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KANGAROOS assistant coach Donald McDonald has always believed in the value of the VFL as an AFL breeding ground.

The 2001 Box Hill Hawks premiership coach has again had his faith in the stepping-stone system vindicated with the progress of Kangaroos forward Aaron Edwards.

Edwards, delisted by West Coast, won a second shot at the AFL after a 2006 VFL season in which he booted 100 goals in 20 games for Frankston to head the goalkicking list and win the Liston Trophy as the league's best-and-fairest.

"(Our recruiters) were confident that Aaron could make the change to AFL footy and we thought he could be a really good foil for Nathan Thompson, because of what he showed at VFL level," McDonald said.

McDonald said when he coached in the VFL, he thought there were players who could be ranked between 10 and 30 at AFL clubs, but the clubs were looking at those capable of filling numbers one to 10.

"And I reckon the more mature guys, between 20 and 24 . . . there are numerous guys in the VFL that can step straight up and play AFL footy, and Aaron was one of those.

"To kick 100 goals in the VFL is a sensational effort. I reckon people have underestimated it a bit because it's the VFL. But the grounds are a bit tighter and they get numbers back. Sides are defensive-minded, so to do what he (Edwards) has done hasn't surprised me that much."

McDonald said former Box Hill players Sam Mitchell and Michael Firrito were "celebrated cases" of players having risen from the VFL to AFL.

"It was a second chance for them. They were disappointed they were overlooked to be AFL or rookie-listed players, but even had they had been on lists, they would have been playing in the VFL anyway," McDonald said.

"When you go to an AFL club as a young fellow, you really have to serve a three-year apprenticeship.

"Everyone is praising Hamish McIntosh, but he's a five-year player. He spent a lot of time playing in the VFL developing his skills, playing against men.

"That's where I reckon you can't underestimate the value of the competition.

"You have got a really good blend of AFL-listed players, young blokes who have missed out after the under-18s and guys at mature age."

McDonald coached the VFL combined side in 2001.

"The VFL is really keen to win this game for the strength of the competition," he said.

"You reward the great players, but there is an obligation to showcase some of the younger blokes. The AFL recruiting people will really look at them."