ONE is patrolling defence as an undersized backman.
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The other is a consistent goal-kicker and vocal point in attack.
Fremantle's Luke Ryan and Collingwood's Brody Mihocek are both advertisements for why AFL clubs should dig for treasure in the state league ranks.
It could be in clubs' best interests to turn to mature-age players this year, given coronavirus restrictions wiped out the 2020 NAB League, usually the main source of draftees.
Those with runs on the board in the VFL, SANFL, NEAFL and WAFL could find themselves with a greater chance of being selected.
Players who've had to toil away before being thrown a chance are often dogged.
They don't want to let the opportunity slip.
"I feel like Luke is our most passionate footballer, he cares about his teammates on the field and his want to compete at every contest is a great example for all of our younger backs and all of our younger players," Fremantle coach Justin Longmuir said of Ryan recently.
They're often ready-made too.
Ryan, now 24, and Mihocek, now 27, quickly cemented their spots in their respective side's best 22.
Ryan arrived at Fremantle from Coburg at the end of 2016 after winning the VFL's Fothergill-Round Medal as the competition's most promising young player.
He forged a spot in the Dockers' back six as an intercepting defender and has been charged with leading an injury-ravaged back line in just his fourth season.
He's now clamping down on the opposition's most dangerous key forward while also providing a launching pad from defence.
Performances, such as 24 disposals and 14 intercepts in the Dockers' after-the-siren loss to Carlton on Saturday night, have Ryan in All-Australian contention.
Longmuir believes Ryan deserves the kudos.
"I think he's been our most consistent player, you just have to look at who he's played on and who he's competed against to get the enormity of the way he's gone about his footy this year," he said.
"He's been out of his weight division and he's just competed through his positioning and his competitiveness."
The Tasmanian-raised Mihocek made his AFL debut in 2018, aged 25, having played for Werribee and Port Melbourne.
He has since played 52 consecutive matches for Collingwood, a streak only likely to end after a serious concussion on Saturday against Melbourne.
He is the Magpies' most dangerous tall target in attack, booting 29 goals from just 16 matches in his first season and 36 majors from 24 games in his second.
Other state league graduates playing regularly in 2020 include Richmond premiership player Kane Lambert, St Kilda's Callum Wilkie, Rowan Marshall and Nick Hind, Geelong duo Tom Stewart and Tom Atkins, Carlton's Michael Gibbons, Essendon's Will Snelling and Fremantle pair Brett Bewley and Lachie Schultz.
West Coast debutant Nic Reid, a schoolteacher plucked from the WAFL, kicked a goal on debut against Hawthorn on Sunday night.
He is 24.
Tom Hutchesson, 25, also ran out for his first game in GWS Giants' colours at the weekend - just two years after playing country footy.
Reid and Hutchesson's careers are in their infancy and time will tell whether they can entrench themselves like Ryan, Mihocek and co have.
But all of those players' efforts should encourage AFL clubs to give more mature-age footballers a chance. Time to start digging for a hidden gem.