With a month to go before some pre-season practice match hit-outs, clubs and players are ramping up the intensity at training.
Competition for spots is hot at Collingwood, while the Tigers and Bulldogs have clarified some injury news.
Get the latest pre-season news and updates in AFL Track Watch!
Watch the BBL Finals live and ad break free during play on Kayo. New to Kayo? Start Your Free Trial Today >
YOUNG PIES PUSHING ROUND 1 CASE
Several Collingwood players that missed out on a premiership medallion, as well as a couple of new recruits, continue to put their hands up for early-season senior selection.
Most of the reigning premiers’ squad stepped out onto Olympic Park Oval on Monday for training, with Dan McStay (ACL) the club’s only long-term injury issue.
Four players missed due to Covid — Jack Crisp, Brody Mihocek, Jamie Elliott and Charlie Dean — but are expected to return to the club in the next week. Meanwhile Josh Daicos (foot) and Brayden Maynard (shoulder) are close to resuming full contact training.
Dual premiership Kangaroo and Fox Footy commentator David King said he was particularly impressed by Tew Jiath, who was taken by Collingwood with Pick 37 in last year’s draft.
“ … my god Jiath does some incredible things with his movement and creativity, despite possibly needing another 1-2 preseasons,” King wrote on X.
King added 2022 draftee Joe Richards, as well as premiership duo Bobby Hill and Beau McCreery “looked terrific” on the track.
7 News Melbourne reporter Theo Doropoulos also watched the Magpies’ session, saying fringe on-baller Finlay Macrae “caught the eye”.
Pies chasing back to back flags | 00:51
“He almost got the three votes I’d say (as best on at training),” Doropoulos told SEN Afternoons.
“Maybe there’s a space for him there to burst into that Collingwood midfield.
“He played a bit behind the ball today and you just wonder if he could make this season his own.”
AFL Media reported Reef McInnes and Ash Johnson had “made strong impressions” in recent weeks as the Magpies’ match committee looks for a replacement for McStay.
BULLDOGS CLARIFY STAR RUCK’S MYSTERY INJURY
Western Bulldogs star Tim English will return to full training after it was found health issues which had disrupted his pre-season were not linked to concussion.
The All-Australian ruckman has been absent from contact drills since the Bulldogs resumed their pre-season training this month due to what the club said was a “medical issue”.
The club said in a statement Monday that English had been kept out of the drills after suffering “migraine-related symptoms”, but he would begin to re-enter full training this week after it was ruled the symptoms were not the effects of a concussion.
“The Western Bulldogs confirm that Tim English suffered some migraine-related symptoms in the weeks prior to the Christmas break,” the statement read.
“As he has suffered concussion in the past, the club wanted to be thorough and diligent in Tim’s management and engaged medical specialists.
“Specialists confirmed that Tim’s symptoms were not related to concussion and more consistent with a migraine.
“Tim’s migraine symptoms have now fully resolved and he will progress back into full training over the next week.”
English, 26, missed a month of football with lingering concussion symptoms during the 2021 season, and missed two more matches midway through the 2022 season after experiencing delayed symptoms following a match.
His clearance to return to full training will be important for the Bulldogs, who only have Rory Lobb to turn to as a recognised ruck with senior experience after trading Jordon Sweet to Port Adelaide.
Developing key position prospect Sam Darcy (205cm) or 2023 third-round pick Lachlan Smith (203m) are the only back-up options for English and Lobb.
— NCA NewsWire
TIGERS TAKE IT EASY WITH DUSTY
Richmond is hopeful superstar Dustin Martin will return to full training later this week after reportedly rolling his ankle last week.
The Age reported Martin was part of the Tigers rehab’ group during a session on Monday, having a light run before leaving the track. The club indicated Martin’s issue was minor.
Martin worked briefly alongside dual premiership forward Tom Lynch, who continues to progress well and as planned in a “slow build” towards the start of the season. Lynch was restricted to just four games in 2023 due to a foot injury.
“Tom’s very impatient of course, and we all want to get Tom out there and into the footy drills as soon as possible, but we need to understand that he had a really long period off, he had eight months without running,” Richmond physical performance manager Luke Meehan said. “He’s going to work his tail off to get back as soon as he can, but we need to be really smart and have Tom available for as long as possible this year.”
DONS FANS URGED TO COOL EXPECTATIONS ON TOP-10 PICK
While the hype around top-10 Essendon draftee Nate Caddy remains strong, luckless forward Harry Jones is the goalkicker Bombers fans should be just as excited about, according to teammate Kyle Langford.
Caddy has impressed teammates and fans with his energy and intensity on the field since he was drafted by the Bombers with Pick 10 in last year’s draft.
That fanfare only intensified on Saturday when he was filmed taking a spectacular mark over Jayden Laverde during match simulation.
Speaking to reporters, Langford said there was “no denying his (Caddy’s) talent at all”, but urged fans to be patient with him this year.
“Whether he plays Round 1 or not doesn’t really matter to us but we want him to play his best footy and once he does get to AFL level to stay there,” Langford said.
Langford said Jones, who was restricted to just five games during his injury-interrupted 2023 campaign, has had an “unbelievable” off-season.
“It is the best kind of footy I have seen him put together for a while and his body is feeling really good and his head is really good,” Langford said.
GOOD NEWS FOR NEW ROO
North Melbourne recruit Zac Fisher has been cleared of a hamstring strain after a scare late last week.
Fisher was taken away for scans after a training session last Friday, but results have indicated he’s avoided a hamstring strain.
While the ex-Blue on Monday was part of the club’s rehab group and will continue to train on a “modified program over the short-term”, the Kangaroos are confident Fisher can make a swift recovery.
Tarryn told to stay away from training | 00:39
“Zac went for scans on Friday afternoon which came back with no significant damage which is great,” North head of performance Kevin White told the club’s website.
“He still had some awareness (on Monday morning). We’ll use this week to build him up through speed and strength and then we’ll assess him at the back end of the week with what that looks like in regards to training.”
Midfield Tarryn Thomas remained away from training on Monday as he prepares to face the AFL Integrity Unit this week over fresh allegations of inappropriate behaviour.
FYFE FLYING AS DOCKERS YOUNG GUN IMPRESSES
Dual Brownlow Medallist Nat Fyfe was a standout mover during Fremantle match simulation on Monday.
Fyfe, who’s had three straight injury-interrupted seasons, played almost exclusively as a midfielder at the Dockers’ Cockburn training base.
While Fyfe’s on-ball craft caught the eye, a one-handed mark later in the match had fans excited.
“Fyfey is going really well at the moment. He’s moving really well and it was good to see him get up and have another good session,” Dockers defender James Aish said.
“I think he’s moving really well out there and he’s training at a really good level. I think he’s enjoying being in the midfield, so it’s good to see.”
Fyfe wasn’t the only midfielder to stand out, with 2021 draftee Matt Johnson impressing with his power and doot skills out of stoppage.
Brennan Cox (soreness) and Josh Treacy (illness) missed the session, while Luke Ryan (ankle), Brandon Walker (leg), Sean Darcy (knee) and Sam Switkowski (hamstring) were all on restricted duties.
CATS GREAT JOINS GIANTS … AND LAUDS ‘FIT AND STRONG’ HOGAN
The Giants have secured the services of triple premiership forward Cameron Mooney, who’s joined the club in an advisory role for the 2024 season.
Mooney, who played 221 games for the Kangaroos and the Cats across 15 seasons, will visit the Giants at various points throughout the season where he’ll work closely with the club’s key-position players.
The Fox Footy commentator had his first day at Giants headquarters on Friday where he worked with the tall forwards.
“Cam brings a wealth of knowledge after 15 years playing at the top level and we are excited about the wisdom he can pass on to our players, particularly our key position forwards, as well as our rucks,” Giants football boss Jason McCartney said.
“He knows what it takes to be successful at this level, having won three premierships in his playing days, and it’s great to be able to add someone of his calibre to our environment.”
Asked which Giants players stood out to him last week, Mooney said Jesse Hogan was “looking really fit and strong”, while Callum Brown was “looking fantastic”.
“I know he’s still learning the game, being an Irish kid, but his ability to throw me out of the way, his strength, his body and his timing, I was extremely impressed with what he did today,” Mooney told the club’s website.
AND SOME INSIGHT ON HARDWICK’S SUNS …
