Last year’s star-studded, premiership-winning squad included the likes of Jack Ziebell, Steele Sidebottom, Sam Wright, Caleb Tiller and Tom Rockliff, who were all selected in either the national or preseason drafts.

Fellow Bushies Kade Klemke, Andrew Browne, Riley Milne and Jamason Daniels also made it into the AFL system via the rookie draft.

But this year’s crop of Bushrangers are unlikely to get near the mark set last season, with only star midfielder Dylan McNeil, key position prospect Sam Reid and endurance machine Brayden Norris considered genuine chances.

It isn’t a knock on the Bushrangers, with the club producing 62 draftees since 1992, the second most of any TAC Cup club behind Geelong with 70.

But with more than 1300 young footballers fighting for about 65 spots in the national draft, there are bound to be disappointments.

So what happens when the dreams of young footballers remain unfulfilled?

Murray region manager Andrew Carson says helping young footballers overcome that disappointment is one of the most challenging parts of his job.

“We don’t have any structured programs in place, but we do work closely with the boys about what options are open to them,” he said this week.

“If they aren’t drafted or rookied, they have to consider what they want to do with work, possibly university, and of course where they want to play footy.

“There are so many different options — they can have a crack at VFL footy, the SANFL or the WAFL if they want to keep pursuing the AFL dream, but some boys prefer just to stay locally.

“It’s a case-by-case scenario but it’s just a matter of crossing those bridges when they come.

“But (playing AFL) is obviously their dream, and we have to put in a lot of work with them because everyone hates rejection.

“It’s really difficult, and you have to manage them carefully.”