Essendon are understood to have passed on handing an AFL list spot to trail pair Mitch Szybkowski and Hudson O'Keefe as the Supplemental Selection Period nears its final few weeks before the signing deadline.

Both Szybkowski and O'Keefe had joined the Bombers' training program this summer in an attempt to impress senior coach Brad Scott and potentially be chosen for the club's sole list vacancy for the 2023 season.

That opening came after the club decided to move draftee Jayden Davey, who is recovering from an ACL injury sustained last year, to their inactive list.

The Bombers have had several AFL list hopefuls train at Tullamarine in a bid to land a contract, with Szybkowski and O'Keefe both invited to The Hangar after being among the best talent to go overlooked at last year's National Draft.

The pair had both linked up with the Bombers in the new year, but according to AFL.com.au their training stints with Essendon have come to an end.

Embed from Getty Images

The call comes as WA talent Jack Cleaver joins the Bombers' training program following reports of an invite ahead of the SSP deadline.

Cleaver, built at 188cm and 87kg, is a medium-sized defender who, like  Szybkowski and O'Keefe, was not picked up in the 2022 National Draft.

The East Fremantle utility impressed across last year with seven appearances at senior level with the Sharks.

The addition of Cleaver sees the Bombers continue to cover multiple positional bases through their invite list, with O'Keefe a recognised ruckman while Szybkowski is a highly-rated inside ball winner.

The Bombers have also trialled former Hawthorn and Collingwood winger Tom Phillips as well as ex-Western Bulldog Brad Lynch across the course of their pre-season.

AFL clubs have until February 15 to sign players through the SSP window, a deadline that falls prior to the league's pre-season practice match schedule.

Essendon handed SSP signing-turned-breakout star Nic Martin shortly after a strong pre-season showing last year, with the WA forward joined by Tex Wanganeen in landing contracts with the Bombers following pre-season stints.