THE AFL's 130 newest recruits were yesterday welcomed to top-level football with a sobering reminder: the careers of up to 40 per cent of them will be over before they even reach 10 senior matches.

That message to the mostly teenage group was delivered by former footballer Mark Porter on the first day of the AFL Players Association's mandatory two-day induction camp in Melbourne.

Porter, the AFLPA's transition services manager, told a small group of youngsters, which included first-round draft picks Jack Watts and Daniel Rich, that 130 players were delisted at the end of last season and that, on average, three or four out of every 10 players will play no more than 10 AFL games.

"I don't think anyone in here wants to be in the zero-to-10 category but some of you will be, so the key is what you can do to try and avoid that," he said.

Areas covered in the classes included drug policy, alcohol consumption, the "respect and responsibility" policy, racial vilification, gambling and sexual health.

Former Essendon ruckman Steve Alessio, the AFLPA's general manager of player development, said the association's focus was ensuring the camp was "not just a once-off that they forget about".

"What we try to do is paint a picture about the realities of the game, the expectations and the … things that they're going to have to come across and deal with in the sport," Alessio said.

Ayce Cordy, the Western Bulldogs' first choice in the national draft, said he hoped the camp could help him prepare for his new life.

"A lot of things are taken care of for you, but in a way, also, it undermines you a little bit … with people sort of spoon-feeding you a bit it gets to be a bit frustrating at times …

"You're obviously looked at as role models in the community, so I think it's very important that the AFL and the players' association make sure that all their young footballers know exactly what goes on so they can keep the brand in good stead."