HAWTHORN has informed talented but injury-prone small forward Darren Minchington he won't be offered the club's vacant list spot.
Minchington played in the Hawks' Marsh Community Series opener and last week's practice match – both against his old team St Kilda – and was hoping to score a second year on the list.
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All clubs have until March 13 to fill any list openings via the pre-season supplemental selection period, or they could wait until the mid-season draft.
Hawthorn snapped the 26-year-old up as a delisted free agent ahead of the 2019 season after the Saints cut him loose following 28 games across seven years.
He was unable to add to that tally last season, at least in part because of three hamstring setbacks – the last of them shortly after coach Alastair Clarkson hinted he was close to senior selection.
Another minor hamstring strain pre-Christmas continued Minchington's frustrating run but he recovered to play both matches in the past fortnight, including kicking two goals last week.
His hopes seemed to be heightened because of the Hawks' lack of small forward options but they now look set to enter the season with Luke Breust, Paul Puopolo, Ollie Hanrahan and Dylan Moore.
"I don't think anyone in the game doubts that he's got the talent to play AFL footy," Clarkson told AFL.com.au in February.
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"He can be elusive with the footy in his hands (and) he's a difficult little match-up, because he's clever with the footy and doesn't need many touches, but it's just whether or not he can get out on the park.
"For all the success stories we've had with guys we've been able to get out on the park, last year we were unable to get him out on the park."
There could yet be some movement in the SSP, with Adelaide, Carlton, Collingwood, Essendon and Greater Western Sydney also with the ability to add a player.
West Coast signed ex-Cat Jamaine Jones and WAFL goalsneak Nicolas Reid this week.
Northern Territory Thunder's Nigel Lockyer is the only unlisted player still training at the Bombers, after Brynn Teakle and Nathan Ireland were also trialled in recent weeks.
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Lynden Dunn hopes to return for another season at Collingwood, while another former Cat Jordan Cunico, ex-Tiger Callum Moore and Northern Knights graduate Ryan Sturgess are in the mix at Carlton.
There's been some suggestion North Melbourne might create a list opening to sign talented NT flyer Adam Tipungwuti but AFL.com.au understands he is more of a mid-season chance.
