Richmond has overlooked former Geelong midfielder Quinton Narkle for its final list spot, signing an untried key position prospect one day before Wednesday’s SSP selection deadline.
The 25-year-old Narkle, who was drafted in 2016 with pick 60 and played 41 games for the Cats over six seasons, looks consigned to a season at state level after missing out at Punt Road.
Richmond instead opted to recruit 195cm Corowa-Rutherglen player Kaelan Bradtke, who booted 39 goals in 17 games for the Ovens and Murray Football League club in 2022 and also featured in two games for Sydney’s VFL team.
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Bradtke, 21, had been vying with Narkle and NAB AFL Academy prospect Luke Teal for the last spot on the Tigers’ list before he was told on Tuesday he had succeeded.
Like Bradtke, Narkle had trained with the Tigers since the first day of their pre-season, but the Western Australian was deemed surplus to Richmond’s midfield requirements, while Bradtke offered key forward depth.
Narkle is unlikely to spend 2023 on an AFL list, although Hawthorn, Essendon and Melbourne may still make selections before Wednesday’s deadline.
Each of the three clubs had their own trialists on the track over pre-season with the Bombers weighing throwing a lifeline to delisted Hawk Tom Phillips, former Bulldog Brad Lynch or WA teenager Jack Cleaver.
St Kilda signed Northern Knights product Anthony Caminiti with its SSP selection on Monday, while Collingwood confirmed on Friday it had selected Oleg Markov and Carlton recruited Oakleigh Chargers ruckman Hudson O’Keeffe.
