All the attention and focus has well and truly been placed on the 2026 as all 18 teams have officially returned for the pre-season.
Following the trade and draft periods, certain clubs still have the capacity to improve their lists through the SSP, holding vacancies over the summer months for prospects to prove themselves.
But it also lends a moment to reflection for those who ventured through the rookie mechanism 12 months ago.
Heading into the 2025 campaign, 14 players were scooped up across nine clubs.
Some were welcomed on a needs basis, while others helped fill a roster spot due to a long-term injury.
Here's how each SSP signing from the last pre-season performed in 2025...
8Quinton Narkle (Fremantle)
The Dockers didn't take long to swoop on Narkle after Port Adelaide delisted him at the end of 2024.
The crafty forward spent time at Geelong, then the Power, before taking his talents to Western Australia to join close mate Shai Bolton.
However, his time out west wasn't as fruitful, spending most of his time in the WAFL between two games in purple.
Both times as the sub, Narkle couldn't crack into Justin Longmuir's team.
He retired after nine seasons in the AFL and 59 games across three clubs.
