VFL stars shooting for AFL spots: Will Hoare at Essendon, Western Bulldogs with Dom Brew

One of Essendon’s top VFL prospects has been given the chance to press his claims to join the club’s AFL list. Get the latest SSP news here.

Breakthrough Essendon VFL star Will Hoare will be given first crack at auditioning for a spot on the club’s AFL list when he starts as an official train-on player on Saturday.

The Pascoe Vale product will be the first of two players officially designated as train-ons, with delisted defender Kaine Baldwin to re-join the club as the other.

VFL player Tyler Sellars will continue to train with the AFL squad but he is not a designated Supplemental Selection Period (SSP) training player.

The Bombers have one spot to fill on their list after signing ex-Lion Jaxon Prior on Monday.

Hoare, 24, had only played five VFL games before this season, but dominated in defence and became a revelation through the second half of the year.

Will Hoare will press his claims to be SSP listed by Essendon.

The 197cm defender averaged 13.5 disposals per game at 76.8 kicking efficiency, plus 3.5 intercept marks.

The EDFL graduate had little thought about playing at AFL level until managers began calling this year to sign him up.

“This year was huge for me, a big development year. I feel like I am only just scratching the surface,” he told this masthead earlier this month.

Baldwin was delisted by the Bombers this off-season but was given a promise he could audition for an SSP spot after a season cruelled by a foot injury.

He has yet to start training with the AFL group but is expected back over summer.

The latest clubs can sign players under the SSP is February 21.

BREW GETS CHANCE FOR FAIRYTALE SSP LISTING

Western Bulldogs are looking at offering Werribee hard nut and inspirational captain Dom Brew a potential list spot after inviting him to train with the club.

The Herald Sun can reveal Brew, 27, will begin training with the Dogs this week in a bid to impress the club’s coaching staff and list management team.

It could be the fairytale story of the summer as the mature-age hard and popular skipper nut has been desperately fighting for an AFL chance for years.

But he still faces a fight to secure a list spot as the Dogs are weighing up other players to invite to the club as well.

While there are no guarantees, the Dogs will consider whether Brew could help provide some midfield depth next season after losing Jack Macrae (St Kilda), Bailey Smith (Geelong) and Caleb Daniel (North Melbourne) in the exchange period.

The tough nut enjoyed the best season of his career in 2024 winning the Liston Trophy as the best player in the VFL on 31 votes, nine ahead of second-placed Rory Atkins.

Brew averaged 28 possessions, 10 clearances, nine tackles, and six inside 50s a game as part of an outstanding season playing on the ball.

It means he is ready-made and will step straight into competitive match simulation with Dogs’ brilliant ball winners Marcus Bontempelli, 29 today, and Tom Liberatore, 32, over summer.

Dom Brew will train with the Western Bulldogs in a bid to earn an AFL contract. Pic: Michael Klein

Brew, who is one of the most respected and popular players in the VFL, also captained Werribee to the flag, was named captain of the team of the year, and won the coaches’ MVP this year.

Brew is renowned for his professionalism, such as taking an ice bath every morning of the year, and outstanding character attributes.

Brew said recently he wrote a letter to all 18 club coaches in a bid to try to secure a train-on spot this summer.

He is certain to impress with his dedication, however the Dogs are likely to invite other players to try out for the club’s one vacant list spot.

The Dogs will make a decision on who joins the list in the new year as part of the supplemental selection period ahead of the new season.

The Dogs enjoyed an impressive draft last week, landing midfield-forward Cooper Hynes (pick 20), rebounding defender Lachie Jaques (pick 29), half forward Josh Dolan (pick 31), tall forward and medical student Sam Davidson (pick 51) and speedster Luke Kennedy (pick 61).

But after taking five players at the draft, the Dogs have the room to add one more, such as Brew, in the new year after a training stint.

Brew said on SEN last week he was desperate to get a chance at the top level.

I just wanted to play the highest level of football,” Brew said on SEN.

“I’m lucky enough now that I’ve played some good footy that I’m able to do that – write a letter to every club to let them know if there is an opportunity there.

“Obviously I’ll only suit a couple of clubs because you get clubs that are rebuilding. But at my age and how much good footy I’ve got left in me, which is about five years, I just thought it was worth a shot.

“You never know, and if it doesn’t work out then at least I can go to bed knowing that I did everything I possibly could which was the whole point of my year this year, was just making sure I gave myself the best opportunity to succeed and not leave a stone unturned.

I just reckon that all I need is an opportunity.

“I just need a foot in the door and the rest will take care of itself. That’s where I’m at mentally, but it’s out of your hands, you just don’t know.

“I just feel like I could make a ready impact. There’d be natural improvement to come if you’re doing it every day in a full-time environment.

“If I got in that environment where all I was focusing on was footy I’d go to another level. I’m convinced I would anyway.”

Dom Brew. Picture Dylan Burns

AFL PRE-SEASON SUPPLEMENTARY PERIOD: SEE WHO YOUR CLUB MIGHT TAKE AS AN SSP PICK

Carlton and Essendon will be targets for hopefuls frozen out by during the AFL’s draft week, as the fight for a summer train-on spot begins.

With the drafts now finished, the next chance for players to get on an AFL list will be the summer supplemental period (SSP) in February.

Both the Bombers and Blues kept two spots open on their rookie lists for summer signings by passing up twice during Friday’s rookie draft.

Liam McMahon will train with the Blues this summer. Picture: Daniel Pockett/AFL Photos

The Blues have promised cut pair Sam Durdin and Matt Carroll a chance to train with the club again and push for a SSP spot, while former Hawthorn No.6 pick Denver Grainger-Barras and Blues VFL ace Liam McMahon will get a go during pre-season.

Clubs can have two players train per open list spot, and last summer those players were paid $1000 per week to put their hands up.

Essendon has told delisted defender Kaine Baldwin he is welcome to return in summer and target one of the Bombers’ spots, while Jaxon Prior has been linked to the club.

The Western Bulldogs kept a close eye on SANFL star ruck Harry Boyd amid intense interest from St Kilda leading into the draft.

Boyd was overlooked as the Saints plucked teen ruck Alex Dodson, and the joint Magarey medallist from Norwood could be in the sights of the Dogs as a Tim English back up.

“He certainly deserves a crack at the AFL, he’s the best player in the SANFL and clubs would be silly not to look at him,” Norwood general manager of football Richard Kelly said.

“We’re expecting clubs to offer him a train-on spot in the next couple of days and if he gets an opportunity, good luck to him.”

Port Adelaide will invite North Melbourne VFL skipper Jack Watkins to audition for a SSP spot.

Fremantle has long been expected to sign former Cat and Power midfielder Quinton Narkle and didn’t lock him in during the rookie draft.

West Coast has been linked to cut Suns defender Sandy Brock.

Gold Coast also passed up in the rookie draft and can sign a player through the SSP.

Clubs will also be able to clear a spot on the list through long-term injuries or pre-season retirements, with Collingwood ending up with three SSP players last summer after Nathan Murphy retired.

Originally published as VFL stars shooting for AFL spots: Will Hoare at Essendon, Western Bulldogs with Dom Brew