For many hopeful youngsters, Tuesday's Pre-season and Rookie Draft's may well prove the last chance they get to make it in the AFL.

Years of hard work and dedication rides on a selection on Tuesday and even a player who is lucky enough to gain a spot, faces an uphill battle with just one in five rookies promoted to a senior list.

Opportunity can often bring out the best in a footballer though and even the 95th and final pick, headed to the Swans, can take solace from those before him who made it when many thought they weren't good enough.

North Melbourne has five picks in the Rookie Draft and the recruiting team will no doubt be trying to secure the next Cameron Pedersen, Nathan Grima or Michael Firrito.

Pedersen was the feel-good story of 2011 at Aegis Park. Training in the day and working at Bunnings at night to provide for his young family, Pedersen was an example of some of the challenges a rookie faces.

When he had the chance to shine, he grabbed it with both hands and now his future is brighter than ever before.

The players that do end up in royal blue and white on Tuesday will be hoping for a similar path, or even that of Aaron Mullett who also impressed and gained a promotion late in the year.

While the numbers are stacked against them, selection in the rookie draft could be the stepping stone to something special.

North's selections: 10, 28, 46, 63, 77.

Who do you think has been North's best rookie selection? View the history of the Kangaroos' picks below.

1997
Pick	Player	NM Games	Goals
15	Julian Kirzner	3	5
30	Bryan Beinke	0	0

1998
Pick	Player	NM Games	Goals
13	David Round	0	0
29	Craig Folino	0	0
45	Julian Kirzner	3	5
61	Wade Kingsley	0	0

1999
Pick	Player	NM Games	Goals
14	Winis Imbi	0	0
29	Kent Kingsley	12	10
42	Marcus Nalder	0	0
52	Ryan Pagan	3	0

2000
Pick	Player	NM Games	Goals
16	Nick Lowther	0	0
32	Michael Ablett	0	0
48	Mark Hilton	1	0
60	Ryan Pagan	3	0

2001
Pick	Player	NM Games	Goals
13	Leigh Harding	141	157
29	Rodney Tregenza	0	0
44	Digby Morrell	40	47
57	David Teague	33	4

2002
Pick	Player	NM Games	Goals
4	John Baird	46	7
20	Stuart Cooper	0	0

2003
Pick	Player	NM Games	Goals
10	Michael Firrito*	170	27
26	Jeremy Clayton	8	6
42	Clinton Alleway	0	0
55	Nick Gill	0	0

2004
Pick	Player	NM Games	Goals
-	No selections	-	-

2005
Pick	Player	NM Games	Goals
7	Josh Gibson	65	2
23	Josh Thewlis	0	0
38	Scott McMahon*	89	27
51	Justin Perkins	4	0

2006
Pick	Player	NM Games	Goals
10	Ed Lower	42	16
26	Djaran Whyman	3	4

2007
Pick	Player	NM Games	Goals
3	Leigh Adams*	44	33
19	Ben Hughes	0	0
34	Matt Campbell*	67	70
47	Tim Hutchison	0	0

2008
Pick	Player	NM Games	Goals
14	Nathan Grima*	42	0
30	Cruize Garlett*	25	5
44	Alan Obst	5	0
56	Michael Wundke	0	0
60	James Wilsen	0	0

2009
Pick	Player	NM Games	Goals
9	Marcus White	2	0
25	Luke Delaney*	8	0
40	Ben Speight*	10	7
54	Alan Obst	5	0
68	Conor Meredith	0	0

2010
Pick	Player	NM Games	Goals
9	Majak Daw*	0	0
25	Matthew Scott	0	0

2011
Pick	Player	NM Games	Goals
17	Cam Pedersen	14	18
34	Aaron Mullett	3	0

* Player is currently on North Melbourne list

kangaroos.com.au will post all the picks as they happen from the 2012 Rookie Draft on Tuesday December 13 from 11am EST.