The 2024-25 pre-season is underway, with most clubs' senior players returning to training. The AFL's final signing period has also returned, with the Supplemental Selection Period (SSP) beginning in November and ending in mid-February, with AFL hopefuls and lifeline desirers training for the club's final contract.
The SSP allows clubs to take a closer look at potential AFL prospects and finalise their list heading into 2025. Before the beginning of the 2024 season, 10 players were signed across seven respective clubs, with nearly all earning a club debut during the home and away fixture.
Here's how each SSP signing from the last pre-season performed in 2024...
Ethan Phillips
Following James Blanck's ACL tear, Ethan Phillips was picked up by Hawthorn near the end of the Supplemental Selection Period, as the Hawks backline was ravaged with numerous long-term injuries.
Phillips managed to secure his AFL debut in Round 10 against Port Adelaide, but did not make another appearance for the rest of the season, with Jai Serong earning selection over the 25-year-old to replace Sam Frost for the semi-final.
In his singular appearance, Phillips recorded 10 disposals and five spoils as a key defender. Alongside Frost in defence, Phillips held the key forward pairing of Jeremy Finlayson and Charlie Dixon goalless, whilst Todd Marshall only managed one goal for the day. It wasn't enough, however, as the Power stormed home in one of 2024's classic finishes.
Phillips was delisted in October by the Hawks but his AFL dream could continue, with the 197cm defender spotted training with Carlton this pre-season.
Jack Bytel
Bytel was one of Collingwood's three SSP signings in the 2023-24 pre-season, joining Joshua Eyre and Lachie Sullivan in the black and white stripes.
The 24-year-old joined the Magpies after five years on St Kilda's list, where the midfielder played 22 games. At Collingwood, Bytel debuted in Round 9 against the Eagles as the substitute and tallied another six games before the season's end.
After having a minor impact in his first three games as a Magpie, Bytel recorded 25 disposals and four inside 50s against Richmond in a career-best performance. He followed it up with a couple of solid games in the ensuing weeks but fell out of favour again by the final round.
Bytel's four-week purple patch late in the year was not enough to retain his list spot however, with Collingwood delisting the midfielder in October.
Jeremy Sharp
Following four seasons at the Gold Coast Suns, Sharp was signed by the Dockers in December 2023. A hard-running wingman, Sharp's work ethic over the pre-season paid off, and was rewarded with a club debut in Round 1.
As one of last year's most successful SSP signings, Sharp failed to miss a game in a career-best season. His 23 appearances nearly doubled his previous best at the Suns, whilst his 18.2 disposals per game are marginally off a career-high too.
Across a consistent 2024 campaign, the 23-year-old's 29-disposal and one-goal game against Carlton in Gather Round, and a 28-disposal, two-goal game against Sydney in Round 9 shine the brightest.
The Western Australian currently remains contracted until the end of 2025.
Joshua Eyre
Eyre was another one of Collingwood's 2024 SSP selections.
The 22-year-old was unable to break into the AFL side in 2024 as he recovered from a lingering hamstring injury. In his eight VFL appearances, Eyre mixed between forward and defence, recording a two-goal outing against Essendon's VFL unit in Round 14, as well as racking up six marks in a 16-disposal display in the backline against Richmond's reserves in Round 18.
In October, Eyre was delisted by the Magpies in a trio of list culls.
Lachie Bramble
A fringe midfielder-defender at Hawthorn, Bramble was delisted in a cutthroat list cull at the end of 2023. The Bulldogs quickly swooped on the 26-year-old and signed Bramble on the first day of 2023's SSP, and the former Hawk has evidently rewarded the Bulldogs with their decision.
Likewise to Sharp, Bramble featured in all games in 2024, making 24 appearances for the Bulldogs. The medium defender averaged career-high disposal figures of 18.5 and 3.4 rebound 50s, as his consistent efforts were rewarded by Luke Beveridge.
Bramble's recent contract extension in November will have him remain a Bulldog until 2027, marking it the longest contract of all SSP recruits from last pre-season.
Lachie Sullivan
Collingwood's third supplemental signing of 2024, Sullivan was the only SSP recruit to earn a new contract extension for 2025 with the Magpies.
Sullivan's debut kicked off in style, snapping a goal just three minutes after subbing onto the ground against Carlton in Round 9. He would play another six weeks straight in the AFL side, including a 24-disposal game in Round 11's draw against Fremantle.
The 27-year-old averaged 12.9 disposals across his 10 outings, including three games starting as the sub. The former Port Melbourne and Footscray VFL midfielder has shown plenty of promise and will be making a case for selection next year.
Marty Hore
Hore returned to the Demons in last pre-season's SSP, two years after his delisting from the same club in 2021.
Hore was initially drafted by Melbourne in 2018, playing 14 times in 2019, before a knee injury and poor form left him sidelined for 2021, and he was ultimately delisted.
The 28-year-old returned to Casey Fields in November 2023 and was immediately signed through the SSP. The depth defender made six appearances in 2024, averaging 11.5 disposals, six marks, and 3.2 rebound 50s per game.
His best performance came in a Round 23 win against Gold Coast, where the Demon recorded 18 disposals and nine marks.
Hore earned a contract extension in October, remaining in the red and blue until at least the end of 2025.
Mykelti Lefau
New Zealand-born Lefau made the transition from rugby league to Australian rules as a junior, eventually joining Richmond's VFL team in 2022. The powerful 26-year-old impressed in the pre-season and earned a signing through the SSP in late February, taking the final spot on Richmond's list.
Lefau debuted just 34 days later in Round 2 against Port Adelaide and played in 10 consecutive games as his impact on-field continued to grow. Cruelly, Lefau was dealt with his second ACL tear in three seasons against Geelong in Round 12, adding to the astonishing list of injured Tigers in 2024.
Lefau's flashy forward craft and athleticism shown in 2024 earned him a multi-year deal though, re-signing until the end of 2026. A shining light in a dark season for Tiger supporters, Lefau averaged 1.4 goals per game, as well as 1.8 marks inside 50, despite Richmond's on-field struggles.
Patrick Voss
Voss was another Docker recruited through the SSP last pre-season, landing the key forward an AFL lifeline following his delisting at the Bombers.
The 21-year-old played seven matches in 2024, averaging a goal a game. His best performances at AFL level came against St Kilda in Round 9 with a 1.3 goalkicking display, as well as against Port Adelaide in Round 24 where he punted 2.1.
The Dockers re-signed Voss for a further season in September, with his dominant WAFL performances highlighting the 195cm forward's potential. In a WAFL clash versus West Coast, Voss kicked six goals and three behinds in a ruthless display. Three AFL matches to close the season will give Voss additional confidence heading into 2025, as he aims to maintain a spot in the team amongst the likes of Josh Treacy and Jye Amiss.
Tyler Sellers
A 22-year-old key forward recruited from the Kangaroos VFL unit, Sellers was signed as an SSP selection in the back half of the 2024 pre-season.
Sellers made his AFL debut in Round 5, and followed it up with an appearance in Round 6, but only managed a combined three disposals for no return on the scoresheet.
Sellers was amongst four Roos delisted by North Melbourne in September.
