SSP signings 2025: The state of play for all clubs ahead of list deadline
A day after featuring in a practice match for West Coast, one of the VFL’s best players has been snapped up by Melbourne, while Essendon has signed another bolter after a four-goal blitz.
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Goalkicking bolter Tom Edwards is set to win the final spot on Essendon’s list for 2025.
A four-goal haul in the second half of Saturday’s scratch match against the Western Bulldogs saw Edwards make a case that couldn’t be ignored.
It is understood fellow hopeful Kaine Baldwin was told on Tuesday afternoon he would miss out on the supplemental selection period (SSP) spot after the Bombers held a list committee meeting.
Edwards was not one of the original players brought in to try out for the list spot at the beginning of pre-season, with Baldwin and VFL player Will Hoare given that chance, but the Swan Districts forward made an immediate impression when invited to the club in January.
He has kicked goals during match simulation at training and snagged four against the Dogs, showing off his ability to bob up in the right spots up forward.
Edwards, 25, booted 39 goals in 19 WAFL games for the Swans last year and presents as a mobile marking target for Brad Scott’s side.
“He’s a smart footballer, that’s what we’ve seen through his training. He runs the right patterns,” Dons assistant Daniel Giansiracusa said of Edwards after Saturday’s game.
“We probably saw him as more of a marking, lead-up type target, but he did some good stuff on the ground today, which needed to happen with the (wet) conditions.”
Carlton, Western Bulldogs and West Coast remain as clubs with list spots to fill, with Melbourne set to sign Werribee forward Jack Henderson and Port Adelaide locking in Josh Lai.
The SSP deadline is Friday.
DEMONS STEAL SPP CHOICE FROM UNDER EAGLES’ NOSE
Werribee midfielder Jack Henderson is poised to join Melbourne after turning down interest from West Coast.
The 176cm playmaker has informed both clubs he would be keen to accept a list spot at the Demons in place of injured utility Shane McAdam.
The Demons are expected to put McAdam on the inactive list after rupturing his Achilles last week in a shattering blow.
But Henderson will take his place in red and blue after kicking two goals from 23 touches in last year’s VFL Grand Final.
He played in West Coast’s practice match win over Richmond on Monday but will return to Victoria to start his AFL career.
The Eagles wanted Henderson to help fill the void of Dom Sheed who suffered a season-ending knee injury.
Henderson, 24 is a clever goal kicker and hard runner who will add to the Demons stocks in the forward half.
West Coast announced the signing of former Gold Cpast key defender Sandy Brock on Tuesday.
The 22-year-old was trialling alongside Henderson and former Saint James Van Es.
Brock spent time at Gold Coast as a backline prospect and will add to an area of the ground the Eagles were lacking.
“Sandy has been impressive with his work as a key defender,” football manager Gavin Bell said.
“He’s got a really strong athletic profile and has shown his ability to intercept the ball and provide a contest down back.
“We’re very excited to have him and his family join our club.”
Jack out of the pack!
— VFL / VFLW (@VFL) September 2, 2023
Brilliant from Jack Henderson 🤩
If you can't attend, watch the Smithy's VFL Finals Series live and free on https://t.co/vYsGyBP3z6 and the AFL Live Official App: https://t.co/3V9lTkSGTMpic.twitter.com/GXA8rOD7lG
POWER LOCKS IN SPEEDSTER FOR FINAL SPOT
Speedster Josh Lai has won the race for the final spot on Port Adelaide’s list, capping a remarkable rise from the Southern League in Melbourne to the AFL in a matter of months.
The Advertiser understands that the former Cheltenham player, and the Power group, have been told that Lai will be added to Port’s list as an supplemental selection period player.
The 19-year-old was identified by the Power’s recruitment team playing in the Southern League for Cheltenham, where he was best on ground in its premiership win.
Boasting speed and power, Lai has impressed with these attributes in recent weeks and done enough to convince the Power to give him a chance.
He was due to play for Richmond’s VFL side in 2025 before being invited to train with the Power.
He was up against North Melbourne VFL captain Jack Watkins for the spot.
Watkins, a good friend of Power star and vice-captain Zak Butters, will still play for Port’s SANFL side in 2025.
The Power is yet to determine whether it will move Todd Marshall to the long term injury list after his Achilles injury and surgery.
CROSSLEY ROCKETS INTO ROUND 1 CONTENTION FOR DOGS
— Jay Clark
Former Western Bulldogs captain Bob Murphy has returned to the club in a leadership and culture role ahead of a crucial year at the kennel.
Murphy, who is one of the club’s most respected playing figures, will work closely with the Dogs’ leadership group in a major off-field boost for Luke Beveridge and his men.
Murphy, 42, will combine leadership work with his new morning radio commitments with ABC after three years in Fremantle’s football department in various leadership and performance roles.
The former captain remains a popular figure at the kennel after 312 games in red, white and blue which included missing the 2016 premiership in heartbreaking fashion due to an ACL injury.
The pressure will be on the club in 2025 as Beveridge attempts to win a contract extension despite an injury-riddled summer which included a serious hamstring injury to star defender Liam Jones.
Ruckman Brayden Crossley is expected to win the club’s last remaining vacant list spot if he can impress in the practice match clash against Essendon on Saturday.
An abdominal injury to ruckman Tim English means the Dogs are vulnerable in the ruck department, prompting the club to reach out to former Gold Coast ruckman Crossley, 25, last month.
Remarkably, if Crossley impresses against the Bombers, he could come into the selection frame for the Dogs’ round 1 clash against North Melbourne.
Crossley was delisted by the Suns in 2019 and was banned for 12 months by ASADA in 2020 after testing positive to a banned substance, cocaine metabolite, after a NEAFL game.
But the big man is eager to make the most of his second chance at the Dogs after meeting his new teammates only several weeks ago in the lead-up to a successful scratch match in Noosa.
Swingman James O’Donnell and Buku Khamis are vying to replace Jones at full back alongside Rory Lobb who was swung from the forward line into defence late last year.
But the Dogs’ key defensive stocks will be tested early in the season before Jones is expected to return in about Round 6 after 8-10 weeks on the sidelines.
First-year mature-age pick-up and round 1 bolter Sam Davidson will also get another chance to impress in a wing-forward role in his bid to make his AFL debut against the Kangas in the season-opener.
VFL midfield star Dom Brew is also on trial for the club’s last remaining list spot but could be overlooked in favour of a big man due to injuries and personal issues.
Jamarra Ugle-Hagan won’t play in the early part of the season as he deals with some personal issues.
The No. 1 draft pick has spent time training away from the club but said on Channel 7 this week he was in good physical shape.
“I feel like I’m fit, I’m healthy. I feel like I’m the happiest I have ever been but I don’t know what is happening,” Ugle-Hagan said.
The forward who booted 43 goals last season has trained with the VFL team and could return to train with the AFL squad next week.
Superstar captain Marcus Bontempelli and veteran onballer Tom Liberatore will sit out the practice match clash against the Bombers at Whitten Oval.
EAGLES LEAVE DOOR OPEN FOR LATE TOMLINSON CALL
West Coast will assess the performances of train-on defenders James Van Es and Sandy Brock before deciding whether top call-up former Melbourne backman Adam Tomlinson next week.
The Eagles will play a practice match against Richmond on Monday in Perth when the pair of defenders will be under the microscope for a list spot.
The Herald Sun revealed West Coast met with Tomlinson last month and are still considering the key backman who could help replace new Hawthorn defender Tom Barrass.
But the picture will become clearer on Monday when the Eagles’ new-look backline will play their first competitive match under new coach Andrew McQualter.
Tomlinson, 31, who played 185 matches at Melbourne and Greater Western Sydney, is keen to reunite with McQualter and extend his career in blue and gold in 2025.
He signed up to play with North Melbourne’s VFL team before the Eagles registered their interest in the 193cm swingman last month.
Originally published as SSP signings 2025: The state of play for all clubs ahead of list deadline
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