Ultimate pre-season track watch: The latest scouting notes and news from across the AFL
AFL clubs have kicked off pre-season training with returning stars, promising rookies and potential positional shake-ups as teams prepare for their 2026 campaigns.
Pre-season is heating up before the players go on break for Christmas, here’s all the latest from the track across the AFL!
DOGS BACK TO WORK - MINUS BEVO
Western Bulldogs defender Rory Lobb says the Dogs will focus on “bridging the gap” on the top eight sides of the competition as they look to regain their senior leaders back to the club.
Captain Marcus Bontempelli and coach Luke Beveridge were both absent from pre-season training on Wednesday.
The superstar midfielder Bontempelli is taking an extended break from returning to pre-season and will be back in action at Whitten Oval on Monday.
Bontempelli recently got married in October to partner Neila Brenning in Napa Valley, California.
Beveridge is back at the club after an overseas study tour in America but wasn’t on deck to take training on Wednesday.
Lobb said the Dogs assistants including Brendon Lade have taken a joint approach to running the drills while Beveridge has been away.
“They’re pretty much sharing it, obviously ‘Ladey’ steps up in that role a fair bit, but all the coaches are really standing up,” Lobb said.
“We’ve got guys like Alex Johnson, who is our VFL coach and he’s really doing a good job out there getting the boys going, and Daniel Pratt, who I worked closely with he’s always involved in all those drills.”
NEW DOGS ON THE BLOCK
The Dogs wasted no time showing their trio of 2025 draft picks – Lachlan Carmichael (pick 21), Louis Emmett (pick 27) and Will Darcy (pick 60) – the pre-season ropes.
Lobb has taken a particular interest in Carmichael, who is living with the defender after the Dogs snatched him away from the Sydney Academy on draft night.
The 2025 Allies’ MVP and U18 National Championships all-Australian is an emerging defender. He averaged 24.8 disposals, five marks and 3.8 tackles across his draft year.
“I’ve got Lachie living with me,” Lobb said.
“He’s been good, I’ve only had him for a couple of days, but he will be with me until Chrissy,” he said.
Lobb commended all three young guns, declaring “they’re really good, some big boys,” he said.
THE O’DONNELL-LOBB CONNECTION
Lobb was also full of praise for “unbelievable athlete” James O’Donnell who he declared had “only really scratched the surface on what he’s capable of.”
O’Donnell made his debut in 2023 after a big decision to swap the cricket kit for footy boots and has played a total of 48 games for the Bulldogs. The sharp defender instantly clicked with veteran Lobb.
“We’ve only played a year and a half together and I feel that synergy, the pre-season and throughout last year, we had some really good games together,” Lobb said.
CRAZY HAIR WATCH
Lobb isn’t shy when it comes to a crazy hair day but it is all for a good cause. The upcoming 2026 season may even see him with a few different hair designs and colours but he is always looking for approval from the most important person.
“We’ll see if I can get over the line with my wife (Lexi), so we’ll see how we go,” Lobb said.
The 32-year-old first dyed his hair blue for the Bulldog’s 100th VFL/AFL anniversary, then rocked a lobster as a subtle touch to his last name.
The madness didn’t end there. The key defender bleached his hair blonde and got the words ‘woof, woof’ printed in red and blue on the back of his head, in recognition to his club.
He is looking to work alongside some charity organisations in 2026.
PORT LATEST: POSITIONAL CHANGES ON THE HORIZON?
Port Adelaide star Zak Butters is showing promising signs in his recovery from off-season groin surgery, while Josh Carr continued to hint at some positional changes in 2026.
Butters went under the knife to alleviate an adductor issue that had troubled him in 2025 and has been ramping up his recovery since reporting to Alberton for pre-season training last week.
On Wednesday he was doing plenty of kicking in addition to his running, and was in good spirits throughout.
He was an interested onlooker around the midfield group when the players broke into the respective positional lines.
Here is what stood out from the Power’s session;
There were a couple of hints at positional changes when the Power did split into their line groups.
While Jackson Mead has spent his AFL career so far as a forward with stints in the midfield he was in the defence group.
Mead has played 46 games at AFL level over the past two years but struggled to really impact games at times in 2025.
So is this a way of Carr getting more out of the father-son?
Captain Connor Rozee looks set to again feature heavily at half-back with stints in the midfield in 2026.
He had been with the backs so far in pre-season but he said on Monday that was more him filling in the gaps because senior players had been away.
With every senior player back on the track, Jason Horne-Francis and Sam Powell-Pepper were in the building as they recover from injury, Rozee was with the defenders when the Power broke into groups.
With him there, Miles Bergman was with the mids.
While Christian Moraes impressed on a wing in his debut season in 2025, he looks set to be played more as a forward in 2026.
In line for a wing spot could be Ewan Mackinlay as he continues to be one of the more impressive players for the Power this pre-season.
Mackinlay was a player namechecked by director of coaching Andy Collins as to who he had been impressed with recently and the mid-season draftee from North Adelaide is putting together an impressive body of work.
His running has improved significantly and he also improved his strength.
He was with the midfield group showcasing his aerobic capability.
HOLMES BROS GO TOE TO TOE AT CATS TRAINING
It was a baptism of fire for draftee Hunter Holmes in his second session as a Cat, going toe-to-toe with his older brother Max in a midfield drill at Waurn Ponds Deakin University.
Hunter, underdeveloped like Max was when he arrived at the Cattery, got spooked in one contest with a fumble as he attempted to pick up the footy.
As any older brother would, dual Carji Greeves medallist Max jokingly got in Hunter’s ear and gave him a pat on the back.
The eldest Holmes also gave himself some flak during the drill when he shanked a kick to a leading target.
“Bit of fun being on him. He gets into me a little bit, but it’s good,” Hunter said with a smile.
An explosive yet raw 188cm midfielder, Hunter broke away and hit a target lace out moments after his fumble and received praise from his older sibling and teammates.
Max showed off his own blistering speed by putting on the afterburners to escape Hunter’s clutches like they were in the backyard of their childhood home.
The brotherly duel wasn’t the only full-circle moment for Hunter, linking up with his Prahran under-12s coach Nathan Buckley, now a Cats assistant.
“It’s pretty cool to have that full circle moment that I’m back with him and he’s obviously got a lot of experience. He’s a great coach, so he’s been unreal,” Hunter said.
Buckley was a “real gentle” coach to his son Jett and Hunter back then, but the former Collingwood leader has been hands on to start his coaching comeback.
The 53-year-old wrapped up Lawson Humphries in a tackle on Monday and on Wednesday he was offering words of advice to plenty of players, including Ollie Dempsey and draftee Jesse Mellor.
Geelong’s top draft selection Harley Barker, a keen observer on the sidelines after an ACL rupture midway through the year, said Buckley has caught his eye on the track.
“I was watching him before, he’s moving pretty well. He looks good out there, could probably still put the kit on, I reckon,” Barker said.
“But he’s good, I get talking to him when I’m out there watching the boys, and get a little insight off him.”
Hunter was surrounded by family and friends, including Max and their mother, two-time Olympian Lee Naylor, when the Cats called his name with pick 33 last week.
The outcome didn’t come as a complete shock.
“Had a bit of an idea, and I was really hoping for it. But the way the draft goes, you never know what’s going to happen,” Hunter said.
“It was pretty emotional. They’ve all been hoping for this outcome the whole year. So a couple of tears, but a lot of lot of smiles. It was really good.”
STRONG FIRST IMPRESSION
Former Hawthorn midfielder James Worpel, hailing from nearby Bannockburn, and fringe midfielder Mitch Knevitt were in the same midfield group as the Holmes brothers, with the pair also back early among Geelong’s first-to-four year players.
They say first impressions are everything and Worpel has been a standout in his first week as a Cat, following an injury-affected and inconsistent campaign.
Worpel, 26, flew under the radar during the trade period and looms as a bargain recruit, given the Cats acquired him for nothing as a free agent and his salary only triggered an end of second round pick for Hawthorn.
CLARRY’S ORANGE DEBUT
Former Melbourne midfielder Clayton Oliver has been described as a “beast” by his new Giants teammates, hitting the track for the first time this pre-season in his new colours.
Oliver was one of the highest-profile stars of the AFL to move during the trade period, joining GWS on a deal that the Dees will heavily compensate over the next five years.
The 28-year-old brings premiership-winning experience, as well as three All-Australian blazers, to a Giants midfield group desperately wanting to break through for their maiden premiership.
While only the first- to fourth-year players were required on Monday morning, Oliver was one of several older players to return to Giants HQ early. Stephen Coniglio, Lachie Whitfield and Sam Taylor were among the group, while Callan Ward was sporting his new black kit as he helped out with the coaching following his retirement earlier this year.
But all eyes were on Oliver as he donned the orange and charcoal for the first time with aspirations of elevating Adam Kingsley’s side into premiership contention once again.
“I mean, he’s a beast, isn’t he?” GWS midfielder Harry Rowston said. “He just finds the footy, his running patterns, things like that.
“The young core that we’ve got, I think people from other clubs and other teams are starting to see that we’re going to be a good club for a long time, that’s why people are wanting to come here.
“The culture at this club is so good, and I think that’s why people are starting to look at us as a destination club. Get out of Melbourne, get out of the headlines a little bit, come up to Sydney and be part of such a good club.”
Still only 21, Rowston finally received more opportunities in Kingsley’s side this year, playing 10 games across the midfield and forward line.
And although he knows Oliver’s arrival could hurt his chances of winning a spot in the midfield short-term, he’s eager to work with the former Demon to become the best player he can be.
“I can’t wait to get into the club and watch vision with him and pick his brain about what it is to be an elite midfielder like himself,” Rowston said. “I’m pretty keen to learn as much as I can off him.
“(His arrival) is only going to improve the team, and myself. Obviously, it’s another midfielder in the team, but if I can’t play in the midfield, I’ll try and find somewhere else to play.
“It was a good year for me, to get a bit of comfort in the team … to know that I’m good enough to be at the level. It had the motivation levels pretty high during the off-season for training. I feel like I’ve done everything I can. I get into pre-season now and then look forward to next year.”
FRESH FACES
Oliver wasn’t the only new Giant at training, with former Bomber Jayden Laverde training on Monday after officially joining the club through the SSP as a rookie signing.
Laverde looked lean and was put through his paces with a heavy running focus on their first session back. Physically, he competed well with some of the Giants’ forwards, even though the drills were at a fairly low intensity to ease the players back into training.
Ward was also a familiar face in a different role. While he’s joined the club as a part-time business and football adviser primarily based out of Melbourne, he was working with numerous players on the first day of pre-season.
ON THE WAY BACK
There are lots of positive signs for the Giants when it comes to players looking for more consistent years on the track.
Coniglio was a strong participant on day one, running hard and looking to return to his best form ahead of his contract year. Brent Daniels was also part of the group as he works his way back from surgery.
While he hasn’t started running yet, Darcy Jones has also made strong progress in his recovery from an ACL injury. It’s hopeful the small forward could be running before the New Year.
ONES TO WATCH
Kingsley could be set for quite a few headaches in 2026, with their depth only stretching further following another pre-season.
The ruck battle will be essential viewing. Kieren Briggs has the inside running as the incumbent, but Nick Madden is eager to prove he should be playing at the AFL level regularly. Fellow Academy product Logan Smith has also trimmed down as he looks to put a frustrating 12 months of injury and illness behind him.
Ryan Angwin also looked like he was training with supreme confidence after forcing his way into the team in the back half of the season.
YOUNG PIE’S RUNNING POWER STUNS TEAMMATES
September sub Roan Steele has laid down a pre-season marker, smashing out “one of the better running sessions we will ever see” to launch Collingwood’s return to training.
The mid-season draftee wowed a deep batch of senior teammates by dominating a yoyo test as the Pies began pre-season on Monday, before finishing the lengthy session by lapping teammates in a shuttle run.
Steele played five games this year after being taken in the mid-season draft, including starting Collingwood’s two finals as the sub, a role that will not continue with the substitute removed in 2026.
Only players in the first four years on the Pies list were required back on Monday but a long list of veterans joined in, including Jordan De Goey, Jeremy Howe, Brayden Maynard and Darcy Cameron.
But it was Steele that was spoken about by the group once the session finished with winger Wil Parker already planning how to chase him down.
“I don’t mind him being out the front, it gives me something to chase,” Parker said.
“We spoke about it at the end of training, how impressive it was. It was probably one of the better running sessions we will ever see from a player.
“It is something for us to aspire to be and keep chasing and that will make us better.”
Young Magpies forward Charlie West said Steele “was elite”.
“The testing was great, he was looking very fit. It is going to be a good year for him,” West said.
Collingwood’s draftees – Tyan Prindable, Sam Swadling, Zac McCarthy and Angus Anderson – were all on track.
Your first official look at our 2025 draftees in the black and white 🧵
— Collingwood FC (@CollingwoodFC) November 23, 2025
Magpie Army, make them feel welcome below 👇 pic.twitter.com/hvSae6Ka4x
Tew Jiath trained away from the group for most of the session, as did forward Dan McStay.
West has been cleared to train fully to start summer, after a foot stress fracture ended his 2025 season not long after his AFL debut.
With Brody Mihocek now at Melbourne and Mason Cox at Fremantle, the path is open for West to become a regular in Craig McRae’s forwardline.
He signed a two-year contract extension on the eve of pre-season.
“It was very exciting, as soon as I saw the contract come through, it was a no-brainer,” he said.
“There are a lot of good forwards (on the list), I am just happy to keep knocking down the doors and whatever opens, opens.”
McRae stepped out on the track after recently returning from a study trip in the United Kingdom, having spent a week with the Scotland rugby union side in the lead-up to a clash with New Zealand.
Joined by Pies footy boss Charlie Gardiner, high performance head Jarrod Wade and senior assistant Hayden Skipworth, McRae’s crew also spent time with the Wallabies and Premier League soccer club Newcastle United.
A NEW DAY FOR HAWTHORN
Hawthorn midfielder Josh Ward says he’s confident teammate Will Day can return to full strength next year as the Hawks aim to bounce back from a “ugly” finish to the 2025 season.
The Hawks players were put through their strides at their new Dingley home base on Monday, with Day present but still recovering from a foot injury which saw him manage just six games this year.
But Ward, who filled the void in the midfield for his star teammate, said he was confident he’d be fully back up and running soon.
“He’s moving well, he’s on a bit of a modified program at the moment, but he’s looking strong and fit. Very excited to see him back to full strength this year.” Ward said.
Ward was named the Hawks most improved player of the 2025 season but said there was plenty to improve on after a disappointing finish to the finals series, which saw them fall to Geelong.
“I think you never feel completely comfortable in the AFL, I’m definitely taking that mindset of a lot to prove.
“ …(it was a) pretty ugly way to go out, as a team and for me personally.”
The Hawks picked up a wave of emerging talent in last week’s draft, who all ticked off their first pre-season training session in style.
Cameron Nairn (Pick 20), Aidan Schubert (Pick 23), Jack Dalton (Pick 34) and Matt LeRay (Pick 56) had a kick of the footy at the brand-new Kennedy Community Centre and Ward was impressed with what he saw.
“They’ve been looking great and comfortable out there. Jack was dominating the running, Aidan has got some nice hands,” he said.
“They have all brought something which is good to see.”
The Hawks are building this pre-season to involve as many of their younger prospects as possible with Ward admitting the club had moved on quickly following the failed move to land Essendon captain Zach Merrett in the recent trade period.
“We had about 25 players here on Thursday just in the off-season doing a session, that felt great,” he said.
“We have a lot of depth in the midfield, and an exciting opportunity for the young players to step up.
“Zach Merrett is an unbelievable player, but we move on pretty quickly.”
Ward said the Hawks have a point to prove and have highlighted an importance on mental toughness for their 2026 season.
“Mental skills, being able to perform and do our job, play our role under pressure,” he said.
“There’s evidence we have improved on that, but again in the prelim, those times we need to be better.”
PREMIERS HIT THE TRACK
It was already pushing 30 degrees when the Brisbane Lions hit the track for their first official day of AFL pre-season at Springfield just after 8am on Monday morning.
And the club’s high performance staff pulled no punches with their plans to have the back-to-back premiers fit and firing in time to commence their three-peat pursuit.
The full session ran for roughly 90 minutes and there was no indoor respite – perhaps partly because teenage running sensation, Gout Gout, had pre-booked the club’s indoor training facility for use at the same time.
It was required attendance for the first to fourth-year players however the bulk of the Lions’ playing group turned out in force for day one, including off-season recruits Sam Draper, Oscar Allen and young Irish rookie, Ben Murphy.
Keidean Coleman (ACL), Lincoln McCarthy (ACL) and Noah Answerth (Achilles) all ran strongly in positive news for the trio who missed a large chunk of the 2025 season through injury.
“It gets real hot out here at Springfield – it gets a couple of degrees warmer than Brisbane – but it’s a great challenge for us,” Lions defender Jaspa Fletcher said.
“We try and have a rule not to mention too much about the heat when we get out there and just attack the session.
“The boys looked fit and firing and ready to attack it.
“Sam Draper has a nice tan going on at the moment so I think he’s enjoying it.
“I know Oscar (Allen) was feeling it there for a bit but he got back up and kept going
“I’m sure they will be in for a bit of a shock come January when it gets up around the 40-degree sort of mark but once again, they are ready to go and ready to attack it.”
Fletcher revealed he had shoulder surgery in the off-season and would begin the pre-season in rehab alongside Jarrod Berry, who famously withdrew himself from grand final selection consideration after dislocating his shoulder in the prelim.
“Unfortunately I had my shoulder touched up in the off-season so it’s a different challenge for me as well and something I haven’t quite experience before, coming back from an operation,” Fletcher said.
“I’ve got a great mate in Bez beside me to get me through as well.
“Post my operation I was ready to go and looking forward to 2026.
“For me personally I will be just attacking my rehab as best I can … so I can come into the season fit and ready to go. That will be my goal.”
FRESH START FOR STAR SUNS BEGINS
On the Gold Coast Christian Petracca and Jamarra Ugle-Hagan joined teammates for their first official pre-season session as Suns players.
The club has been happy with Ugle-Hagan’s early output and application after it handed him an AFL lifeline in the trade period following a 2025 campaign in which he did not feature at all for the Western Bulldogs.
After initially moving in with senior coach Damien Hardwick he is now living with Suns’ Indigenous mentor Jarrod Harbrow.
Hardwick has since thrown open his home to Tasmanian draftee Avery Thomas, who the Suns selected with pick 28 last Thursday night.
It all starts now... pic.twitter.com/JaFyatlyuH
— Gold Coast Suns (@GoldCoastSUNS) November 24, 2025
It was a hot and humid welcome to Queensland for the young defender, who only days earlier was still living in much cooler conditions in Launceston.
Like the Lions, Monday’s session was mandatory only for the first to fourth-year players at the Suns but many senior players turned up early to support their younger teammates including the likes of skipper Noah Anderson and vice-captain Touk Miller.
Sophomore Sun Leo Lombard was a surprise winner in the 2km time trial, coming from the clouds near the end to pip Sam Clohesy.
It was a statement run from the young midfielder, whose first AFL pre-season was interrupted when he dislocated his shoulder in a practice match against Brisbane in February.
Originally published as Ultimate pre-season track watch: The latest scouting notes and news from across the AFL
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