MSD vs SSP: Which new AFL recruitment avenue has been a greater benefit to clubs?

When assessing the success rate of both mechanisms, it’s hard to split the difference, but there are reasons as to why one is more favoured.

Aidan Cellini

WRITER | December 6, 2025 - 7:10am

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The introductions of the Supplemental Selection Period (SSP) and the Mid-Season Draft (MSD) have seen nearly 200 players realise their AFL dream.

The modern-day mechanism for prospect acquisition has been a raging success, complementing the traditional pathway of the long-standing AFL Draft.

But which tool has been the most successful?

A fair assessment can be made on both selection periods, given the introduction, or in the MSD's case, re-introduction to the AFL.

Both were welcomed ahead of the 2019 AFL season and follow similar rules. To be eligible, players must have been nominated for the most recent AFL Draft or previously been on an AFL list.

They are designed to mitigate long-term injuries or premature retirements, while clever list planning could see a need filled.

The MSD has seen six completed intakes, with a hiatus in 2020 due to the impact of COVID-19. Thus far, 101 players have found themselves on AFL lists, with Brynn Teakle the only double-up in unusual circumstances, spending a pair of seasons at both Port Adelaide (2022-2023) and North Melbourne (2024-2025).

As it stands, 38 players since 2019 have retained their spot in the top flight, headed by Jai Newcombe (Pick 2, 2021), John Noble (Pick 14, 2019), Sam Durham (Pick 9, 2021) and James Peatling (Pick 8, 2021).

Noble has survived the longest in the AFL system as an MSD prospect, playing 137 games across stints with Collingwood and Gold Coast.

The SSP has yielded very similar results to its counterpart, seeing 90 players (excluding the 2025 off-season) make it to the big time across seven completed periods. Lachlan Bramble, like Teakle, has had two clubs invest in his services, initially beginning at Hawthorn (2021-2023) before the Western Bulldogs swooped (2024-current).

Of those 90, 39 are still kicking the Sherrin around in the top flight, with five still on lists from the first collection in 2019.

Matthew Cottrell, Ned Reeves and Hayden McLean have stayed at Carlton, Hawthorn and Sydney respectively after the club took a punt on them. Tom Campbell and Corey Wagner are still on AFL lists, although they have found new homes since their pre-season pick-up.

Collingwood's Oleg Markov was a success story following his SSP journey ahead of the 2023 season. That year, he became an AFL premiership player.

Interestingly, Lachlan McAndrew has been picked up via both mechanisms. He was drafted via the mid-season intake by Sydney in 2021, but has since made his way to Adelaide following the long-term injury to ruckman Kieran Strachan ahead of 2025.

But when assessing the success rate of both pathways, it is hard to split the difference, albeit the SSP sits marginally ahead.

A reason for that could be that clubs have a greater understanding of what they need in the off-season, and what's on offer.

Recruiters and list managers would spend large amounts of time preparing for the National Draft, sending scouts far and wide to assess the talent in the surrounding leagues.

For those who aren't selected in late November, they are most likely considered with thought and process, and whether they'd fit an elite sporting environment.

The MSD has a comparable exercise inherently built in, but given the higher demands and sometimes desperate measures taken to fill list spots vacated by injured stars or held over from the draft, it can cause a slight misfire, despite the work that has been recorded.

The SSP also has in its favour the ability to house prospects throughout the entire pre-season, giving them a taste of a high-performance environment. The MSD does not have that opportunity, but more like throwing a baby in the deep end of a pool.