{"id":330257,"date":"2025-12-05T22:12:09","date_gmt":"2025-12-05T22:12:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/330257\/"},"modified":"2025-12-05T22:12:09","modified_gmt":"2025-12-05T22:12:09","slug":"msd-vs-ssp-which-new-afl-recruitment-avenue-has-been-a-greater-benefit-to-clubs-afl-news","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/330257\/","title":{"rendered":"MSD vs SSP: Which new AFL recruitment avenue has been a greater benefit to clubs? – AFL News"},"content":{"rendered":"

<\/a><\/p>\n

The introductions of the Supplemental Selection Period (SSP) and the Mid-Season Draft (MSD) have seen nearly 200 players realise their AFL<\/a> dream.<\/p>\n

The modern-day mechanism for prospect acquisition has been a raging success, complementing the traditional pathway of the long-standing AFL Draft<\/a>.<\/p>\n

But which tool has been the most successful?<\/p>\n

A fair assessment can be made on both selection periods, given the introduction, or in the MSD’s case, re-introduction to the AFL<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Both were welcomed ahead of the 2019 AFL<\/a> season and follow similar rules. To be eligible, players must have been nominated for the most recent AFL Draft<\/a> or previously been on an AFL<\/a> list.<\/p>\n

They are designed to mitigate long-term injuries or premature retirements, while clever list planning could see a need filled.<\/p>\n

The MSD has seen six completed intakes, with a hiatus in 2020 due to the impact of COVID-19. Thus far, 101 players have found themselves on AFL<\/a> lists, with Brynn Teakle<\/a> the only double-up in unusual circumstances, spending a pair of seasons at both Port Adelaide (2022-2023) and North Melbourne (2024-2025).<\/p>\n

As it stands, 38 players since 2019 have retained their spot in the top flight, headed by Jai Newcombe<\/a> (Pick 2, 2021), John Noble<\/a> (Pick 14, 2019), Sam Durham<\/a> (Pick 9, 2021) and James Peatling<\/a> (Pick 8, 2021).<\/p>\n

Noble has survived the longest in the AFL<\/a> system as an MSD prospect, playing 137 games across stints with Collingwood and Gold Coast.<\/p>\n

The SSP has yielded very similar results to its counterpart, seeing 90 players (excluding the 2025 off-season) make it to the big time across seven completed periods. Lachlan Bramble, like Teakle, has had two clubs invest in his services, initially beginning at Hawthorn (2021-2023) before the Western Bulldogs<\/a> swooped (2024-current).<\/p>\n

Of those 90, 39 are still kicking the Sherrin around in the top flight, with five still on lists from the first collection in 2019.<\/p>\n

Matthew Cottrell<\/a>, Ned Reeves<\/a> and Hayden McLean<\/a> have stayed at Carlton, Hawthorn and Sydney respectively after the club took a punt on them. Tom Campbell<\/a> and Corey Wagner<\/a> are still on AFL<\/a> lists, although they have found new homes since their pre-season pick-up.<\/p>\n

Collingwood’s Oleg Markov<\/a> was a success story following his SSP journey ahead of the 2023 season. That year, he became an AFL<\/a> premiership player.<\/p>\n

Interestingly, Lachlan McAndrew<\/a> has been picked up via both mechanisms. He was drafted via the mid-season intake by Sydney in 2021, but has since made his way to Adelaide following the long-term injury to ruckman Kieran Strachan<\/a> ahead of 2025.<\/p>\n

But when assessing the success rate of both pathways, it is hard to split the difference, albeit the SSP sits marginally ahead.<\/p>\n

A reason for that could be that clubs have a greater understanding of what they need in the off-season, and what’s on offer.<\/p>\n

Recruiters and list managers would spend large amounts of time preparing for the National Draft, sending scouts far and wide to assess the talent in the surrounding leagues.<\/p>\n

For those who aren’t selected in late November, they are most likely considered with thought and process, and whether they’d fit an elite sporting environment.<\/p>\n

The MSD has a comparable exercise inherently built in, but given the higher demands and sometimes desperate measures taken to fill list spots vacated by injured stars or held over from the draft, it can cause a slight misfire, despite the work that has been recorded.<\/p>\n

The SSP also has in its favour the ability to house prospects throughout the entire pre-season, giving them a taste of a high-performance environment. The MSD does not have that opportunity, but more like throwing a baby in the deep end of a pool.<\/p>\n

SSP (introduced for 2019)<\/p>\n

91 players since 2018 – 39 still in AFL.<\/p>\n

2018 (15\/5) – Matthew Cottrell<\/a>, Michael Gibbons<\/a>, Zac Clarke<\/a>, Sam Fletcher<\/a>, Shane Mumford<\/a>, Ned Reeves<\/a>, Corey Wagner<\/a>, Jay Lockhart<\/a>, Tom Campbell<\/a>, Mav Weller, Sydney Stack<\/a>, Jonathon Marsh<\/a>, Sam Rowe<\/a>, Hayden McLean<\/a>, Keegan Brooksby<\/a><\/p>\n

2019 (12) – Ayce Taylor, Callum Moore<\/a>, Lynden Dunn<\/a>, Jacob Townsend<\/a>, Henry Crauford, Mitch Brown<\/a>, Harley Bennell<\/a>, Keegan Brooksby<\/a>, Darren Minchington<\/a>, Nic Reid<\/a>, Jamaine Jones<\/a><\/p>\n

2020 (12\/4) – Nick Murray<\/a>, Oscar McDonald<\/a>, Alec Waterman<\/a>, Kaine Baldwin<\/a>, Lachie Bramble<\/a>, Majak Daw<\/a>, Deakyn Smith<\/a>, Rhyan Mansell<\/a>, Derek Eggmolesse-Smith<\/a>, Mason Wood<\/a>, Paul Hunter<\/a>, Anthony Scott<\/a><\/p>\n

2021 (12\/1) – Mitch Cox<\/a>, Tex Wanganeen<\/a>, Nic Martin<\/a>, James Tsitas<\/a>, Tom Lynch<\/a>, Jack Hayes<\/a>, Jarrod Lienert<\/a>, Paddy McCartin<\/a>, Hugh Dixon<\/a>, Luke Strnadica<\/a>, Patrick Naish<\/a>, Tom Joyce<\/a><\/p>\n

2022 (16\/8) – Tyler Brown<\/a>, Mark Keane<\/a>, Darragh Joyce<\/a>, Conor McKenna<\/a>, Hudson O’Keeffe<\/a>, Alex Cincotta<\/a>, Oscar Steene<\/a>, Oleg Markov<\/a>, Jed Anderson<\/a>, Brodie McLaughlin<\/a>, Kye Turner<\/a>, Liam Shiels<\/a>, Kaelan Bradtke<\/a>, Liam Stocker<\/a>, Anthony Caminiti<\/a>, Oskar Baker<\/a><\/p>\n

2023 (10\/5) – Lachie Sullivan<\/a>, Joshua Eyre<\/a>, Jack Bytel<\/a>, Jeremy Sharp<\/a>, Patrick Voss<\/a>, Ethan Phillips<\/a>, Marty Hore<\/a>, Tyler Sellers<\/a>, Mykelti Lefau<\/a>, Lachie Bramble<\/a><\/p>\n

2024 (14\/11) – Lachlan McAndrew<\/a>, Matthew Caroll, Francis Evans<\/a>, Will White<\/a>, Jaxon Prior<\/a>, Tom Edwards<\/a>, Quinton Narkle<\/a>, Isaiah Dudley<\/a>, Ben Jepson<\/a>, Jai Culley<\/a>, Jack Henderson<\/a>, Josh Lai<\/a>, Harry Boyd<\/a>, Sandy Brock<\/a><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n

MSD (reintroduced 2019)<\/p>\n

102 players since 2019 – 38 still in AFL.<\/p>\n

2019 (13\/1) – Josh Deluca<\/a>, Mitch Riordan, Kyle Dunkley<\/a>, Michael Knoll<\/a>, Lachlan Hosie<\/a>, Ryan Gardner<\/a>, Will Snelling<\/a>, Jack Mayo<\/a>, Cameron Sutcliffe<\/a>, Dillon O’Reilly<\/a>, Marlion Pickett<\/a>, John Noble<\/a>, Cody Hirst<\/a><\/p>\n

2021 (22\/9) – Jacob Edwards<\/a>, Jai Newcombe<\/a>, Ashley Johnson<\/a>, Patrick Parnell<\/a>, Ned Moyle<\/a>, Alex Mirkov<\/a>, Max Heath<\/a>, James Peatling<\/a>, Sam Durham<\/a>, Matthew Parker<\/a>, Will Collins<\/a>, Lachlan McAndrew<\/a>, Jed McEntee<\/a>, Kalin Lane<\/a>, Kye Declase<\/a>, Charlie Ham<\/a>, Jackson Callow<\/a>, Aiden Begg<\/a>, Jordan Boyd<\/a>, Cooper Sharman<\/a>, Connor West<\/a>, Daniel Turner<\/a><\/p>\n

2022 (17\/4) – Jai Culley<\/a>, Kallan Dawson<\/a>, Massimo D’Ambrosio<\/a>, Brett Turner<\/a>, Wade Derksen<\/a>, Max Ramsden<\/a>, Oskar Faulkhead<\/a>, Brynn Teakle<\/a>, Josh Carmichael<\/a>, Jacob Bauer<\/a>, Hugo Hall-Kahan<\/a>, Zane Williams<\/a>, Sam Durdin<\/a>, Sebit Kuek<\/a>, Jye Menzie<\/a>, James Blanck<\/a>, Will Hayes<\/a><\/p>\n

2023 (13\/3) – Ryan Maric<\/a>, Robert Hansen Jr<\/a>, Clay Tucker<\/a>, Matt Coulthard<\/a>, Harry Arnold<\/a>, Mitch Hardie<\/a>, Ethan Stanley<\/a>, Jaiden Hunter<\/a>, Caleb Poulter<\/a>, Quinton Narkle<\/a>, Brandon Ryan<\/a>, James Trezise<\/a>, Jack Buller<\/a><\/p>\n

2024 (19\/13) – Geordie Payne<\/a>, Jacob Blight<\/a>, Jack Hutchinson<\/a>, Max Hall<\/a>, Jasper Scaife<\/a>, Will McLachlan<\/a>, Toby Murray<\/a>, Kelsey Rypstra<\/a>, Cooper Lord<\/a>, Iliro Smit<\/a>, Luker Kentfield<\/a>, Logan Evans<\/a>, Saad El-Hawli<\/a>, Tom Hanily<\/a>, Brynn Teakle<\/a>, Campbell Gray<\/a>, Luke Beecken<\/a>, Ned Long<\/a>, Darcy Craven<\/a><\/p>\n

2025 (18) – Tom McCarthy<\/a>, Zac Banch<\/a>, Harrison Ramm<\/a>, Flynn Young<\/a>, Michael Sellwood<\/a>, Archer May<\/a>, Oscar Adams<\/a>, Roan Steele<\/a>, Jacob Newton<\/a>, Cooper Trembath<\/a>, Ewan Mackinlay<\/a>, Zac Walker<\/a>, Lachie Blakiston<\/a>, Caleb Lewis<\/a>, Noah Howes<\/a>, Mani Liddy<\/a>, Oskar Smartt<\/a>, Liam McMahon<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"The introductions of the Supplemental Selection Period (SSP) and the Mid-Season Draft (MSD) have seen nearly 200 players…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":330258,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[560],"tags":[638,64,63,55,639,85],"class_list":{"0":"post-330257","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-afl","8":"tag-afl","9":"tag-au","10":"tag-australia","11":"tag-australian-football-league","12":"tag-australianfootballleague","13":"tag-sports"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/330257","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=330257"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/330257\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/330258"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=330257"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=330257"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=330257"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}