Former Geelong and Collingwood key forward Nathan Kreuger headlines a group of Indigenous footballers hoping for a second chance at the elite level in next Wednesday's AFL Mid-Season Draft.
After six injury-riddled years in the AFL system that limited him to just 15 games, the 25-year-old has returned to Geelong's VFL program and is playing the best football of his career.
A versatile tall, Kreuger has impressed in multiple roles this season.
He began the year in defence, where he collected 14 intercept marks and 26 intercept possessions in just two and a half games.
More recently, he has returned forward, booting seven goals in his past four matches – including a standout three-goal performance against Box Hill.
The Ngarrandjerri and Noongar man also earned selection for the VFL representative side that defeated the SANFL during Gather Round.
Kreuger's form this year has been the result of a gruelling pre-season regimen, where he trained alongside his fiancée, middle-distance runner Tess Kirsopp-Cole.
The training block left him in the best physical condition of his career and he has trimmed an impressive 50 seconds off his 2km time trial.
Geelong VFL coach Mark Corrigan has been full of praise for Kreuger's impact this season.
"He's been enormous for us, we've used him at both ends, clearly he can play at both ends – he has done that at AFL level – and so you're getting someone right now who physically is probably in the best shape of their career," Corrigan told the Geelong Advertiser.
"From our end, we'd love to have two of him to be honest – one forward, one back – but he's going really well, so wait and see really."
"He's a phenomenal athlete, he's got speed and power, but then obviously now he's endurance.
"So for him, he's just been able to put an amazing body of work together and he's got a really good foundation now that he probably hasn't had previously."
Corrigan added that Kreuger is thriving without the pressure that comes being on an AFL list.
"In an AFL program there's a little bit more pressure and anxiety and stress potentially, and he's been able to sort of free himself up a little bit playing AFL footy without that sort of stress of being an AFL listed player.
"He's probably put the biggest body of footy together that he's had in six or seven years.
"I think it's all just sort of aligning for him at the moment, he seems really happy in his football and in life, so that tends to transfer onto the field at times."
Geelong premiership player Brandan Parfitt is another who is hoping to hear his name called out on Wednesday.
The tough midfielder was delisted by the Cats at the end of last season, but has continued producing strong form at State League level.
Parfitt was excellent upon returning to junior club Nightcliff in the Northern Territory Football League and has since signed with Perth in the WAFL, where he has averaged 30 disposals across five games.
Former Sydney player James Bell has nominated after a strong season for SANFL club Glenelg.
The 26-year-old has averaged 20 disposals and six score involvements per game and had strong showings in representative contests against the VFL and the WAFL.
Bell played 28 AFL games across five seasons with the Swans.
Richmond VFL captain Joel Garner – a classy midfielder who spent time with Port Adelaide – is another who is hoping to reignite his career at the elite level.
