AFL track watch: Collingwood, Melbourne, North Melbourne hit track for pre-season training
Some veterans and trade period recruits joined first to fourth-year players at Collingwood, Melbourne and North Melbourne for pre-season training. Here’s the latest pre-season intel.
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The countdown to 2025 is on.
With just over 120 days until the start of the next AFL season, clubs are hitting the track for pre-season training. Here’s the latest news.
COLLINGWOOD
Brownlow medallist Tom Mitchell has shrugged off his injury-riddled 2024 by leading young Collingwood players on the first day of pre-season, as recruit Harry Perryman also joined his new teammates.
A small group of Magpies kicked off the start of pre-season proper on Monday, with first-to-fourth year players required back.
Carrying the oldest list in the league, the Pies weren’t expected to have huge numbers on track, but a smattering of experienced faces such as Mitchell, Perryman, Brayden Maynard, Mason Cox and Billy Frampton joined in a light session.
Head coach Craig McRae happily let his lieutenants run the show, with the premiership coach watching on from a balcony.
Mitchell looked in good shape after playing just six senior games this year, as a debilitating plantar fascia injury rocked his campaign.
The 203-game veteran cruised through the hour-long session on Monday and completed some extra work as his teammates made their way off the track.
Perryman trained in a numberless jumper in his first real session since crossing from GWS, and worked with a predominantly midfield group.
Forward Ash Johnson trained despite being officially delisted last month, with the goalkicker let go on the promise he would be re-drafted as a rookie.
Brothers Josh and Nick Daicos weren’t on track as they work through a fitness camp in the United States.
Second-year runner Harry DeMattia trained well just two days after smacking a century for local cricket club Sorrento.
A star junior cricketer, DeMattia belted 116 before being asked to retire.
“I hadn’t hit a cricket ball in almost two years so it was good fun,” he told SEN.
After a finger injury hit his first pre-season, No.25 draft pick DeMattia didn’t make it to an AFL debut in 2024 but hopes to add some run in his second season.
“I’m going to hope to progress in my role, whether that be wing or half-back,” he said.
“Hopefully a spot opens up for me in one of those positions this year and I can take it with both hands.”
MELBOURNE
Melbourne kicked off pre-season training without much-talked about veteran pair Clayton Oliver and Christian Petracca.
Not officially required back on the first day of pre-season as just those in the first four years of their career are demanded in the doors, Oliver and Petracca went unsighted as the Demons started official training.
Older players are needed back on November 25, but vice-captain Jack Viney and key position pair Tom McDonald and Harry Petty joined young Dees on Monday morning.
Christian Salem, Bayley Fritsch and recruit Tom Campbell all completed their own running sessions at Gosch’s Paddock while their teammates got into drills.
The work starts now ðŸ¤ðŸ”¥ #DemonSpiritpic.twitter.com/YwHPjFS14A
— Melbourne Demons (@melbournefc) November 11, 2024
New assistants Nathan Jones and Nathan Bassett joined head coach Simon Goodwin for the session, with Goodwin in good spirits after an internal football review recommended shifts around the club leader.
Boasting a fit list heading into the summer grind, developing Dees Jacob van Rooyen, Jake Bowey and Caleb Windsor were among the pack digging in to start the run to Opening Round.
Former Lion Harry Sharp was not with his new teammates given he trained deep into September with the premiers.
Under development coach Mark Williams, the Demons deliberately worked on a new tackling style of slashing an arm on an opponent in a bid to pin the arm, with Williams adamant about the movement.
NORTH MELBOURNE
Over at Arden Street, McKercher capped a stellar pre-pre-season as he powered away from the field to win the club time trial.
Recruit Caleb Daniel was out with his new teammates but fellow new Roos Luke Parker and Jack Darling were not in training to start the session.
McKercher has been seen regularly at Arden Street in previous weeks leading into the start of pre-season as the professional trainer looks to build on his first season.
The 2023 No.2 pick had a strong first year playing largely off half-back, with his laser left-foot impressing enough for him to draw in 12 votes in the rising star award, finishing in fifth.
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