AFL pre-season watch: Which players will play in different positions in 2025?
Coaches love swinging the magnets around in pre-season, and we’ve had eyes at nearly every club’s sessions to get the word on who’s shaping up to change roles.
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Clubs across the AFL are starting to ramp up their match simulation and game-like drills at training as January rapidly approaches.
Players are trialling new positions, finding where they fit into new systems and teams, and showing off an array of new weaponry they have developed in the off-season.
Footy experts from the Herald Sun watched 15 of the 18 clubs’ training sessions in the past week and compiled notes from the players that stood out on track.
ADELAIDE
Dan Curtin
Used forward at the start of pre-season, the former No. 8 draft pick was used in the midfield during match sim on Monday. The 197cm tall was used as a big bodied midfielder last season and it looks like the Crows could again use him there in 2025.
Jake Soligo
Looks to have significantly improved his tank with some gut running impressing in particularly on Monday. Josh Rachele and Izak Rankine were also thrown through the midfield at times during match sim so the make-up of the Crows engine room will be one to watch.
Charlie Edwards
Drafted as a taller midfielder, Edwards was used at half-back for what appeared to be the Crows stronger defensive unit during match sim. He provided a nice contest at times and whether he stays in the backline is set to be something to monitor.
Tyler Welsh
The 18-year-old’s agility and turning circles are impressive for a bigger-bodied forward. Although Adelaide did not have a proper match simulation, it had full-oval drills and a couple of times Welsh’s ability to gather the ball at pace then create space for himself was noticeable.
Sid Draper
Draper and Welsh are not taking part in all drills, being eased in, but when the explosive midfielder is out there, he seems to be everywhere, such is his ground coverage and workrate.
Max Michalanney
One of the Crows players who appears noticeably stronger is third-year defender Michalanney. He was listed at 78kg when he was drafted in 2022 and played on both talls and smalls during his first two seasons. Coming off a fourth-placed best-and-fairest finish last campaign, Michalanney looked have added more muscle and seemed even better equipped to take on bigger forwards.
BRISBANE
Sam Day
The newest Lion says he does not want to replace Joe Daniher, rather than fill the role, and so far the key forward has looked good in Brisbane colours. He’s trained strongly and consistently since arriving at the club, having battled constant injuries during his final seasons at Gold Coast. He is still on a modified program, but is slowly starting to integrate into the group.
CARLTON
Jagga Smith
It’s hard to watch the No. 3 pick in person and not be excited. Looks ready made for the level and has already been learning off Cripps and Walsh. Will continue to add size to his frame over the next few pre-seasons.
Harry Lemmey
Led to the right spot during the first match-sim and was rewarded for his efforts in the second game, getting on the end of a few chains, finishing well.
Adam Cerra
The man who had an injury-interrupted 2024 looks to be back fitter and stronger. His cleanliness around the contest was impressive.
Cooper Lord
Lord has already had a strong start to pre-season. He ran with the mids during most drills and didn’t look out of place. While he is still on the fringes, he pushed his case to break into the midfield pack which he’ll have to fight tooth and nail for a spot in.
COLLINGWOOD
Darcy Cameron
The man who made the All Australian Squad in 2024 was impressive in the match sim. Up against project ruckman Oscar Steene, Cameron comfortably outworked his opponent around the ground and in the ruck. Also pushed back on multiple occasions, helping teammate Darcy Moore defend Mason Cox.
Reef McInnes
Again training down back, McInnes seems to have adapted to the role seamlessly. Competed very well in the air and is balanced at ground level and was already directing teammates behind the ball.
Tim Membrey
Was initially well held in a one-on-one contest at ground level by Brayden Maynard, but followed up into the pocket and snuck a dribbling goal from close range with Maynard on his tail.
Lachie Schultz
The former Docker who kicked 24 goals from his 20 games in his first season as a Magpie, was heavily involved in a fast-paced handball drill with plenty of praise from teammates coming his way throughout the drill. Also did some good things during the match-sim.
ESSENDON
Kyle Langford
Essendon track watchers anointed Langford as the best-on-ground after he slotted three goals in a row at one point, as part of an impressive haul. The straight-kicking leader was one of the last to leave the track, staying out to work on his goalkicking.
Harry Jones
Jones spent most of 2024 playing on a wing, but was playing as a deep forward for the grey side in the final portion of match play.
GEELONG
Lawson Humphries
Continues to slice through the opposition defence in match simulation with his pinpoint kicking – as he did at the back-end of last season. It will be exciting to see what he can produce in his second season.
George Stevens
The uncapped 189cm Cat showed his stoppage craft by winning two consecutive clearances off the ruckman’s tap in a stoppage scrimmage. Looks to have improved his speed, which was an area of concern in his draft year.
Connor O’Sullivan
Finishing top 10 in the 2km time trial in his draft year, O’Sullivan left his teammates in his wake in a full-ground sprint towards the end of their Monday session. It led one player to yell ‘F--- you Sully!’ in his direction. His reading of the play came to the fore with a couple of nice intercepts in one drill.
Mitch Knevitt
Was right up there in the running with endurance kings Gryan Miers and Ollie Dempsey to close out one session. Looks primed for more opportunity in 2025 after playing just four senior games last year.
Keighton Matofai-Forbes
The late-draft pick’s evasiveness and power caught the eye training with Geelong’s first year players.
GOLD COAST
Ethan Read
Star key forward Ben King believes Read and his draft mate Jed Walter could join him in the forward line to start the season for the Suns. “Ethan and Jed have both shown massive improvement over the summer. ‘Ready’ has put on heaps of weight and is looking stronger and sharper. Both of those lads I’m really excited to play more football with them, I think we’ll have a really good forward line with us there.”
HAWTHORN
Lloyd Meek
The running power displayed by the big man was mightily impressive, featuring at both ends of the ground during a full ground drill, running hard and delivering accurate kicks to teammates.
Connor Macdonald
Heading into his third year in the AFL, the talented youngster looked fit and ready to take his game to the next level. Didn’t have a huge amount of the footy but found himself in the right spot more often than not.
Jarman Impey
Brought the energy with his tackling pressure and efforts to spoil being real team-lifters.
Cam Mackenzie
As the Herald Sun reported last week, Mackenzie continued his strong start to the pre-season, racking up plenty of the football in the Hawks midfield during the modified match-sim.
MELBOURNE
Harvey Langford
The No. 6 pick looks ready made for the level. Already a good size, Langford found himself in the right position on multiple occasions with space and execution to deliver inside 50.
Kysaiah Pickett
Pickett, who will miss the first three games in 2025 due to suspension, was playing through the middle during the full-ground drill. He put his speed to good use and also delivered a few pinpoint passes going inside 50.
Tom Campbell
Now at his fourth AFL club, the 201cm ruck seems set to be the backup ruck for Premiership captain Max Gawn alongside Will Verrall. The experienced Campbell was clean at ground level and showed some good acceleration during the full-ground drill, also showcasing impressive skills for a big man.
Kynan Brown
The father-son product, who played two games in his debut season, was speedy and was brushing off tacklers with relative ease. Featured in some drills but ran laps for the majority of the session. Also looked to have put on some muscle.
NORTH MELBOURNE
Darcy Tucker
The former Docker made his name as a winger but no player got more of the ball than him in a defensive role during match sim. Tucker was on the ‘B’ team and could get caught in a selection squeeze this year.
George Wardlaw
Another on the ‘B’ side but Wardlaw’s spot there was surely about evening up numbers. The tough nut showed off silky skills hitting up Eddie Ford with a lovely pass inside 50.
Griffin Logue
The Roos missed Logue’s steady presence down back for much of last season but he set up well on Monday, using his voice. He also took a strong one-handed grab.
Tom Powell
Breakout on baller last season, Powell drifted towards half-back at times during gameplay. He nailed a crunching tackle to the delight of teammates at one point.
PORT ADELAIDE
Jack Lukosius
The Power’s forward line will be something to keep an eye on with it set to be a lot more mobile and fluid in 2025. Port’s big-name recruit showed that he can cover plenty of ground as a link-up forward and his kicking is set to be a real weapon for Ken Hinkley’s side next year. He kicked a lovely goal and set up Darcy Byrne-Jones for another during match sim.
Lachie Jones
The hard-nut impressed with plenty of pressure efforts during match sim, getting a couple of his teammates with some big tackles on Friday. The pick of them was pinging Brownlow Medallist Ollie Wines for holding the ball when he looked to be getting away. Jones went to the United States with Jason Horne-Francis and Josh Sinn before starting pre-season and he was impressive on Friday.
Jase Burgoyne
The young gun did what few players in the league have done on Friday, lay a big tackle on Power star Zak Butters. And in a sign that would have impressed Power coaches, who have said he is a bit too laconic at times, Burgoyne gave the Port vice-captain a bit of afters following the big tackle.
RICHMOND
Jacob Bauer
Having played only eight games across his career, Jacob Bauer was a clear standout at Friday’s open training. The young forward dominated in the air, with three back-to-back contested marks during inside-50 drills. Bauer stands 192cm but his aerial ability against strong opponents in Jacob Blight and Ben Miller earned loud shouts of approval from coach Adem Yze on the sidelines.
Tom Lynch
He joined in initial drills with the forward group, working his way back into contested packs and bringing the ball to ground – a sight sorely missed by Tiger fans in 2024.
He completed running drills for the remainder of the session alongside Mykelti Lefau and Judson Clarke, who are on the way back from ACL injuries.
ST KILDA
Arie Schoenmaker
Featuring in only four senior games after a tumultuous start to his career, the second-year defender looks right at home at RSEA Park, made evident as he brushed aside two opponents with ease during match simulation – one being Rowan Marshall. His agility looks to have reached new heights, standing out among the rest as he wove through cones, changing direction with pace and ease.
Paddy Dow
It’s now or never for Dow, and battling against Jack Steele during ground ball drills is the best test you could get – one he passed with flying colours. After beating the Saints skipper and new recruit Patrick Said at ground level, he hit targets precisely by foot.
Jack Sinclair
While rolling through the midfield across the last two years, the dual All-Australian looks set to remain at half back for now. A lighter day on the track for Sinclair, completing running early with the recovering Anthiny Caminiti and Angus McLennan, he worked his way into drills and match simulation where he played the distributor role.
Mason Wood
While the Saints continue to bolster their running talent, Mason Wood continues to stake his claim on the wing position, keeping ahead of Darcy Wilson and Tobie Travaglia in a series of short sprinting drills. Finding strong options by hand and foot while using his size against draftee James Barrat, Wood stood out in match simulation.
SYDNEY
Angus Sheldrick
While all the talk has been about Chad Warner, Sheldrick is another WA product that will be looking for a big 2025. Had an injury-affected season in 2024 and looks to have bulked up and got his body right. Competition for places in the midfield will be tough, but his ball use is strong and he has potentially gained an extra yard of speed as well.
Indhi Kirk
The rookie with the famous last name looks far more at home on the AFL list after one year under his belt. He was physically holding his own in marking contests and has become very efficient by boot.
Matt Roberts
The Swans’ Rising Star nominee from 2024 was honing in on his kicking, focusing on hitting targets both at long and short distances. With the arrival of players like Bice, it will be interesting to see how he takes another step up next season.
Taylor Adams
The former Pie fell out of the team at the end of 2024 but could be one to benefit from a change of coach and earn his way back into the side. Not only is he vocal and taking several of the club’s newest names under his wing, he looks fit and was thriving when attacking the ball around the stoppages.
Caiden Cleary
Got a taste of AFL footy in 2024 and he looks determined for more. Was working extensively with both McVeigh brothers on his consistent target hitting while matched it physically with some of his teammates.
WESTERN BULLDOGS
Sam Darcy
The Bulldogs were away at a community camp last week so participated in a lot of coaching junior footballers, but when they did hit the track Sam Darcy looked like he had put on some size ahead of his fourth season in the system.
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