AFL Supplementary Selection Period signings: Lachie Sullivan, Josh Eyre, Jack Bytel join Collingwood

Collingwood’s three remaining list spots have been decided in an agonising call which left three players on the outer. Plus, the VFL star who could be parachuted onto Hawthorn’s list.

MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA – FEBRUARY 07: Lachie Sullivan of the Magpies kicks during a Collingwood Magpies AFL training session at AIA Centre on February 07, 2024 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Josh Chadwick/Getty Images)

Collingwood will hope new signings Lachie Sullivan, Josh Eyre and Jack Bytel can replicate the success of last summer’s rookie signing Oleg Markov after handing them three vacant list spots on Wednesday.

The Pies had six players training with the club and finally made their decision ahead of the February 19 SPP deadline after Wednesday’s intraclub match.

Brilliant VAFA intercept defender Sam Sonfronidis, ex-Port Adelaide ruckman Brynn Teakle and Collingwood VFL player Campbell Hustwaite missed the cut.

The Pies do have the capacity to add a fourth player if they move ACL tear victim Dan McStay to the long-term injury list but will instead give him the chance to return for finals.

After an agonising process that saw the players called in at 12.30pm on Thursday they were told their fates, with the playing group to officially be told on Friday morning.

Lachie Sullivan was one of three players signed by Collingwood. Picture: Josh Chadwick/Getty Images

All three of the successful players have strong backstories of perseverance.

Footscray VFL captain Sullivan impressed with his attitude and strong-bodied midfield game as the frontrunner who found a way to secure a spot despite the Pies list depth.

Ex-Essendon tall Eyre suffered a hamstring tendon injury at training last Friday but given Collingwood’s uncertainty over Nathan Murphy’s future he still won a spot on the list.

He had trained with St Kilda last summer and has had previous hamstring issues but secures his chance with the Pies.

And former St Kilda player Bytel gets another chance after 22 games at Moorabbin including six last year, with the Pies excited by his athletic profile.

Former Saint Jack Bytel has become a Magpie. Picture: Morgan Hancock/Getty Images

Across the competition there are few vacant list spots but clubs including Hawthorn, Fremantle and Richmond still have decisions to make.

At Hawthorn, 197cm key back Ethan Phillips is a strong contender for a list spot after a knee injury to James Blanck in the club’s intraclub contest on Thursday.

Phillips won the VFL’s Fothergill-Round-Mitchell Medal as an athletic defender who has this year signed with Hawthorn’s VFL affiliate Box Hill.

Richmond has WAFL mid-sized forward Mitch Schofield and New Zealander Mykelti Lefau at the club, with Lefau a former Melbourne Storm development player.

Essendon’s former forward Patrick Voss secured a list spot with Fremantle on Thursday after auditioning alongside Jacob Van Rooyen’s brother Sam and SANFL small forward Max Beattie.

Former St Kilda player Dan McKenzie also trialled with the Dockers and was to train with Gold Coast but remained in WA after injuring his hamstring.