The success of the Sydney Swans and Brownlow Medal winner Matt Priddis could be the best yet advertisements for the AFL’s rookie-list concept.

West Coast’s Priddis on Monday night became the first Brownlow winner to have graduated from the rookie list, which is usually regarded as a secondary route to the AFL.

Priddis noted he was overlooked in four national drafts, the primary pathway to the competition.

All the snide remarks about the Swans’ “Bondi Billionaires” and buying their way to a flag by signing high-priced recruits Lance Franklin and Kurt Tippett conveniently overlook one important factor.

Sydney have also gained plenty of value, if not more value, from the code’s version of struggle street.

Over a third of the Swans’ side that contested their first two finals matches started their AFL careers on the rookie list, where players usually earn a bare-bones salary.

That contingent contains some of their most valuable players, including new all-Australian representative Nick Smith and co-captain Kieren Jack.

Midfielder Jack, an All-Australian representative and club best and fairest winner, was taken with pick number 58, the fifth from last selection of the 2006 rookie draft.

Two 2013 rookie-list choices, defender Dane Rampe and midfielder Jake Lloyd, have become regular senior players.

They have scored rookie-list coups – having picked up only one top-10 national draft pick, Gary Rohan, in the past decade, and had success in making stars of unheralded players from other clubs, most notably former Hawthorn duo Josh Kennedy and Ben McGlynn.

When you consider these factors it’s clear the Swans’ success owes as much to savvy recruiting as it does to splashing the COLA (Cost of Living Allowance) cash, as their rivals like to make out.

Sydney have also gained from several astute lower-round national draft selections.

They’ve picked up gems Dan Hannebery, Luke Parker, Sam Reid, Adam Goodes and Nick Malceski with picks 30, 38, 40, 43 and 64 respectively.

Swans coach John Longmire was quick to ram home the diverse nature of Sydney’s team when asked if he expected their biggest star Franklin to shine on the grand final stage against Hawthorn in Saturday’s grand final.

“It’s not just about Lance,” Longmire said.

“We pride ourselves on how we’ve got eight players that played last weekend that started their career as a rookie-list player.

“(And) players like Luke Parker that had to work hard at their football and really dug deep and have come through.

“Lance isn’t part of that but he is a part of the team.

“That’s what we pride ourselves on, is the ability for everyone to play their role.

“It’s (just as) important that Dane Rampe and Nick Smith do their role as well.”

For all their recruiting success, Sydney also make the odd mistake.

Longmire tried to make light of the Swans missing out on Sydney product Will Langford, who is expected to line up for the Hawks this weekend.

“If we get the good players it’s usually my decision,” Longmire joked.

“If we muck it up, its probably the recruiters.”