THEY'RE the players in the AFL abyss.

Not able to force their way into their club's best line-ups a month into the season, these are the names rival club recruiters will begin to track closely for November's NAB AFL Trade Period.

MID-SEASON DRAFT 50 players who could spark up your list

Last year it was Jarryd Lyons, Anthony Miles and Jordan Roughead who spent large chunks of the season in state leagues before moving teams and becoming best 22 players.

Here's the 10 who will have clubs talking in 2019.

Hugh Greenwood – Adelaide

Games this year: Nil

Contract: 2019

Would suit: Hawthorn

Had an interrupted pre-season with an abdominal setback, but has now spent the past month in the SANFL side as the Crows have slumped to 1-3. Should he continue to be overlooked, rival clubs in need of a bid-bodied inside midfielder will circle. Played all 22 matches last season as a midfielder with time forward and at 27 still has plenty to offer. Tom Scully and Chad Wingard arrived at the Hawks this season, but could a clearance specialist such as Greenwood (191cm) appeal at Waverley Park?

Tom Cutler – Brisbane

Games this year: Nil

Contract: 2019

Would suit: Carlton

Played 18 matches last year as a tall wingman roaming between the arcs but has been overlooked for the opening month of 2019. Copped a knee knock that hampered parts of his JLT Community Series, however has been available for selection and simply left out. Now into his sixth year at the Lions, the 24-year-old has been given ample opportunity with 63 games. Could a move home and change of scenery at a club crying out for midfield depth take the 191cm Cutler to the next level?



Some brilliance from Brandon Starcevich finds Tom Cutler on the scorer's sheet.#AFLPiesLions pic.twitter.com/GDaFjPcc8R — AFL (@AFL) August 11, 2018

Brayden Sier – Collingwood

Games this year: Nil

Contract: 2019

Would suit: Sydney

A major success story in the Pies' run to the Grand Final last year after cracking an AFL debut in round 15 and playing the final 12 matches. Went at 22 disposals and 5.3 clearances in the Pies' four finals but is yet to earn a senior game this season following the arrival of Dayne Beams. With Scott Pendlebury now 31, Sier would be the logical future replacement, but at 21 is he prepared to wait that long? Sydney's Josh Kennedy turns 31 this year. Could Sier do a Kennedy and head north as an inside bull?

Brayden Sier kicks his first goal in the AFL!#AFLPiesLions pic.twitter.com/IAeipqIzyA — AFL (@AFL) August 11, 2018

Jayden Laverde – Essendon

Games this year: Nil

Contract: 2019

Would suit: Western Bulldogs

After his three-goal game to finish 2018, the former first-round draft pick would've had his sights set on a monster 2019. But after a quiet performance in the first JLT Community Series match, the 23-year-old found his way to the VFL where he injured his ankle on the weekend of AFL round two. Has teased Bombers fans but never played more than nine games in a season due to injury or form. The Dogs chased Chad Wingard last year to no avail, could Laverde provide a spark in attack despite a year to run on his Bombers' deal?

Welcome back to the big time, Jayden Laverde!



He's kicked two goals in the opening quarter.#AFLPowerDons pic.twitter.com/TnrQotwQe1 — AFL (@AFL) August 24, 2018

Will Brodie – Gold Coast

Games this year: Nil

Contract: 2020

Would suit: Essendon

One of four Suns drafted in the first-round of the 2016 NAB AFL Draft to receive deals to 2020, Brodie has 11 games to his name into his third season. But even with Jarryd Lyons and Aaron Hall departing, the 20-year-old has found himself in the NEAFL this year stuck behind George Horlin-Smith and Anthony Miles. After 30 disposals on the weekend, the Murray Bushranger has to be asking himself if it's time to look elsewhere. The Bombers missed on Will Setterfield last year, could they make a play for the 189cm Brodie as their future inside midfielder?

Brennan Cox – Fremantle

Games this year: Nil

Contract: 2020

Would suit: Collingwood

You only have to look at his match-winning four-goal performance in round 12 last season to realise that the South Australian has enormous upside. After playing mostly as a defender in his first season, the 20-year-old was swung into attack last year with immediate effect. However, the arrival of Jesse Hogan and Rory Lobb has changed things and after playing his WAFL return from injury as a forward on April 6, Cox was back in defence last week. With Lynden Dunn's career in doubt and the Pies' tall stocks thin behind Mason Cox and Brody Mihocek, could the Pies ask the question?

Callum Moore – Richmond

Games this year: Nil

Contract: 2019

Would suit: North Melbourne

Always bound for a season in the VFL after signing a one-year contract following the arrival of Tom Lynch to partner Jack Riewoldt. But since Riewoldt has gone down through injury, Moore has been overlooked again – not even among the AFL emergencies for the first four games. The 193cm forward played six AFL games last year and has booted four goals from two VFL matches in 2019. North Melbourne is crying out for a goalkicker alongside Ben Brown and Mason Wood, could Moore be their man?

James Rose – Sydney

Games this year: Nil

Contract: 2019

Would suit: Port Adelaide

Now into his fifth season at Sydney, Rose has featured in at least one match every year since he was drafted. But with just nine senior games overall, he enters 2019 on a one-year deal. Continues to rack up possessions at ease in the NEAFL, headlined by his four-goal, 39 disposal game against a GWS reserves team featuring 16-AFL listed players a fortnight ago. Could he be a left-field option back home in SA with several Port Adelaide's goalkicking options now over 30?

Jake Waterman – West Coast

Games this year: Nil

Contract: 2020

Would suit: Brisbane

Bags of five goals at state league level turn recruiters' heads. Doing it in back-to-back weeks like Waterman (191cm) has over the past fortnight makes them stand up and take notice. The only problem is that he finds himself in a logjam behind a dual Coleman Medallist in Josh Kennedy, premiership spearhead Jack Darling and emerging star Oscar Allen. Dropped after round one, Waterman, 20, is well and truly in the Eagles' future plans after 16 home and away games last season. But with Kennedy signed on until at least the end of 2020, at what stage do you ponder other forward lines?

Jake Waterman flies high to intercept a dangerous Isaac Smith kick to set up Willie Rioli for the Eagles' first.#AFLHawksEagles pic.twitter.com/o38jGBG6e6 — AFL (@AFL) May 27, 2018

Bailey Williams – Western Bulldogs

Games this year: 1

Contract: 2019

Would suit: St Kilda

Took big strides last year as a dashing half-back for 13 games to round 15 before a foot injury set him back. Possessing a booming boot, the 21-year-old trained as a midfielder at times during this pre-season, earning just one senior game before he was curiously 'rested' for round two. After signing a two-year deal in 2017, the South Australian finds himself out of contract at the Whitten Oval. Would he appeal to the Saints to assist their ball use out of the back half or add more depth to the midfield?