Time to start a separate discussion on the 2023 AFL Pre-season Supplemental Selection Period (SSP). 

The SSP allows clubs the opportunity to invite players to train with them over the off-season with the potential to be added to their rookie list ahead of the following season.  Some pretty handy players have found their way onto AFL lists as SSP signings.

Melbourne has one list vacancy and therefore has the opportunity to add someone to its ranks at any time up to March, 2023.

One train on player has already been mentioned - Kye Turner of Frankston VFL and Old Haileybury.

Hopefully, our intrepid trackwatchers will catch sight of any other candidates.

 

Trent Burgoyne reported as being present in the training thread for today.

Mitch Szybkowski is training on at Essendon in the New Year. Pity in a way because I was hoping he would land at Casey and possibly end up with Melbourne eventually. However, he’s probably of a type that’s similar to some of our gun midfielders but not nearly as good.

Today’s Herald Sun has a report on the train-on players in anticipation of possible selection to fill vacancies through the AFL’s supplemental selection period, which ends on 15 February. Melbourne has one list vacancy and this is the comment on our two candidates:-

“MELBOURNE

TRENT BURGOYNE (Port Adelaide SANFL) Mid-Fwd, 21, 177cm, 70kg

The son of Power great Peter and brother of 2021 draftee Jase, Burgoyne was delisted at the end of the 2021 season without playing a game for the club. Burgoyne’s two years at AFL level were cruelled by hamstring injuries, playing just four SANFL matches during this period. He remained with Port Adelaide’s SANFL side last year and impressed with his agility and reading of the play in defence, highlighted by 24 disposals and seven tackles against Norwood.

KYE TURNER (Old Haileybury/
Frankston VFL) Defender, 20, 193cm, 78kg

Turner gets his chance to trial at the Demons after playing just two VFL games for Frankston late in the year. The defender showed promising signs for the Dolphins, averaging 12 disposals and three intercepts while going at 79 per cent kicking efficiency. He also starred in VAFA B-Grade competition for premiership winners Old Haileybury, with Turner named at full back in the team of the year. The Demons already picked up unknown VAFA prospect Oliver Sestan in November’s rookie draft. Could it be a similar story?”

 I’m not sure where they got the idea that Oliver Sestan was from the VAFA - he actually played in the Goulburn Valley Under 18s and at school with Xavier College but not with their Old Collegians in the Ammos.

If these are the best two options available to us, I'd rather we keep a spot open for the mid season draft.

 If it comes down to those two, then it's a no brainer to go with Burgoyne.

I'm assuming Burgoyne is at the very least a competent VFL standard player who will provide depth for Casey while keeping Kozzie in a good space.

 

 

It will be Turner Burgoyne is never fit.

Surely Turner is a lock.

Burgoyne has been stuck in rehab since day 1.

19 hours ago, poita said:

If these are the best two options available to us, I'd rather we keep a spot open for the mid season draft.

I’m somewhat puzzled as to why we are limited to only two train-on players. Is that the rule? 

4 minutes ago, Apocalypse XXXI said:

I’m somewhat puzzled as to why we are limited to only two train-on players. Is that the rule? 

Tigers have one vacancy like us but the article quoted by WJ says they have three players training with them for that spot.

51 minutes ago, Apocalypse XXXI said:

I’m somewhat puzzled as to why we are limited to only two train-on players. Is that the rule? 

Nope definitely not a rule. 

21 hours ago, Bring-Back-Powell said:

 If it comes down to those two, then it's a no brainer to go with Burgoyne.

I'm assuming Burgoyne is at the very least a competent VFL standard player who will provide depth for Casey while keeping Kozzie in a good space.

i agree, with Hibberd, McVee, DSmith all OOC and the club not recruiting another HB type to replace Hunt on the list Burgoyne appears the better play as a more pressing need

23 hours ago, Turner said:

i agree, with Hibberd, McVee, DSmith all OOC and the club not recruiting another HB type to replace Hunt on the list Burgoyne appears the better play as a more pressing need

 But Kye Turner is a HB interceptor type. 
Trent Is a small HF goal type who has had a long injury run since 2020. 

Why would you want TB if you believe we  need a HB or defender type, even though some are not contracted yet for 2024.
 

On 1/11/2023 at 11:24 AM, 58er said:

 But Kye Turner is a HB interceptor type. 
Trent Is a small HF goal type who has had a long injury run since 2020. 

Why would you want TB if you believe we  need a HB or defender type, even though some are not contracted yet for 2024.
 

we need a small defender, and TB has been training down back from what i've read

4 minutes ago, Turner said:

we need a small defender, and TB has been training down back from what i've read

Really that is a two edged sword as if TB is selected then it's either a small defender who may even play elsewhere like HF or mid something eventually.

If we go for Kye then  another interceptor type is available.  Do we need that?

Turner you seem more with it so TB may not be as I thought a small forward?

Where does all this leave AZM Taj Deakyn Smith and Judd McPhee ?? 

On 1/9/2023 at 10:39 AM, Whispering_Jack said:

Today’s Herald Sun

 

TRENT BURGOYNE (Port Adelaide SANFL) Mid-Fwd, 21, 177cm, 70kg

The son of Power great Peter and brother of 2021 draftee Jase, Burgoyne was delisted at the end of the 2021 season without playing a game for the club. Burgoyne’s two years at AFL level were cruelled by hamstring injuries, playing just four SANFL matches during this period. He remained with Port Adelaide’s SANFL side last year and impressed with his agility and reading of the play in defence, highlighted by 24 disposals and seven tackles against Norwood.

@58erthis was my source ahah, 

AMW played as a forward last year, hes a good tackler which could give him that jetta longevity if they don't rate his goalsense longterm potentially?

taj i think is more a wingman and definitely an outside type of hb not a tackling lockdown type

and then dsmith and mcvee are as u say the developing defenders down the queue

 

9 hours ago, Turner said:

@58erthis was my source ahah, 

AMW played as a forward last year, hes a good tackler which could give him that jetta longevity if they don't rate his goalsense longterm potentially?

taj i think is more a wingman and definitely an outside type of hb not a tackling lockdown type

and then dsmith and mcvee are as u say the developing defenders down the queue

 

Interesting quartet plus Trent. Mmm we need to develop 1-2 players out of that group. 

Just now, 58er said:

Interesting quartet plus Trent. Mmm we need to develop 1-2 players out of that group. 

Thanks Turner 

 

On 12/8/2022 at 1:15 PM, Apocalypse XXXI said:

Mitch Szybkowski is training on at Essendon in the New Year. Pity in a way because I was hoping he would land at Casey and possibly end up with Melbourne eventually. However, he’s probably of a type that’s similar to some of our gun midfielders but not nearly as good.

 

M. Szybkowski should provide the Essendon midfield with more size so they can compete with bigger bodies

Edited January 30, 20232 yr by John Demonic

14 hours ago, John Demonic said:

 

M. Szybkowski should provide the Essendon midfield with more size so they can compete with bigger bodies

Szybkowski and ruckman O'Keefe have had their trials ended at bomberland, similarly small forward Leary at Hawks, and Woodcock and one or two others at the suns. compared to other seasons where they stay all preseason clubs are coming to a decision sooner and either trialing someone else instead or not wasting resources if they don't see a spot for them

 

Having been to a number of training sessions, I haven't seen anything from Burgoyne which would justify a spot on the list.  He just keeps getting caught trying to do too much.  His position is even more doubtful when we have the likes of AMW and Deakyn Smith who have been in the system already and have that "something possible" in the way they play.  Burgoyne would suit a spot at Casey if they can fit him in on their list, so that he can at least show his wares.

Turner offers more for us today and is suited to multiple roles.  But really, at the moment we don't NEED either.

On 12/5/2022 at 2:37 PM, Mister Ed said:

Trent Burgoyne reported as being present in the training thread for today.

Trent, with a bit of team experience, is going to be a thunderbolt with clear and present evidentiary poise that displays exceptional pace, ball-handling, great evasion, straight-line passing, goal-sneak moves and thus, will be a very good asset for the future. He has a great mentor and strategist in his dad, as well - couldn't ask for more provided Goodwin gives him a real chance as he further develops.

29 minutes ago, Deemania since 56 said:

Trent, with a bit of team experience, is going to be a thunderbolt with clear and present evidentiary poise that displays exceptional pace, ball-handling, great evasion, straight-line passing, goal-sneak moves and thus, will be a very good asset for the future. He has a great mentor and strategist in his dad, as well - couldn't ask for more provided Goodwin gives him a real chance as he further develops.

Was taken in the rookie draft of 2019. Not sure your enthusiasm is shared by others on exposed form