SSP signings 2025: Jai Culley impressing at Melbourne, Brayden Crossley closes in on Western Bulldogs list spot
A former No.1 draft pick is at the front of the queue for a list spot at Melbourne after a forward sustained a long-term injured days out from the SSP deadline.
West Coast
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Melbourne will strongly consider adding West Coast playmaker Jai Culley to its list in place of injured livewire Shane McAdam.
McAdam looks set to be moved to the inactive list after rupturing his Achilles in a practice game on Friday in a devastating injury setback for the former Crow.
Culley, who signed to play for Melbourne’s VFL team in 2025, is the early front runner to take his spot after a strong performance in the scratch match as a line breaking midfielder.
Culley was taken with the number one pick in the 2022 midseason draft by the Eagles but was cut from the list last year after an ACL injury ruined his 2023 season.
Demons’ chiefs will meet early next week to consider the medical advice and whether Culley is the right player to elevate amid a number of other train-on options currently trialling at other clubs.
Culley, 21, is determined to extend his AFL career at Melbourne although the club is disappointed for McAdam after a strong preseason dropping seven kilograms.
Culley played 12 games in three seasons at West Coast and would inject more speed and versatility into the Demons’ side for the new season.
The Demons will need to move McAdam to the inactive list in order to sign Culley, with the February 21 deadline fast approaching.
Melbourne’s footy boss Alan Richardson said McAdam would have surgery in the coming days.
“Shane went to accelerate during match play on Friday, and has unfortunately ruptured his Achilles tendon in the process,” he said.
“This is an incredibly disappointing outcome for Shane, who was starting to get some real momentum and confidence in his body, following a strong pre-season.
“Shane will meet with a surgeon in the coming days, with the view to undergo surgery. From here, we will have a greater understanding of what his recovery timelines will look like.
“We will wrap our arms around Shane and fully support him throughout this next period.”
Melbourne will play North Melbourne at Arden Street on February 22, meaning Culley will not get the opportunity to impress against an extenal opponent before potentially being signed.
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: Jai Culley impressing at Melbourne, Brayden Crossley closes in on Western Bulldogs list spot
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