The Stingrays have at least four hopefuls from their 2011 class of players. Brett O'Hanlon (Edithvale-Aspendale), Piva Wright (Noble Park JFC), Darren Minchington (Dromana) and Morrish medallist Alex Benbow (Beaconsfield) all make appealing cases to go to AFL level.

AFL rookie list players get contracted to a side and can be elevated to the main list in place of injured players.

Numerous rookie-listed players, such as Western Bulldogs defender Dale Morris, have moved on to become regular senior players.

"At the end of the day we can't control who the clubs decide to pick," Yeats said.

"We would like to think most of our kids would do well if they got an opportunity but that is the hardest thing - to get a club to show enough faith to pick you and then develop you."

While staying hopeful that all four players would earn selection, Yeats said it was important all players realised the AFL system gave hard-working players a chance to be drafted in years to come.

"Sometimes kids slip through the cracks.

"They all have the opportunity to be very good players. The system takes care of those players who keep pushing themselves."

Yeats said O'Hanlon would get most interest due to his improvements in kicking and fitness over the past season.

"We are confident that of all kids he'll get a rookie spot.

"O'Hanlon genuinely showed a lot of improvement last year. He actually won our most improved player award.

"He has good hands and kicks incredibly well, but he is that in-between height of 188-189 centimetres which doesn't always appeal to clubs."

Yeats said Wright was confident he would earn a rookie-list spot after not winning selection in the AFL draft last month.

"He is really confident, so time will tell.

"Time can really be an enemy or a friend of these kids but I think they are all realistic enough to know there will still be other opportunities for them if they keep at it."

Neither Benbow nor Minchington was picked in the AFL draft and Yeats said both would give their all if given rookie places.

Yeats said former Stingray and former Frankston VFL big man Peter Gabriel was another player he hoped would catch the eyes of AFL clubs.

"We always hoped AFL clubs would look at him. He has been pretty good at VFL level.

"We have our fingers crossed for all our past players.

"We like to think they could all help a club at AFL level."