At least half of the AFL have invited train and trial players for their pre-season programs to potentially fill list spots for 2023, with over a dozen list hopefuls hitting the track in a bid to land a Rookie list spot.
Collingwood, Fremantle, Geelong, Hawthorn, Melbourne, Richmond, Essendon, Gold Coast, St Kilda and the Western Bulldogs all have one vacant list spot for 2023.
Clubs who opted not to use a selection in the Rookie or National Draft are able to utilise the vacancies for potential Supplemental Selection Period signings, while further list spots can be opened should a player be moved to the inactive list.
Former Bomber Conor McKenna (Brisbane), triple premiership Hawk Liam Shiels (North Melbourne), recently delisted Demon Oskar Baker (Western Bulldogs), Irish pair Darragh Joyce (Brisbane) and Marke Keane (Adelaide), ex-Magpie Tyler Brown (Adelaide) and former Roo Jed Anderson (Gold Coast) have all been signed through the SSP already.
Clubs have added trial players to their training programs this pre-season, with Fremantle hosting Liam Serong, the younger brother of Dockers star Caleb and Hawks rookie Jai, and Perth product Sam Stubbs, with the pair both training under Justin Longmuir in hope of securing an AFL list spot.
Collingwood has invited former Richmond and Gold Coast defender Oleg Markov, overlooked draft talent Rye Penny and West Adelaide ruckman Oscar Steene to train over the summer as they weigh up their final Rookie list spot, while retired volleyballer Max Guehrer is also training at Olympic Park, however firms as a potential option for a Category 2 Rookie spot.
Melbourne have invited Frankton VFL-listed player Kye Turner and Trent Burgoyne, the son of Port Adelaide great Peter, to train with the Demons over the pre-season. Burgoyne was previously listed with the Power but was eventually delisted after no matches at AFL level.
St Kilda have trialled ex-Essendon defender Joshua Eyre at Moorabbin, with the key defender pushing for the last remaining list spot under Ross Lyon.
The Tigers have invited former Cat Quinton Narkle, local league footballer Kaelan Bradtke and overlooked draft prospect Luke Teal to train at Punt Road for the months ahead, while the Suns have added ex-Port Adelaide forward Boyd Woodcock, Frankston forward Brodie McLaughlin and Academy graduate Brinn Little to their training program.
Teal, a medium-sized defender, found himself without an AFL club at the end of last month's draft window despite an impressive NAB League with the Oakleigh Chargers.
The Hawks have offered Tasmanian Brandon Leary a training invite for the summer, with the small forward another overlooked draft talent that has been offered another chance to prove his worth for the top flight.
VFL-listed quartet Patrick Naish, Callum Brown, Callum Porter and Liam Coghlan have also joined Sam Mitchell's pre-season program as the Hawks weigh up options for their last list spot.
Dandenong Stingrays onballer Mitch Szybkowski was arguably the best draft talent not selected in November, with the teenager handed a training opportunity in the new year with Essendon.
The Bombers already handed trial invites to WA key forward Reuben McGuire and former Western Bulldogs player Brad Lynch at Tullamarine, while Szybowski and ruckman Hudson O'Keeffe joined the Bombers in January when their pre-season plans resumed.
Reports have McGuire won't take on the opportunity at Tullamarine, while fellow WA talent Jack Cleaver is expected to make the switch east in hope of securing a list spot ahead of the SSP deadline.
Former Magie and Hawk Tom Phillips has joined Essendon's VFL program and remains a live chance to join the side's AFL squad should he impress over the summer.
AFL teams have the option to keep Rookie list spots open for this year's Mid-Season Draft. The SSP is scheduled to end on February 15 next year.
