Subiaco’s Nick Martin and Woodville-West Torrens star Jack Hayes chase AFL dream with Essendon and St Kilda

Half of the 18 AFL clubs still have at least one list opening and several are taking the chance to bring players in for pre-season training.

Jack Hayes hopes to make the leap from the SANFL to the AFL with St Kilda. Picture: Matt Loxton

Subiaco forward Nick Martin will begin his audition for an Essendon list spot after Christmas.

Martin is set to train with the Bombers from January, joining delisted Bomber Dylan Clarke, father-son prospect Tex Wanganeen and NT Thunder’s Ronald Fejo Jr who pushed their cases in recent weeks.

The 20-year-old also trained with West Coast last pre-season but suffered a quad injury and wasn’t able to force his way onto the Eagles’ list.

A good WAFL campaign kept him on the AFL radar, kicking 24 goals in 17 matches and averaging 15 disposals and five marks.

The Bombers and St Kilda are the only two AFL clubs with two list vacancies, while Carlton, Geelong, Gold Coast, Hawthorn, North Melbourne, Sydney and West Coast have one each.

Jack Hayes, pictured with the SANFL premiership cup, scored an invitation to train with St Kilda. Picture: Morgan Sette

The Saints have brought in Woodville-West Torrens utility Jack Hayes, who is regarded as arguably the SANFL’s best player.

He captained the league’s representative team against the WAFL and kicked three goals in the 53-point victory.

Hayes, who stands 192cm, also finished equal third in the Magarey Medal and won the Jack Oatey Medal as the best player afield in the Eagles’ grand final triumph over Glenelg.

He averaged almost 20 disposals, eight marks and seven score involvements, on top of kicking 22 goals in 20 matches.

Fergus Greene is one of a handful of Box Hill Hawks players getting the chance to train at Hawthorn this summer. Picture: AAP

The Hawks don’t have any official train-on players but plan to involve Box Hill footballers in select sessions throughout the pre-season to boost numbers at Waverley Park.

Fergus Greene, James Blanck and James Parsons are the first to receive that opportunity.

Greene was considered a draft smokey following his delisting after a strong VFL season, where he kicked 30 goals from only nine matches, but didn’t find a new home.

The 187cm forward turns 24 on Monday and is keen for another shot at the highest level after playing only five senior games – all in 2018 – across four injury-marred seasons at the Bulldogs.

Clubs can sign players in the pre-season supplemental selection period between January 10 and March 9 or choose to fill any list spots in the mid-season rookie draft, which is planned for June 1.

WHO IS TRAINING AT YOUR AFL CLUB?

Carlton: Josh Cripps (East Fremantle), Tyreece Lui (Eastern Ranges)

Essendon: Dylan Clarke (Essendon), Ronald Fejo Jr (West Adelaide), Nick Martin (Subiaco)

Gold Coast: Nathan Freeman (Frankston)

North Melbourne: Marty Hore (Melbourne)

St Kilda: Jack Hayes (Woodville-West Torrens)

Sydney: Paddy McCartin (Sydney VFL)

West Coast: Kade Dittmar (East Perth), Luke Strnadica (East Fremantle)

Originally published as Subiaco’s Nick Martin and Woodville-West Torrens star Jack Hayes chase AFL dream with Essendon and St Kilda