Lynden Dunn hasn’t played a senior game since tearing his anterior cruciate ligament twice in less than 12 months, but the key defender is closing in on a return to Collingwood’s list.

The 32-year-old was delisted at the end of last season following two reconstructions on his left knee – the first in Round 15, 2018 and the second in March, 2019 – but has trained with the Magpies since the first to fourth-year players returned on November 18.

Dunn has been training away from the main group but is set return to full training by midway through February, providing him with a month to prove his fitness before the pre-season supplemental selection period closes on March 13.

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Round 18

Lynden Dunn and Mason Cox at Collingwood training last year. Source: News Corp Australia

The former Demon ran an impressive time in the 2km time trial when Nathan Buckley’s men returned for the first time in 2020 last Friday morning.

It is understood that the vacant spot is Dunn’s if he can overcome the knee injuries that have derailed a promising start to his career.

Despite missing so much football on the wrong side of 30, Dunn believes he has more than just one season left at the highest level.

Dunn is one of ten players who currently have permission to train at an AFL club during the pre-season supplemental selection period.

Harley Bennell during a training session at Gosch's Paddock in December. Source: Getty Images

Former No. 2 pick Harley Bennell is training just down the road at Melbourne and looks set to earn a third chance if he can overcome the calf issues that have derailed his career.

Delisted Bulldog Lukas Webb is looking for a lifeline at Carlton, who unearthed VFL star Michael Gibbons via this route last year.

Hawthorn will give Darren Minchington another chance if he completes the pre-season. The Hawks are also looking at Western Jets half-back Darcy Cassar, who was very stiff to miss out on being drafted in November.

Darren Minchington competes for a ball with James Sicily. Source: Getty Images

West Coast has invited four players to train over the summer, including former No. 4 pick Jarrod Pickett, who parted ways with Carlton midway through last year, after starting his career at Greater Western Sydney.

Adam Simpson’s side also has ex-Docker Brady Grey, Isaya McKenzie and Nicolas Reid – who starred for the Eagles’ reserves in the WAFL last year – training with them.

Adelaide has also invited a player – James Matthews – from their reserves program to train over the summer months.

The 23-year-old has only played five SANFL games, but showed plenty of promise when he booted four goals against Norwood in last year’s semi-final.

Essendon selected former Tiger and GWS forward Jacob Townsend last month, after the Demons signed former Geelong and Essendon key forward Mitch Brown when the period opened in early December.

2019 pre-season supplemental selection period:

Carlton: Michael Gibbons (21 games), Matthew Cottrell (zero games)

Essendon: Zac Clarke (nine games)

Gold Coast: Sam Fletcher: (zero games)

Greater Western Sydney: Shane Mumford (20 games)

Hawthorn: Ned Reeves (zero games)

Melbourne: Corey Wagner (11 games), Jay Lockhart (12 games)

North Melbourne: Tom Campbell (two games)

Richmond: Sydney Stack (17 games), Mav Weller (two games)

St Kilda: Jonathon Marsh (five games), Sam Rowe (one game)

Sydney: Hayden McLean (four games)

West Coast: Keegan Brooksby (zero games)



