Collingwood staffer earns North Melbourne SSP spot

In great news for North Melbourne fans, Frankston gun Tom Blamires has earned an SSP list spot ahead of the 2026 season.

Blamires went viral during the 2025 VFL season due to his connection with the Collingwood Magpies - the midfielder worked at the Pies as a part of the club's commercial team.

Facing the Pies' VFL side mid-year - featuring Bobby Hill and Jordan De Goey - Blamires gathered a ridiculous 44 disposals, six tackles and four clearances in a dominant showing.

Within his three seasons at VFL level, Blamires established himself as a highly reliable player at the level, dominating his home club before earning a nod in the VFL Team of the Year and winning the Fothergill-Round-Mitchell Medal after a stellar season last year.

A smokey to be drafted as a mature-aged recruit, the 23-year-old was invited to train on with the Kangaroos, with the club confirming on Wednesday afternoon that the defender has earned a place on the list just weeks out from the start of the AFL season.

He takes the spot of defender Jackson Archer, placed on the inactive list after being ruled out for the entire season with an ACL injury.