AFL pre-season 2025: Players return after December holiday break

Footy pre-season is back as players made their way back to clubs after the break, with the Hawks already showing they mean business in 2025.

Footy pre-season is back as players casually wandered back into clubs on Thursday morning.

Tom Lynch eased into full training as Noah Balta joined his teammates to re-start pre-season on Thursday.

Most clubs have taken it easy on their return to clubs - with Richmond hosting a barbecue before a light session as defender Nick Vlastuin happily rolled into the Punt Road car park topless in the morning.

Defender Balta arrived early on Thursday and didn’t answer questions from media as he stepped into the club for the first time after being charged with assault.

He was on track with teammates as usual.

Lynch stepped straight into the main group after playing just eight games in the past two years as he builds up to take his place in Richmond’s round 1 side.

Skipper Toby Nankervis, midfielder Dion Prestia, forward Mykelti Lefau and defender Josh Gibcus were among a large group of Tigers training away from the main group to start the session.

No.1 draft pick Sam Lalor had been on light duties through his first pre-season following a serious hamstring injury late in his draft year but was straight in with the main group to start the new year.

Breakout defender Tom Brown had also been hampered by ankle and shoulder woes before Christmas but he joined the main group on Thursday.

While the Tigers took it relatively easily, Hawthorn and Essendon did not, sending the players immediately into a time trial.

Karl Amon just pipped perennial favourite Changkuoth Jiath to the finish line, with Josh Weddle not far behind.

New time trial king Angus Clarke again swept the field at Essendon, with the draftee motoring to the line in a 2km run.

At the Western Bulldogs, second-year defender Joel Freijah again took out the club time trial, ahead of skipper Marcus Bontempelli.

Karl takes it home in a very close finish 🫣 pic.twitter.com/RVWx6EjAKs

— Hawthorn FC (@HawthornFC) January 8, 2025

The Mt Gambier youngster was taken by the Bombers with pick 39 in November’s draft and walked into the Hangar as the club’s best time triallist, winning on his first run.

Clarke got to the line ahead of a top five of Nic Martin, Jye Menzie, Kyle Langford and Nate Caddy.

Melbourne skipper Max Gawn rolled into the club after a nasty throat injury ended his pre-Christmas training block.

North Melbourne also get their players straight onto the track for training at Arden St.

Fremantle will begin 2025 without veteran pair Michael Walters and Nat Fyfe on the track.

Walters had a minor procedure on his knee during the Christmas break, while Fyfe was due to have a similar surgery on Thursday.

The Dockers expect both to be ready for round 1.

Former Saint James Van Es showed off new colours having been offered a train on spot with West Coast, who has one spot to fill on its list.

Dean Cox quickly made his mark as the Swans returned to pre-season in 2025, announcing a surprise double time trial during their first session of the year.

Swans players turned up at Centennial Park knowing that the 2km run would be their first order of business. It was the first time the full squad completed a time trial this pre-season, with the club only conducting one for first to fourth-year players back in November.

A 2km time trial...with a twist 😤

"Back to the starting blocks, you got another one"

Presented by Bulova pic.twitter.com/l4kKV5pvDX

— Sydney Swans (@sydneyswans) January 9, 2025

The first split saw the usual subjects finish on the podium as Corey Warner took out first place with Caiden Cleary and All-Australian Errol Gulden just behind.

However, in his first few months as a head coach Cox has shown he’s prepared to do things his way. And as players recovered from the first time trial, keeled over and attempting to catch their breath, he informed them they would be going again.

“Like I’ve always said, it sets you up for a really good period now,” Cox said. “The next part now is I said I’ll continually challenge you.

“So, in four minutes we’re back to the starting blocks, we’ve got another one.”

In promising signs for the Swans, Gulden backed up his impressive first run to take out the second 2km. Rising Star nominee Matt Roberts finished second, while club captain Callum Mills rounded out the podium as he sets his sights on a massive 2025 campaign.

Originally published as AFL pre-season 2025: Players return after December holiday break