Exiled ex-Essendon forward Patrick Voss has signed with a VFL stalwart as he awaits his Fremantle fate following a train-on opportunity to revive his AFL career.
Voss was delisted by the Bombers following this season, subsequently earning an opportunity to resuscitate his professional career at Cockburn via the AFL's Supplemental Signing Period (SSP).
The 20-year-old was listed at Tullamarine for two seasons before being offloaded, failing to appear at the senior level during that time.
Voss, a 196-centimetre product of the GWS Giants Academy, was joined by Will Snelling, Anthony Munkara, Alastair Lord, James Stewart, Rhett Montgomerie and Cian McBride in also being culled by Essendon this year.
Montgomerie, who finished runner-up in Essendon VFL's best-and-fairest race this season, has since signed with the Footscray Bulldogs in hopes of securing an AFL lifeline of his own.
The Dockers, who have already penned former Gold Coast Suns winger Jeremy Sharp this off-season, presently have two vacant list spots to distribute before the start of next season.
Those opportunities arose after Fremantle moved Sebit Kuek and Josh Corbett to the inactive list due to respective shoulder/knee and hip injuries.
In addition to Voss, Woodville-West Torrens youngster Max Beattie also finds himself in the Fremantle mix, as does goalkicker Sam van Rooyen – the younger brother of Demons swingman Jacob – who has also earned a train-on chance at Cockburn.
If Voss' Western Australian venture proves unsuccessful, he appears set to join the Borough for the 2024 VFL season.