ALMOST 120 players made their way onto AFL lists for the first time via the drafts last November.

The flip side to that excitement is just as many have to make way for the influx of fresh faces.

In fact, 138 players that either retired or were delisted at the end of last year now re-enter the real world without full-time footballer luxuries.

Some of the recently departed have been quickly snapped up by clubs at an array of levels around the country.

Round 18

Others, like former Sydney ruckman Tom Derickx, have chosen to have a footy-less 2017.

Instead of running around on the field, Derickx is set to spend most of 2017 focusing on his No. 1 passion: Music.

Derickx has teamed up with a childhood friend to form Kayex — a two-man electronic band that plans to release its first single soon.

The 29-year-old, who also does part-time modelling, told The Daily Telegraph in December that the hardest part about launching his new career was performing in front of his now former Swans teammates.

SCROLL DOWN TO SEE A FULL LIST OF WHERE EVERY RETIRED/DELISTED PLAYERS FROM YOUR CLUB WILL PLAY IN 2017

“The stereotypical footballer is tough and I go against the status quo with the modelling and music. But it was a massive weight lifted off my shoulders and now I’m comfortable singing in front of anyone,” Derickx said.

Ted Richards, Derickx’s ex-teammate, turned down an offer to play in a local Sydney competition, opting to focus on his new full-time job in the finance industry, where he will be analysing stocks. He’s certainly looking forward to enjoying footy-free weekends.

A handful of retirees will also slot straight into media roles, including Matthew Pavlich, Adam Cooney, Jimmy Bartel and Nick Dal Santo. Elsewhere, Will Minson is set to study abroad, Mathew Stokes will work with the AFL and Tayte Pears’ desire to become a firefighter is well known.

As always, though, many players have found new footy homes after leaving their respective AFL clubs.

Matt Spangher, one of the AFL’s most charismatic cult figures of the past decade, found a home just before Christmas.

Matt Spangher has found a new home. Picture: Michael Klein Source: News Corp Australia

The Hawthorn premiership player signed with Shepparton United in the Goulbourn Valley Football League, linking up with former Hawk and Crow Luke Lowden, who had been appointed assistant coach.

“I’m excited by the opportunity to keep playing, I’m certainly not up to AFL standard because my body didn’t allow that,” Spangher told Shepparton News.

‘‘I’m looking forward to playing with Luke because we’re good mates. I was joking with Luke that after being a massive (Melbourne) Demons supporter growing up this is as close as I’m going to get to it.’’

Plenty of players are heading down the coaching path at an array of levels, from ex-Tiger Troy Chaplin slotting straight into an assistant role at Melbourne to former Pie Brent Macaffer taking up a co-coaching offer with Kilcunda Bass.

Former Dog, Swan and Blue Andrejs Everitt — who announced his exit from Carlton in hilarious circumstances — has been appointed co-coach alongside Bevan Malloy at Somerville in the MPNFL.

“We seem to have pretty similar philosophies and the way we want the game played and the way we want the club viewed from external people is pretty close to be honest,’’ Malloy told News Corp.

Me. A photo posted by @andrejs.everitt on Oct 24, 2016 at 6:55pm PDT

“It’s exciting. I’m sure I’m going to learn a lot from him and hopefully I can give him a bit of knowledge as well.”

A host of ex-Kangaroos have also found new homes at local level — or returned to where it all began.

VFL/AFL games record-holder Brent Harvey has joined brother Shane at North Heidelberg in the Northern Football League. Michael Firrito, who was sensationally cut from North Melbourne’s list on the same day as Harvey last year, has linked up with EDFL club Strathmore where he will play under new coach Nathan Grima, who was planning to play for Strathmore in 2016 before he sensationally signed with Essendon as a top-up player.

Eastern Football League powerhouse Balwyn, which has won four of the past five Division 1 flags, will again be hard to stop in 2017 after recruiting Jonathan Simpkin (Essendon), Farren Ray (North Melbourne) and Damien Cavka (West Coast Eagles) straight from AFL lists. Under the leadership of coach Shannon Grant, VAFA club St Kevin’s has been busy picking up ex-AFL talent, signing Mitch Brown (West Coast), Jay Schulz (Port Adelaide) and Mark Jamar (Essendon), with former Saint Sam Fisher also a chance to land there.

A couple of state-league teams have really benefited too. In the WAFL, Swan Districts have picked up Xavier Ellis (West Coast) as an assistant coach, as well as Ryan Crowley (Fremantle), Jamie Bennell (West Coast), Clancee Pearce (Fremantle) and Corey Gault (Collingwood). In the VFL, Port Melbourne seems to have been the big winner, signing Robin Nahas (North Melbourne) and Dillon Viojo-Rainbow (Carlton), with ex-St Kilda pair Brodie Murdoch and Eli Templeton expected to be confirmed as Borough players soon.

Meanwhile, two luckless, injury-riddled players will be desperate to keep their AFL aspirations alive in 2017 at state-league level. Former Hawk Alex Woodward has signed with Collingwood’s VFL side, while Anthony Morabito is set to officially land at a WAFL club over the next month.

And as for Dane Swan? He’s planning a couple of overseas trips in 2017.

But no doubt these Swanny tweets over the past few months perfectly sum up how many of his fellow retirees/delisted mates would be feeling watching their former teammates prepare for another AFL season.

missing day one of preseason and it's time trial so much that I took the dog for a lap round the park. Fair to say it wasn't a pb. #hebeatme — Dane Swan (@swandane) November 21, 2016

1st day back for the pies today and I just went on a long exhausting 20min search for the remote. Found it. Not all heros wear capes. — Dane Swan (@swandane) January 5, 2017

WHERE ARE THEY NOW?

The class of 2016 delisted/retired players and what they’re doing now (Note: Not every player has locked in a club for the season or even decided when they want to play).

Have an update on a player? Email ben.waterworth@news.com.au or tweet @bjwaterworth

ADELAIDE

Mitch Grigg (Delisted) — Norwood (SANFL)

Matt Jaensch (Retired) — Strength and conditioning coach at Hahndorf (Hills League)

Luke Lowden (Delisted) — Assistant coach at Shepparton United (GVFL)

Keenan Ramsey (Delisted) — North Adelaide (SANFL)

Nathan van Berlo (Retired) — Development coach at Adelaide (AFL)

BRISBANE LIONS

Hugh Beasley (Delisted) — Richmond (VFL)

Justin Clarke (Retired) — Studying a Bachelor of Aerospace and Mechanical Engineering with Science degree

Billy Evans (Delisted) — Box Hill Hawks (VFL)

Jaden McGrath (Released) — St Mary’s (NTFL)

Josh McGuinness (Delisted) — Lauderdale (TSL)

Daniel Merrett (Retired) — Mentoring role at Brisbane Lions (AFL), had been helping out as a part-time coach at the Brisbane Broncos (NRL)

Jackson Paine (Delisted) — Redlands Bombers (NEAFL)

Josh Watts (Delisted) — Coburg (VFL)

Trent West (Retired) — Leopold (GFL)

CARLTON

Matthew Dick (Delisted) — Macedon (RDFL)

Andrejs Everitt (Delisted) — Somerville (NPFL)

Jayden Foster (Delisted) — TBC, but has been training with a VFL club

Billy Gowers (Delisted) — TBC, but likely to land at a VFL club

Michael Jamison (Retired) — TBC

Clem Smith (Delisted) — Perth (WAFL)

Jason Tutt (Delisted) — De La Salle (VAFA)

Dillon Viojo-Rainbow (Delisted) — Port Melbourne (VFL)

Andrew Walker (Retired) — Development coach at Carlton (AFL) and has been training with West Preston-Lakeside (VAFA)

Mark Whiley (Delisted) — Yarrawonga (OMFL)

Cameron Wood (Retired) — Avondale Heights (EDFL)

COLLINGWOOD

Corey Gault (Retired) — Swan Districts (WAFL)

Tim Golds (Delisted) — Old Xaverians (VAFA)

Matthew Goodyear (Delisted) — Footscray (VFL)

Jonathon Marsh (Retired) — East Fremantle (WAFL)

Brent Macaffer (Retired) — Welfare role at Collingwood (AFL) and co-coach of Kilcunda-Bass (Alberton FL)

Dane Swan (Retired) — TBC, but will travel overseas during the year

Alan Toovey (Retired) — No football plans for 2017

Darrean Wyatt (Delisted) — Coburg (VFL)

ESSENDON

Jason Ashby (Delisted) — Old Carey (VAFA)

Adam Cooney (Retired) — Media (SEN radio), unlikely to play in 2017

Ryan Crowley (Delisted) — Swan Districts (WAFL)

Courtenay Dempsey (Delisted) — Greenvale (EDFL)

Nathan Grima (Delisted) — Senior coach at Strathmore (EDFL)

Sam Grimley (Delisted) — Heidelberg (Northern FL)

James Gwilt (Delisted) — Noble Park (EFL)

Nick Kommer (Delisted) — Melton South (Ballarat FL)

Will Hams (Delisted) — Box Hill Hawks (VFL)

Mark Jamar (Delisted) — St Kevin’s (VAFA)

Sam Michael (Delisted) — Redland Bombers (NEAFL)

Gach Nyuon (Delisted) — TBC, but has been training with a VFL club

Tayte Pears (Retired) — Order of Merit for the Metropolitan Fire Brigade

James Polkinghorne (Delisted) — Full-time wellbeing project manager at AFL Players’​ Association, unlikely to play anywhere

Jonathan Simpkin (Delisted) — Balwyn (EFL)

Mathew Stokes (Retired) — West Preston-Lakeside (Northern FL). Also taken up the Ron Evans Scholarship, a 12-month AFL internship offered to past players.

Tom Wallis (Delisted) — TBC, but likely to land at a VFL club

FREMANTLE

Jack Hannath (Delisted) — Central District (SANFL)

Sean Hurley (Delisted) — Kildare (GAA)

Anthony Morabito (Delisted) — TBC, but keen to continue playing in the WAFL

Clancee Pearce (Delisted) — Swan Districts (WAFL)

Matthew Pavlich (Retired) — Unlikely to play, but will be a footy media commentator across a variety of platforms, as well as continue brand ambassador roles, oversee his company PickStar and remain AFLPA president during CBA negotiations

Tanner Smith (Delisted) — North Adelaide (SANFL)

Shane Yarran (Retired) — TBC, but will focus on personal and off-field matters

GEELONG

Jimmy Bartel (Retired) — Media (3AW)

Zac Bates (Delisted) — West Adelaide (SANFL)

Mitch Clark (Delisted) — Moved home to WA, outside chance to join a WAFL club

Jock Cornell (Delisted) — Essendon (VFL)

Cameron Delaney (Delisted) — Grovedale (GFL)

Corey Enright (Retired) — Assistant coach at Geelong (AFL)

Michael Luxford (Delisted) — Essendon (VFL)

Padraig Lucey (Delisted) — TBC, but staying in Australia and hopeful of playing in the VFL

Tom Read (Delisted) — Sturt (SANFL)

GOLD COAST SUNS

Clay Cameron (Delisted) — Redland Bombers (NEAFL)

Jarrod Garlett (Released) — South Fremantle (WAFL)

Tom Keough (Delisted) — West Adelaide (SANFL)

Nick Malceski (Retired) — Assistant coach at Gold Coast Suns Academy

Luke Russell (Delisted) — Northern Blues (VFL)

Danny Stanley (Delisted) — Non-playing assistant coach at Southport (NEAFL)

Seb Tape (Delisted) — Southport (NEAFL)

GWS GIANTS

All players still on an AFL list

HAWTHORN

Lachie Langford (delisted) — Diggers Rest (RDFL)

Jermaine Miller-Lewis (delisted) — South Fremantle (WAFL)

Angus Litherland (delisted) — Subiaco (WAFL)

Matt Spangher (delisted) — Shepparton United (GVFL)

Shem-Kalvin Tatupu (Retired) — Melbourne Storm (NRL)

Zac Webster (delisted) — Coburg (VFL)

Alex Woodward (delisted) — Collingwood (VFL)

MELBOURNE

Chris Dawes (delisted) — Sorrento (MPNFL)

Jack Grimes (delisted) — Hurstbridge (NFL)

Matt Jones (delisted) — South Croydon (EFL)

Max King (delisted) — South Croydon (EFL)

Heritier Lumumba (retired) — TBC, but upon leaving said he was looking forward to “expanding other areas of my career as I create new endeavours”.

Viv Michie (delisted) — Collegians (VAFA)

Ben Newton (delisted) — TBC, but likely to focus on knee rehab in 2017 with a view to playing in 2018

Dean Terlich (delisted) — Norwood (SANFL)

NORTH MELBOURNE

Nick Dal Santo (retired) — Media (SEN radio) and assistant coach at AFL Academy

Michael Firrito (retired) — Playing assistant coach at Strathmore (EDFL)

Brent Harvey (retired) — North Heidelberg (Northern FL) and mentoring role at North Melbourne (AFL)

Brad McKenzie (delisted) — Norwood (SANFL)

Robin Nahas (delisted) — Port Melbourne (VFL)

Farren Ray (retired) — Balwyn (EFL)

Joel Tippett (delisted) — Williamstown (VFL)

PORT ADELAIDE

John Butcher (delisted) — Central District (SANFL)

Alipate Carlile (retired) — Port next generation Academy, Multicultural Programs Manager at Port Adelaide (PAFC) and overseeing a next generation academy

Sam Colquhoun (delisted) — Sturt (SANFL)

Kane Mitchell (delisted) — TBC, but likely to join a WAFL club

Cam O’Shea (delisted) — Northern Blues (VFL)

Jay Schulz (delisted) — St Kevin’s (VAFA)

Paul Stewart (delisted) — Woodville West-Torrens (SANFL)

RICHMOND

Troy Chaplin (retired) — Assistant coach at Melbourne (AFL)

Adam Marcon (delisted) — Williamstown (VFL)

Liam McBean (delisted) — Glenelg (SANFL)

Reece McKenzie (retired) — TBC, but last year was weighing up whether to play in either the VFL or VAFA

Andrew Moore (delisted) — Box Hill Hawks (VFL)

Chris Yarran (delisted) — TBC, but has returned home to WA and reportedly discussed a playing return with Swan Districts (WAFL)

ST KILDA

Tom Curren (delisted) — Sandringham (VFL)

Luke Delaney (delisted) — Grovedale (GFL)

Sam Fisher (retired) — TBC, but could join a local team in metropolitan Melbourne

Tom Lee (delisted) — Claremont (WAFL)

Brodie Murdoch (delisted) — Port Melbourne (VFL)

Brenton Payne (delisted) — North Ballarat Roosters (VFL)

Josh Saunders (delisted) — South Warrnambool (Hampden FL)

Cameron Shenton (delisted) — Norwood (SANFL)

Eli Templeton (delisted) — Port Melbourne (VFL)

SYDNEY SWANS

Abe Davis (delisted) — South Adelaide (SANFL)

Tom Derickx (retired) — No football plans for 2017, will pursue music career full-time with some part-time modelling

Kyle Galloway (delisted) — Werribee (VFL)

Jack Hiscox (delisted) — Sydney University (NEAFL)

Ben McGlynn (retired) — Assistant coach at St Kilda (AFL)

Ted Richards (retired) — No football plans for 2017, will work in the finance industry analysing stocks

Xavier Richards (delisted) — Sydney University (NEAFL)

WEST COAST EAGLES

Corey Adamson (delisted) — Subiaco (WAFL)

Jamie Bennell (retired) — Swan Districts (WAFL)

Mitch Brown (delisted) — St Kevin’s (VAFA)

Damien Cavka (retired) — Balwyn (EFL)

Brant Colledge (delisted) — Perth (WAFL)

Xavier Ellis (retired) — Will combine a playing role with a gig as an assistant coach at Swan Districts (WAFL)

Kane Lucas (delisted) — TBC, but likely to land at a WAFL club

Patrick McGinnity (retired) — East Perth (WAFL)

Alec Waterman (delisted) — TBC, but likely to land at a WAFL club

WESTERN BULLDOGS

Jed Adcock (retired) — Assistant midfield coach at Brisbane Lions (AFL)

Luke Goetz (delisted) — Williamstown (VFL)

Will Minson (delisted) — TBC, but had plans to study abroad and possibly continue his work with indigenous youths