SSP status: As former AFL players search for lifelines, five names are being considered for Collingwood list spots.
With three signings made so far during the Supplemental Selection Period, which opened on Monday, Collingwood, Gold Coast, and Fremantle are expected to be among the busiest clubs.
Throughout the preseason, clubs can give AFL-hopeful talent an opportunity to try out for a spot on the waiting list during the summer training session by using the SSP.
A total of sixteen SSP players were signed during the previous window. Players like Conor McKenna and Darragh Joyce from Brisbane, Mark Keane and Tyler Brown from Adelaide, Liam Stocker from St Kilda, Jed Anderson from the Gold Coast, Liam Shiels from North Melbourne, Oskar Baker from the Western Bulldogs, and premiership Magpie Oleg Markov from Collingwood all received lifelines at new teams.
Collingwood has three openings on their rookie list, meaning they can have up to six training additions at once, with two spots available for each list vacancy.
Recently, Fremantle created two spots on the list by transferring Josh Corbett and Sebit Kuek to the inactive list because of injuries to their hips and shoulders, respectively.
After expressing interest in the East Fremantle product last year, the Dockers gave cut Sun flanker Jeremy Sharp a second chance in the AFL as a result of the list move.
For the other list spot, former Essendon forward Patrick Voss is reportedly in the running to train with Fremantle, and Woodville-West Torrens teen Max Beattie is another name under consideration.
Local forward Sam van Rooyen, the younger brother of Demons tall Jacob, will begin a trial period with Fremantle this week, according to AFL.com.au.
With the recent National Draft, Voss (194 cm), van Rooyen (193 cm), and Beattie (173 cm) will provide Justin Longmuir and his team with different options for their forward mix after they wanted to expand their attacking options.
Several former AFL players have been given trials for list spots at Carrara by Gold Coast, with delisted North Melbourne back Aiden Bonar and former Saint Jack Peris scheduled to train under new coach Damien Hardwick.
A big-bodied defender, Bonar could add to Hardwick’s defensive options, and Peris is another name to consider among the Suns’ small forward stocks. Before “unexpected” draft plans forced them to bid farewell to the 27-year-old, Peris’ former club had planned to bring on delisted wingman Dan McKenzie. Peris was cut by the Saints after two years and one game in the red, white, and black. The Northern Territory junior is looking to earn a new chance with the Suns.
McKenzie was scheduled to train for a roster spot this summer following an injury-plagued year in which he was not initially offered a contract for 2024. The Saints selected Riley Bonner, a former Port Adelaide backman, in the Pre-Season Draft after adding five players through last week’s National Draft.
Melbourne has added former defender Marty Hore to their list in a move that is similar to McKenzie’s dwindling hopes of rejoining his former team.
Hore last competed for the Demons in 2019 and was dropped from the team two years prior. Since then, the defender has played in the VFL for North Melbourne and Williamstown.
In an effort to secure a spot on the free list before being passed over, the 27-year-old has trained with the Roos’ senior team in advance of the 2022 campaign. Prior to this season, he made a trip to the Seagulls, where he and Williamstown teammate and former Demons tall Oscar McDonald won Team of the Year.
Since then, McDonald has earned a second opportunity in the AFL through delisted free agency with Fremantle; Hore is the second Seagull to do so, having been the first to sign with SSP prior to the 2024 season.
On Monday, the Western Bulldogs added half-back Lachie Bramble of Hawthorn, who had just been delisted. This was their third signing.
Prior to the 2021 season, Bramble signed as an SSP with the Hawks, and he did the same with the Dogs. The former Williamstown standout began working out at Whitten Oval on Monday.
The SSP will run over two signing windows, beginning on November 27 and ending on December 14, with a reopening on January 15. The last day to sign will be February 19.
