre-Season and Rookie Drafts on December 15.