HAMPDEN league star Matt Sully must pin his hopes on next month's rookie draft if he is to realise his AFL dream.

The South Warrnambool key defender was an outside chance to be picked up at last night's AFL Draft, but was overlooked by the two clubs that had shown interest.

While it is incredibly rare for a Victorian player to be plucked straight out of a country league, Sully enjoyed a premiership-winning season at his home club and was a stand-out at representative level with the Hampden league and the VCFL under-19 team.

Sully will now turn his attention to the AFL's pre-season and rookie draft on December 13.

The rookie draft has unearthed some star players since its inception in 1997.

Three-time Brisbane Lions premiership player Mal Michael, Collingwood captain Nick Maxwell and, more recently, Western Bulldogs pocket rocket Andrew Hooper, all got their starts on the rookie list of an AFL club.

If Sully is overlooked again, a pre-season trial with South Adelaide in the South Australian Football League the likely next step.

"I'm trying not to think about it too much and I'm certainly not getting my hopes up,'' the 19-year-old told The Weekly Times last week.

"I know there are no promises and I probably need luck to go my way to get picked up.''