Dockers pounce on delisted forward as Dons sign former Lion on first day of SSP

Fremantle and Essendon have both made signings on the first day of the Supplemental Selection Period (SSP) with Quinton Narkle joining the Dockers and Jaxon Prior becoming a Bomber.

The signing of Narkle was the first of the period with the former Port Adelaide and Geelong forward joining Freo.

Narkle, 26, joins the Dockers after 57 AFL games including 13 in 2024. The small forward played in Port Adelaide’s Preliminary Final defeat to Sydney before being cut by the club ahead of the trade period.

Hailing from the Perth Demons, Narkle returns to his home state for the first time as a footballer after initially being drafted by Geelong at pick No. 60 in the 20216 Draft.

Essendon’s signing of Prior was long expected after the defender was delisted by Brisbane at the end of their 2024 season.

The 23-year-old played 39 games for the Lions over five seasons as a medium intercepting defender.

He played four games in Brisbane’s premiership-winning 2024 season. Prior has family links to the Bombers with his father Michael playing 81 games in the red and black from 1994 to 2000.