Following injuries to a trio of tall forwards this pre-season, St Kilda are set to utilise the final weeks of the Supplemental Selection Period to potentially bolster their key forward stocks ahead of the new season.
St Kilda are set to be without first-string forward Max King for Round 1 after the fifth-year Saint suffered a shoulder setback late last year, requiring surgery that'll likely see him miss the opening month of the 2023 campaign.
Ruck-forward option Jack Hayes remains in some doubt for the season opener against Fremantle in mid-March due to a foot injury, while uncapped tall Matt Allison's chances of a debut were put on hold after he too suffered a foot injury, with the young utility facing up to 20 weeks on the sidelines.
The dilemma has left the Saints to look externally to bolster their attacking talent, with the club potentially filling their sole list vacancy through the SSP window.
The Saints have already handed former Carlton midfielder Liam Stocker a contract for the year ahead following his training stint with the club over the summer, while delisted Essendon tall Josh Eyre wasn't as lucky, with the club confirming this week his trial at Moorabbin has come to an end with no lifeline on offer.
While the Saints would've pondered keeping their one vacant list spot open for the Mid-Season Draft, AFL.com.au have revealed Northern Knights product Anthony Caminniti has been invited to train under Ross Lyon ahead of the SSP signing deadline.
Caminiti, a 196cm key forward, is an athletic talent that will arrive at Linton Street off the back of a promising over-age campaign with the Knights last year.
The 19-year-old booted 16 goals in his 11 games in the NAB League in 2022, leading Northern's goal tally for the season.
After being overlooked for the 2021 National Draft, Caminiti remained with the Knights for last season and was among the players nominated for the 2022 Mid-Season Draft.
Listed with Carlton's VFL program, the teenager now finds himself in line for a potential AFL contract with less than two weeks remaining in the SSP.
The signing deadline is scheduled for Wednesday, February 15, with the Saints among several clubs weighing up selections ahead of the new season.
Richmond, Essendon, Fremantle, Hawthorn, Melbourne and Collingwood are also trialling players through their pre-season programs as they too ponder options for their last remaining list spots.
