Overlooked Western Australian draft prospect Jed Hagan is expected to sign with Port Adelaide's reserves for 2023 following high interest from both the Power and Fremantle this off-season.
Hagan was among the top draft chances to not be selected at last month's National and Rookie Drafts, with the hard-running East Fremantle flanker left to assess his options for next season in the wake of the draft period.
Rated for his endurance and disposal efficiency, Hagan is a versatile smaller-framed utility option that played senior WAFL football in 2022, making eight appearances for the Sharks where he averaged 13.3 disposals, 4 marks, 4 tackles and 1 goal per game.
Hagan was also recognised with a selection in the 2022 Under-18 All-Australian side following a strong National Championship carnival for WA.
His chances of an AFL list spot could be buoyed with a move to Alberton, with the Port Adelaide Magpies said to have swooped on Hagan's services for next year, according to The West Australian.
While the Power don't have a vacant list spot for 2023, Hagan could be seen as a potential Supplemental Selection Period option in the chance a player is required to be moved to the long-term injury list.
The Power suffered a double injury blow last week with Mitchell Georgiades (ankle) and Jase Burgoyne (knee) requiring surgery ahead of the new year, however both are expected to return to training as early as next month.
Defender Jake Pasini suffered an ACL injury in May this year and is continuing in his rehabilitation after being sidelined for the majority of the 2022 season.
Hagan himself battled setbacks this year, with a foot injury ruling him out of testing at the National Combine.
A move to the SANFL will see Hagan join a quartet of familiar names in heading to the Magpies for 2023, with the club revealing last week that Preston Cockatoo-Collins (son of Che), Brodie Motlop (son of Shannon and nephew to Daniel and Steven), Will Francou (son of Josh) and Harper Montgomery (son of Brett) have all been added to their list.
The West Australian has also reported that Hagan was considered for an SSP spot with the Dockers for the pre-season, however, their two training vacancies were instead handed to Liam Serong, the younger brother of Fremantle midfielder Caleb, and Perth product Sam Stubbs.
It is understood that Fremantle requested an exemption to have Hagan train at Cockburn, a request that wasn't accepted.
Overlooked draft talents Luke Teal (Richmond), Mitch Szybkowski (Essendon) and Brandon Leary (Hawthorn) are also expected to join AFL clubs as SSP options this pre-season.
The SSP window is scheduled to run until February 15, with Conor McKenna (Brisbane), Liam Shiels (North Melbourne), Oskar Baker (Western Bulldogs) and Jed Anderson (Gold Coast) already finding new clubs.
