Hunter, formerly of Warners Bay, was the club’s number-13 pick.

The rookie draft gives AFL clubs the chance to maintain additional players outside of the 38-man senior draft.

Rookie draft players may, in time, be promoted to the senior draft, or replace a retired or injured player.

Hunter’s football career started at Warners Bay Junior Football Club. He climbed the ranks to the under-18s division before making his Black Diamond AFL Cup debut in 2011 at age 18.

In 2012, Hunter left the region for Brisbane to play in the North Eastern AFL (NEAFL) State League.

After a season in reserve grade, he made his NEAFL debut in 2013.

In 2014 Hunter won the NEAFL Northern Conference Rising Star award; the Redland Football Club’s best and fairest award; received NEAFL Team of the Year selection and debuted for the NEAFL representative side against Tasmania.

Many believed an AFL club would draft Hunter last year, but it was not to be.

This year it was his time to shine, off the back of a great 2015 season.

Killarney Vale’s Daniel Lloyd also made the Greater Western Sydney Giants’ rookie draft as pick number 26 – another feather in the Black Diamond AFL Cup profile’s cap.

Black Diamond AFL Football operations manager Garry Burkinshaw said it was great to see local talent recognised.