AFL News

SSP Tracker: The 13 prospects training for an AFL chance and the teams with open list spots

Two signings have been confirmed, with more than a dozen other names training for contracts across seven clubs.

Published by
Mitch Keating

The AFL's final signing window for 2025 is open, with the Supplemental Selection Period running from November through to mid-February.

Two signings were made on the opening day of the SSP, with Essendon adding former Brisbane backman Jaxon Prior and Fremantle signing ex-Geelong and Port Adelaide forward Quinton Narkle.

The Dockers' play for Narkle saw the Western Australian club fill its final list spot for the 2025 season, while the Bombers still have a list spot free and could utilise the SSP again.

The Bombers will have VFL defender Will Hoare train for an AFL chance over summer, with the 197cm stopper to join recently cut Essendon swingman Kaine Baldwin in competition for the sole vacancy at Tullamarine.

Essendon are one of seven clubs with list spots free for the SSP, with West Coast, the Western Bulldogs, Carlton, St Kilda, Port Adelaide and Gold Coast also having training availabilities for pre-season.

The Blues are the only club with multiple spots open, with delisted pair Sam Durdin and Matt Carroll to be joined by culled Hawthorn tall Denver Grainger-Barras and VFL spearhead Liam McMahon in pushing for the two contracts on offer.

Dom Brew training with the Western Bulldogs in 2024 (Image via Western Bulldogs FC)

McMahon, who kicked 45 goals in 16 games for the Blues' reserves side this year, is among five VFL stars who have been handed an SSP chance for 2025.

Werribee champion and 2024 J.J. Liston Trophy winner Dom Brew is training with the Western Bulldogs in the hope of seeing out his AFL dream, while fellow VFL Team of the Year members Ben Jepson (Southport), Jack Watkins (North Melbourne) and McMahon could follow suit in earning a promotion from the VFL, along with Hoare.

Jepson will be joined by axed Suns speedster Hewago Paul Oea in fighting for the sole list spot at Gold Coast, while Watkins is the only train-on talent at Port Adelaide.

2024 Magarey Medal winner Harry Boyd is set to train with St Kilda despite the Saints filling their final list spot at the Rookie Draft. Veteran midfielder Brad Crouch was re-selected by the club before announcing his retirement days later.

His departure has opened up a chance for Boyd to train at Moorabbin, with the Norwood ruckman arguably the best non-AFL listed player in the country.

On top of the confirmed signings of Prior and Narkle, seven train-on prospects are hoping for AFL career lifelines, with former Eagle Coby Burgiel training for a spot at West Coast alongside delisted Suns backman Sandy Brock.

The pair of Eagles SSP prospects join the aforementioned Grainger-Barras, Oea, Baldwin, Carroll and Durdin in having the chance to earn an AFL reprieve just months after being delisted by their respective clubs.

CANBERRA, AUSTRALIA - JULY 23: Hewago Oea of the Suns warms up before the round 19 AFL match between Greater Western Sydney Giants and Gold Coast Suns at Manuka Oval, on July 23, 2023, in Canberra, Australia. (Photo by Mark Nolan/AFL Photos/via Getty Images )

McMahon could also return to the AFL after spending two years on Collingwood's list, with an AFL debut out of his reach during his time with the Magpies.

The 2024-2025 Supplemental Selection Period will run through to February 21, with clubs able to keep list spots open in favour of next year's Mid-Season Draft.

SSP Tracker

Train-On Prospect AFL Club 2024 Club Status
Ben Jepson Gold Coast Southport (VFL) Training
Coby Burgiel West Coast West Coast Training
Denver Grainger-Barras Carlton Hawthorn Training
Dom Brew Western Bulldogs Werribee (VFL) Training
Harry Boyd St Kilda Norwood (SANFL) Training
Hewago Paul Oea Gold Coast Gold Coast Training
Jack Watkins Port Adelaide North Melbourne (VFL) Training
Jaxon Prior Essendon Brisbane Signed
Kaine Baldwin Essendon Essendon Training
Liam McMahon Carlton Carlton (VFL) Training
Matt Carroll Carlton Carlton Training
Quinton Narkle Fremantle Port Adelaide Signed
Sam Durdin Carlton Carlton Training
Sandy Brock West Coast Gold Coast Training
Will Hoare Essendon Essendon (VFL) Training
Published by
Mitch Keating