Hunter rotated from the bench to the back pocket.

He collected eight kicks and five handballs, and was a tackling machine with six to his credit.

"He didn't leave the side after that," Villani said.

"To turn it around in the space of 12 months is unbelievable. Collingwood have got a ripper."

Villani expects the 185-centimetre, 80-kilogram former St Bernard's College student, noted for his speed, running power and courage, to develop into a wing man, half-back/half-forward flanker or a run-with player.

Hunter admitted he was in no man's land at the start of the 2009 season.

"I kept developing during the season," he said.

"I was playing better as the season went on and you could say I peaked at the right time."

Hunter was "over the moon" when he arrived at the Lexus Centre for the first time last Wednesday.

A day earlier, he could not believe the phone calls he was receiving.

First up, it was Magpies president and Channel 9 personality Eddie McGuire.

"It was grouse that they even have your number," Hunter said.

"Eddie said the club would give you the best opportunity if I gave 100per cent.

"I want to work hard, push my body and do everything I can to push the other players on the list. I'm ready to go." Hunter received a congratulatory phone call from Magpies coach Mick Malthouse and was urged in a text message by captain Nick Maxwell to "follow in my footsteps" by doing his utmost to earn a rookie elevation.

The best piece of advice Hunter received came from one-time West Coast Eagles-listed on-baller Ashley Arrowsmith, who told him missing out on national draft selection was "not the end of the world" and to remain focused on the rookie draft.

"It's awesome," Hunter said of the selection.

"Now the hard work starts."

There were two locals taken at the rookie draft.

Moonee Ponds speedster Robbie Hicks went to Richmond in the top 10.

Overall, it was a successful year for the Cannons in a TAC Cup premiership year, with Josh Toy and Taylor Hine going to AFL expansion side Gold Coast as pre-draft selections, Jake Melksham, Jake Carlisle and Anthony Long heading to Essendon in the national draft, and Daniel Talia finding his way to Adelaide, along with the late drafting of Hunter and Hicks.

But Villani was "bewildered" by the absence of the name of goal-kicking machine Serhat Temel.

The Strathmore Secondary College student came into draft calculations with a scintillating finals series and was the dominant forward in the competition.

"I'm shocked he didn't get an opportunity," Villani said.

"I'm gutted for the bloke. I've never seen a better set of hands [at TAC Cup level], his goal kicking was second to none and if you put the ball 20 metres in front of him, he'll do whatever it takes to make the contest."

The Cannons are happy to take the plaudits that come their way when a player goes on to a long career in the AFL, but they have to be mindful of the other side of the equation, when a player's dreams are shattered.

The club's motto is 'once a Cannon, always a Cannon' and that is important at Christmas time each year.

"We'll help him work through it - that's our duty," Villani said.

"We have to make him realise there is more to life than just footy, but also the opportunity is still there if he wants to work hard for it. He needs to go to Coburg or wherever, work hard and prove a few people wrong."