When Ben Keays was delisted by the Lions at the end of 2019, it appeared a sad ending to a once-promising junior career.

A highly touted Brisbane Lions Academy talent, the Lions drafted Keays with Pick 24 at the 2015 Draft. The Lions would have had high hopes for the midfielder-forward, but after just 30 games and four seasons on the list, he was delisted in 2019 after failing to cement a role in the Lions' engine room.

At the time, Keays' AFL career looked all but over.

But since then, it has been an extraordinary rise to AFL regular for the hard-running left-footer, becoming a poster boy for perseverance in the process.

He is now a Crows best and fairest winner, club vice-captain and has not missed a game since his club debut in Round 2 of 2020.

And Keays' story is no longer an outlier in the modern AFL landscape either.

Across the competition, a growing number of players are being delisted by one club, only to resurrect their career elsewhere and emerge as an important part of another club's system.

Former Bomber Patrick Voss was delisted after going untried at senior level by Essendon, despite winning the club's VFL best and fairest in his last year at the club.

Voss was invited to train with Fremantle at the end of 2023 during the Supplementary Selection Period, with the Dockers opting to offer the key-forward a contract following his trial period.

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He has since become a cult figure at the Dockers, with his energy and physicality making him a fan favourite. But Voss is more than just an icon, as he averaged 10 disposals, 3.3 marks and almost two goals a game from 20 games in 2025, including a six-goal haul against Collingwood at the MCG.

He was rewarded with a four-year contract that ties him to the Dockers until the end of 2030, capping off a remarkable career turnaround.

Former Eagle Jai Culley has also found success in a new environment following his delisting at West Coast.

The mid-season draftee ruptured his ACL in 2023 at the Eagles, before playing just three games in 2024 before he was delisted.

After originally signing as a VFL player at state league affiliate Casey, the Demons gave Culley a career lifeline by signing him in late February following a season-ending knee injury to Andy Moniz-Wakefield.

He played his first game in Demons colours late in 2025, proving he has what it takes to succeed at the highest level with four solid outings.

However, it has been his pre-season form that has Demons fans excited, with Culley poised to take the next step in his development following a rollercoaster four seasons in the AFL.

Former Sydney defender Toby Pink forced his way back onto an AFL list through dominant SANFL form with Glenelg, earning a contract at North Melbourne as a mature-age key-position utility. Delisted without debuting at the Swans, Pink's return to the AFL system is evidence of the growing value clubs are placing on strong state-league performance and physically mature players.

Ex-Hawthorn midfielder Ned Long followed a similar path after being delisted in 2023, earning a career lifeline at Collingwood following strong VFL form. He has since carved out a role in Craig McRae's team as a defensively-oriented midfielder

Carlton's Francis Evans has also resurrected his AFL career after being delisted by Geelong and Port Adelaide, earning a fresh opportunity at the Blues. Evans has proven he is more than capable at AFL level as a small forward, booting 11 goals in the last four games of 2025 to earn himself a fresh one-year deal.

The growing number of second-chance success stories is no coincidence. Delisted players are becoming a low-risk, high-reward weapon for list managers.

They are often far more AFL-ready than teenage draftees, and in a competition with tight salary caps and small list sizes, second-chance recruits allow clubs to address immediate list needs without sacrificing draft capital or a significant amount of the salary cap.

The resurgence of players like Keays, Voss and Culley reflects a shift in AFL list management strategy. Delisting a player is sometimes no longer a final verdict on a player's ability, but instead a reflection of timing and list balance. Clubs are now more willing than ever to re-evaluate players they believe other teams gave up on too early.

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