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AFL 2024: All the SSP latest as Collingwood hopeful Josh Eyre cops hamstring blow

As D-Day looms for SSP hopefuls at Collingwood and Richmond, an ex-Port Adelaide big man and WAFL forward are considered the frontrunners to land a list spot.

Josh Eyre at Collingwood training. Picture: Josh Chadwick/Getty Images
Josh Eyre at Collingwood training. Picture: Josh Chadwick/Getty Images

Valentine’s Day looms as D-Day for Collingwood’s summer signing hopefuls as a potential Pie likely fell out of the race after a hamstring injury.

Unlucky train-on player Josh Eyre came from training on Friday after suffering a suspected serious hamstring injury.

Collingwood said on Saturday that there wasn’t yet a confirmed diagnosis for the former Essendon-listed tall but the club was expecting him to have injured the hamstring.

Josh Eyre has a kick at Pies training. Picture: Josh Chadwick/Getty Images
Josh Eyre has a kick at Pies training. Picture: Josh Chadwick/Getty Images
Sam Sofronidis is also in the running at Collingwood. Picture: Brendan Beckett
Sam Sofronidis is also in the running at Collingwood. Picture: Brendan Beckett

It was a cruel blow for Eyre, who was in the running for a spot on St Kilda’s list last pre-season before copping a hamstring injury in late January.

The Saints ultimately decided not to sign Eyre but the club said at the time the hamstring injury didn’t impact that decision.

Eyre played nine games with Collingwood’s VFL side last year as a key defender and was delisted by Essendon in 2022 after not playing an AFL game.

The injury comes at a tough time for Eyre, with the Pies likely to make a call on who will fill their three open list spots next week, following an intra-club hitout on Wednesday.

Former Port Adelaide ruck Brynn Teakle is seen by some as a frontrunner for one spot, as a way to provide ruck insurance for Mason Cox and Darcy Cameron.

VAFA defender Sam Sofronidis has also impressed, while Footscray’s Lachie Sullivan has been handed plenty of midfield minutes at Pies training.

Former Saint Jack Bytel and Collingwood VFL captain Campbell Hustwaite have also been training.

Collingwood has played plenty of match simulation minutes in recent weeks and are expected to use the Wednesday game as further intel to make a call, with the February 19 deadline approaching for summer signings.

Mitch Schofield at Richmond training. Picture: Jason Edwards
Mitch Schofield at Richmond training. Picture: Jason Edwards

The Pies have so far opted not to add Dan McStay onto the long-term injury list, which would create another open spot.

WAFL forward Mitch Schofield has been seen as a frontrunner at Richmond for its sole list spot, with VFL Tiger Mykelti Lefau also competing for a shot with the AFL team.

Former Saint Dan McKenzie suffered a setback last week when he suffered a hamstring strain while training with Fremantle.

Lachie Bramble (Western Bulldogs), Jeremy Sharp (Fremantle) and Marty Hore (Melbourne) have been signed so far under the supplemental selection period (SSP).

Fremantle holds two open spots, Gold Coast and North Melbourne one each.

The Roos haven’t invited any players to train over summer.

Originally published as AFL 2024: All the SSP latest as Collingwood hopeful Josh Eyre cops hamstring blow

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Original URL: https://www.themercury.com.au/sport/afl/afl-2024-all-the-ssp-latest-as-collingwood-hopeful-josh-eyre-cops-hamstring-blow/news-story/f629763876529ac969ec720945ba29af