Ex-BBL, Shield cricketer becomes fourth new Pie after bidding war: AFL pre-season signing wrap

Just weeks out from the start of the new AFL season, lists are now officially locked in for the 2024 campaign.

The pre-season supplemental selection period (SSP), which ended on Monday, saw several new, and returning, faces get an opportunity to join club land — and many earned list spots for this year.

Foxfooty.com.au has ran through every club’s SSP activities, who they signed and who missed out, and what the new faces could bring to the team.

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ADELAIDE CROWS

There was no SSP activity for the Crows. The club’s most recent list moves saw it commit to re-drafting Will Hamill and James Borlase as rookies after delisting the pair, while Nick Murray, who’s on the road back from an ACL injury, was elevated to the club’s primary list.

BRISBANE LIONS

No list spots open for the Lions in a showing of stability of the grand finalist’s list. Brisbane this off-season took four players in the back-end of the national draft, signed free agent Tom Doedee, elevated Carter Michel to the senior list and signed Bruce Reville as a Category B rookie selection.

CARLTON

After Jack Silvagni’s cruel pre-season ACL blow, the Blues have a list spot available. However the club opted against having any train-on players over the pre-season, instead taking its vacancy into the 2024 campaign — and mid-season draft. It comes after Carlton midway through last year re-signed its 2023 SSP recruits Alex Cincotta and Hudson O’Keeffe for an extra season.

COLLINGWOOD

The reigning premiers were the busiest club over the SSP, signing three players — Joshua Eyre, Jack Bytel and Lachie Sullivan. Sullivan was the last of six players who trailed for a spot at the Magpies, with Campbell Hustwaite, Brynn Teakle and Sam Sofronidis missing out. Ex-Footscray VFL captain Sullivan and former Saint Bytel will help add depth to the club’s midfield stocks, particularly after Taylor Adams’ departure to Sydney. Meanwhile Eyre, who trained with the Saints last off-season and played nine games for Collingwood’s VFL side, was signed by the Pies despite suffering a hamstring injury in a strong showing of faith from the club. A key defender, the former Bomber beefs up Craig McRae’s defensive stocks and provides some insurance behind Nathan Murphy, who’s return from a concussion has been put on hold.

Meanwhile on Tuesday Seven reported Collingwood had won the race to land former Shield and Big Bash cricketer Wil Parker as a category B rookie. Parker was viewed as a top-50 prospect heading into his 2020 draft year, and even a potential first-rounder by some scouts, but the defender who had 27 possessions in the 2019 NAB League Grand Final instead chose cricket. After signing a Victorian contract in mid-2020 he made his most recent Shield appearance in November 2021, and that deal runs out after this season. Both the Magpies and Western Bulldogs were bidding for Parker’s services.

ESSENDON

Following Jaiden Hunter’s ACL setback, the Bombers invited key defender Sam Sofronidis as a late addition to train with them after he missed out on a list spot at Collingwood, but Essendon ultimately opted to keep a spot open for the mid-season draft. The Dons could have another list spot open up, with Kaine Baldwin set for a lengthy stint on the sidelines with a foot stress fracture. It comes after Essendon loaded up in trade and free agency — adding Ben McKay, Jade Gresham, Xavier Duursma and Todd Goldstein — while it also selected ruckman Vigo Visentini, younger brother of Port Adelaide ruck Dante, in the rookie draft.

FREMANTLE DOCKERS

The second-busiest side over the SSP period, the Dockers brought Jeremy Sharp and Patrick Voss into their mix. Sharp, a winger who played 23 games for the Suns, was one of the first players signed in the SSP when it opened in November and provides relief on the wing following Liam Henry’s departure. Meanwhile Voss, a surprise delisting by the Bombers, kicked four goals in a recent match simulation to win the Dockers’ final list spot over Daniel McKenzie, Sam van Rooyen — younger brother of Demon Jacob — and Max Beattie. Given Fremantle is most vulnerable in the forward half, Voss could get an opportunity at some stage in Justin Longmuir’s side.

GEELONG CATS

The Cats finalised their list in November after selecting seven players across the 2023 National and Rookie drafts as well as ruck prospect Joe Furphy in September, plus they elevated Ollie Dempsey to the primary list.

GOLD COAST SUNS

Two former AFL players — ex-Saint Jack Peris and ex-Giant and Kangaroo Aiden Bonar — auditioned for a list spot with the Suns over the summer, but neither won the vacancy, signing with VFL clubs Williamstown and Essendon respectively. It means Gold Coast will take an open list spot into the mid-season draft.

GWS GIANTS

Outside of the club’s Academy prospects, the Giants didn’t have any players join them on a train and trial basis They did sign Academy player Nathan Wardius as a Category B rookie in November and re-drafted Adam Kennedy, who’s rehabbing from an ACL injury, in the rookie draft.

HAWTHORN

Hawthorn signed state-league standout Ethan Phillips to assist its injury-ravaged backline — and he might be needed more than any other SSP signing. The Hawks are reeling from the season-long loss of James Blanck, as well as Denver Grainger-Barras, who is surgery-bound and will miss 12-14 weeks after suffering ‘turf toe’. Phillips plied his trade for Port Melbourne in the VFL the past two seasons, claiming the heralded Fothergill-Round-Mitchell Medal in 2022 as the competition’s most prodigious young player. After learning the severity of Blanck’s injury, Hawthorn hurried to sign Phillips, who joined Box Hill’s fray earlier in the pre-season. The 24-year-old averaged 11 intercept possessions per game for the Borough last year, bolstering his profile before receiving his AFL chance.

MELBOURNE

Melbourne reunited with Marty Hore on the first day of the SSP, two years after it delisted the rebounding defender at the end of 2021. After burdensome injuries cost Hore senior opportunities across his initial Demons campaigns, the now-27-year-old took to the VFL before receiving the call – again – from list manager Tim Lamb this pre-season. “Since departing the club at the end of 2021, Marty has had a really strong two years in the VFL; firstly for North Melbourne and then most recently with Williamstown. We have kept a close eye on what he’s been able to produce and believe he has a lot to offer our program,” Lamb said upon re-welcoming Hore, who averaged 23 disposals and ten marks per game for the Seagulls in 2023. The versatile backman, standing at 190cm, can assist in both a key-position capacity and as a mid-sized rebounder.

NORTH MELBOURNE

The Roos extended an SSP deal to forward Tyler Sellers, who claimed the VFL side’s best-and-fairest award last year after booting 30 goals from 16 games. A three-goal performance in a Roos intra-club clash last week cemented the 21-year-old key forward’s standing at Arden Street. Now, Sellers prepares to join a North Melbourne forward line lacking depth after headliners Nick Larkey and Cameron Zurhaar.

PORT ADELAIDE

Port Adelaide did the brunt of its off-season business last October when it orchestrated deals for numerous players to come and go. The Power weren’t as busy player movement-wise in the pre-season.

RICHMOND

The Tigers opted to sign New Zealand-born utility Mykelti Lefau on SSP deadline day after plucking the 26-year-old from their VFL program in the pre-season. Lefau, a physically imposing prospect, received the final nod in favour of fellow train-on player and West Australian forward Mitch Schofield. The mature-aged Lefau, who joined the Punt Road VFL program ahead of the 2022 campaign before succumbing to an ACL rupture, figures to join Richmond’s goalkicking ranks.

ST KILDA

After adding utility Liam Stocker and forward Anthony Caminiti – who proved reliable senior-level contributors – during last year’s SSP, the Saints were quieter this pre-season, opting not to make any additions. St Kilda did, however, trial ex-Essendon forward Josh Eyre before he went on to pen a deal with reigning premier Collingwood.

SYDNEY SWANS

The Swans didn’t make any additions via the SSP after they, like Port Adelaide, did the majority of their business during October’s trade period. Filling list holes with Brodie Grundy, Taylor Adams, James Jordon and Joel Hamling, Sydney’s list committee was evidently content with the state of its senior squad heading into the season.

WEST COAST EAGLES

The Eagles didn’t make an SSP addition this pre-season, having acquired young talent via last year’s player exchange space and drafts.

WESTERN BULLDOGS

The Bulldogs latched onto former Hawthorn half-back-flanker Lachie Bramble on the opening day of the SSP window. Bramble, who played 30 senior games for the Hawks across three seasons, adds to a half-backline that already boasts Bailey Dale, Caleb Daniel, Ed Richards, Jason Johannisen, Nick Coffield and Taylor Duryea. The 25-year-old figures to add depth to a Bulldogs unit teeming with talent.