Former St Kilda wingman Daniel McKenzie won't link up with the Gold Coast Suns as part of the Supplemental Selection Period, with a recent injury keeping him in Western Australia.
McKenzie has been training with Fremantle since mid-January in a bid to rekindle his AFL career, having not been offered an extension at Moorabbin at the cessation of last season.
The 27-year-old has been among four train-on prospects competing for one of two vacant list spots at the Dockers this summer, with former Essendon-listed forward Patrick Voss also gunning for a second chance in the top flight with Fremantle.
Local forward Sam van Rooyen - the younger brother of Melbourne spearhead Jacob and Woodville-West Torrens talent Max Beattie are also chasing list spots at Cockburn.
McKenzie was in line to train with the Suns from this week to double his SSP chances, however a minor hamstring strain won't see him train under new Gold Coast coach Damien Hardwick for the final two weeks of the signing window.
Instead, the Dockers will keep McKenzie with their rehab group following his setback, which was sustained over the weekend.
The untimely ailment adds to a frustrating past 12 months for McKenzie, who could only conjure two VFL matches during 2023 as he continued to deal with calf issues.
With his last senior appearance coming in June the year prior, McKenzie ventured to Germany over the recent off-season to gain specialist treatment for his ongoing soft tissue setbacks.
The Saints had planned to have McKenzie rejoin their training program as a train-on player after deciding not to initially offer the midfielder an extension for 2024, only for an "unanticipated" draft haul in November left the club with no room on its list for the 73-gamer, ending his time in the red, white and black.
The Blackburn junior had turned to Fremantle for a chance to earn an AFL reprieve, with the Suns also queuing up for his services during the SSP prior to his latest injury.
Clubs have until February 19 to add to their list via the SSP, with Collingwood and Richmond currently having train-on players participating in their respective programs. North Melbourne have a vacant list spot but are unlikely to add to their squad, with the vacancy able to be kept open for the Mid-Season Draft.
The Suns are now likely to keep their two open list spots free for the mid-year intake, while the Dockers still have a decision to make as all three of Voss, van Rooyen and Beattie continue to build their case.
