The Hawks have identified Richmond reject Dean Putt as a potential solution to the club's ruck shortage.

The 203cm 20-year-old has been granted permission by the AFL to train with the Hawks in the lead-up to the 2009 national draft to be held later this month.

Putt was delisted by the Tigers after failing to play a senior match in two years on the list at Punt Road.

Hawthorn is desperate for a back-up to Simon Taylor and Brent Renouf following post-season the retirement of Robert Campbell and the sidelining of Max Bailey due to a third knee reconstruction.

The Hawks have also invited Jesse Smith, the son of Hawthorn assistant coach Ross Smith to train with the club.

A highly-rated father-son selection, Smith endured a wretched run with injuries in his five seasons at Arden Street.

He walked out on North Melbourne at the end of the 2009 season citing the club's inability to provide adequate treatment and support.

A total of seven clubs have invited unlisted players to train with them. They are:

• Brisbane Lions* Kieran King (Brisbane Lions), Niall McKeever (Ireland)

• Carlton* Aaron Kite (Adelaide)

• Collingwood* Seamus Macnamara (USA)

• Fremantle* - Trent Dennis-Lane (Subiaco), Kyle Hardingham (East Fremantle), Matt Riggio (North Melbourne), Alex Silvagni (Casey), Danny Stanley (Collingwood)

• Hawthorn* Dean Putt (Richmond), Jesse Smith (North Melbourne)

• Richmond* Ryan Allen (Coburg), Ben Clifton (Coburg), Justin Kadhlefelt (Southport), Thomas McCann (Ireland), Jason Morgan (Coburg), James O'Rielly (Ireland), Graham Polak (Richmond)

• Sydney Swans* Daniel Bradshaw (Brisbane Lions), Sam Crichton (Sydney Uni)