Pre-season brings cliché quotes about “training the house down” and “burning up the track” but it is an important time to build up a fitness base to create some confidence from an AFL Fantasy and SuperCoach perspective.
The last thing you want is to select players who’ve had interrupted pre-seasons who end up breaking down early in the campaign, or needing a rest, or even struggling to run out games, thus not scoring as hoped.
There are also role changes which often provide a boost to a player’s point scoring output worth noting in pre-season, so we’ve gone club-by-club (in reverse alphabetical order for once) to offer some key snippets of info.
Western Bulldogs
Adam Treloar has only just to full training following off-season ankle surgery, while Bailey Smith is back into it after leg soreness. Both had missed a recent match sim but Dogs midfield coach Marc Webb insisted Smith, however, was “super fit” and that his absence wasn’t an issue.
Cody Weightman played in midfield during that match sim. Ruckman Tim English has also had a minor adductor issue he’s been dealing with.
West Coast
Luke Shuey talked about playing a half-back role, alternating with Elliot Yeo and Reuben Ginbey this season.
Eagles coach Adam Simpson tried to downplay the excitement around Ginbey for a Round 1 debut but conceded he has the capability to play this year. On the contrary, Simpson indicated Campbell Chesser was still building, with Round 1 not his target, so he’ll likely be slowly managed into the team.
Sydney
Swans top 2022 Draft pick Jacob Konstanty is in the mix for an early debut, with coach John Longmire talking up his prospects. Longmire told afl.com.au: “He’s been fantastic. He’s not just a hard chaser. He’s got some class… Sometimes I err on selecting players a bit early. Nothing excites me more than seeing young players come in.”
St Kilda
Potential Round 1 debutant Matthew Allison was ruled out for 16-20 weeks with a foot injury.
Richmond
Tigers assistant coach Andrew McQualter raved about Dustin Martin‘s fitness although he was non-committal on his role, potential playing a bit of midfield and forward.
Trent Cotchin looks set for a forward switch, while draftee Kaleb Smith has been ruled out for two months with a foot bone stress issue.
Port Adelaide
Scott Lycett offered assurance that he’s feeling fully fit after his shoulder reconstruction and subsequent infection last year.
Jason Horne-Francis has also slowly been building up in pre-season and was fine after an injury scare in training.
North Melbourne
Jack Ziebell has flagged that he’ll be playing in defence in 2023, after getting used up forward last season. He said: “I’m going to play down back this year. I started down there when Nobes was our coach in 2021. Played a little bit forward last year and Clarko sees my role playing down back.”
Tarryn Thomas has taken time away from the club after allegations of inappropriate behaviour emerged last week, having previously been charged with a single count of threatening to distribute an intimate image.
Rookie Draft top pick Blake Drury has been discussed as a potential Round 1 debutant and he clarified he’s been training in a defensive role.
Melbourne
Christian Salem has been placed on a modified training program due to a thyroid concern and he’ll be monitored closely and indefinitely before being reintegrated. Max Gawn was back in full training on Monday after a slight hamstring concern a fortnight ago.
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Hawthorn
Hawks midfield coach David Hale talked up Cam Mackenzie as a potential Round 1 debutant, while defence coach Kade Simpson said Josh Weddle had been impressive throughout pre-season, having dominated their time trials, which is very rare as a draftee.
GWS Giants
Giants assistant coach Brett Montgomery discussed the potential for 2022 AFL Draft No.1 pick Aaron Cadman to debut early in 2023, saying “he certainly hasn’t put a foot wrong so far”.
Montgomery also said should Cadman debut up forward, that may free up Harry Himmelberg to play in the backline again where he was so effective late last year.
Gold Coast Suns
Ben King looks to be in the mix to return in Round 1 after an ACL injury almost 12 months ago ,with the club stating “pending hitting the markers set by the medical team, is expected to be available for Round 1”.
The Suns also added 25-year-old Frankston Dolphins forward Brodie McLaughlin as an SSP signing to add depth to their tall forward options. He kicked 24 goals in 12 VFL games last year.
Geelong
Tom Hawkins seems to be on a tight timeline to be fit for Round 1 following off-season foot surgery.
Fremantle
Dockers coach Justin Longmuir talked up young backman Hayden Young for another big season ahead, telling SEN WA: “Youngy has taken a massive step forward this pre-season as a half-back. He can win the ball back but also distribute the way he does. Looks like one of our players who’ll take a big step forward this year.”
Longmuir also said that Nat Fyfe wouldn’t be solely playing up forward, with scope to integrate him in to their midfield if need be from time to time.
Essendon
Anthony McDonald-Tipungwuti was a full participant in match simulation as he builds his match fitness.
Collingwood
The Pies added Oscar Steene as a SSP signing. He’s a 201cm ruckman from West Adelaide, adding depth to their talls with Darcy Cameron limping out of training last week with a minor hamstring complaint.
Carlton
Zac Williams’ season is over before it begun, suffering an ACL injury in pre-season. That may have implications on the likes of Sam Docherty‘s role.
Brisbane Lions
Dayne Zorko has suffered a hamstring setback in pre-season. Lions Footy GM Danny Daly told afl.com.au: “He’s done everything over the pre-season and is in great shape. It’s a small one (injury), but he’ll be fine.”
The plaudits keep coming for 2022 AFL Draft No.2 pick Will Ashcroft who has dominated several Lions match simulations, having started in the middle alongside Lachie Neale and Josh Dunkley. Lions coach Chris Fagan said: “The starting midfield group of Neale, Dunkley and Ashcroft were pretty impressive I thought.”
Fagan also remained unsure of his best backline set-up, trialing Cam Rayner in the defence, meaning there’s no certainty about Darcy Wilmot and Conor McKenna playing in Round 1.
Adelaide
Veteran Taylor Walker picked out Wayne Milera as someone who’s impressed in pre-season. Walker said: “The ones who are training really well are Wayne Milera – he’s looking very, very healthy off half-back.”
