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Levi Casboult and Jared Polec were among a raft of AFL players who were handed career lifelines via Friday's rookie draft.

Levi Casboult appears set to comply with the AFL's COVID-19 vaccination mandate after Gold Coast handed the former Carlton key position player a career lifeline.

Casboult had reportedly resisted getting any of the jabs currently available in Australia while holding out for the Novavax vaccine to be approved.

The 31-year-old, who played 154 games in 12 seasons with the Blues, was selected by Gold Coast with pick three in Friday's rookie draft.

Under AFL rules introduced last month, all players and football department staff from men's and women's programs must be fully vaccinated.

Applications can be made for exemptions under criteria similar to Victoria's authorised worker vaccination mandate.

Gold Coast are hopeful Casboult will provide adequate support for a talented batch of young talls led by Ben King, Jack Lukosius and No.5 draft pick Mac Andrew.

"Levi will bring depth to our key position stocks and add valuable experience to our developing talls," Suns recruiting manager Kall Burns said.

"He is a strong and competitive player who plays with great physicality.

"He is a marking presence and will provide a great target in the front half.

"Levi has achieved a lot at AFL level already and we look forward to him contributing to our future success."

North Melbourne gave Jared Polec a rookie list spot after the wingman, who initially signed a lucrative five-year contract with the Kangaroos in 2018, fell out of favour over the last two seasons.

Ben Davis (Adelaide), Lochie O'Brien and Matt Cottrell (Carlton), Bigoa Nyuon (Richmond), Lewis Taylor (Sydney), Cam Ellis-Yolmen (Brisbane), Isaac Chugg (Collingwood), Jez McLennan (Gold Coast), Mitch Crowden and Connor Blakely (Fremantle), Jacob Wehr (GWS) and Sam Mayes (Port Adelaide) were also rookie-listed by clubs that had delisted them.

The Power picked up ex-North Melbourne midfielder Trent Dumont, Rory Thompson rejoined Gold Coast via the pre-season draft and St Kilda selected speedster Jack Peris - the son of Olympic gold medallist Nova Peris - as a Category B rookie.

Former No.1 draft pick Paddy McCartin could yet end up on Sydney's list via the pre-season supplemental selection period.