Track watch: All the latest from GWS, North Melbourne, Geelong, Brisbane and Gold Coast pre-season training
Jake Stringer was among a host of senior Giants to make an early return to pre-season, but the same can’t be said for Bailey Smith at his new club Geelong. Get the latest pre-season notes here.
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Jake Stringer was among a host of high-profile Giants who returned to training early with the former Bomber hitting the track at Sydney Olympic Park on Monday morning.
The 30-year-old is the prized recruit for the Giants ahead of the 2025 season and got right to work on his connection with the club’s potent forward line.
Coleman medallist Jesse Hogan was one of the first to welcome Stringer to the club with the pair set to be a key part of Adam Kingsley’s plans for next year. Hogan looked incredibly lean in the first session of pre-season and spent the majority of his time doing laps of the field and working on non-contact marking and finishing.
Stringer worked predominantly on some light handball drills and a few activations as the temperature went beyond 30 degrees. His new teammates are already looking forward to seeing what impact he can have on the field for the club.
“He adds serious spark,” Darcy Jones said. “He’s got so much X-factor and we’re so excited to have him.
“He’s a dangerous player and we’re keen to get to work with him.”
While Monday’s session was only required for first to fourth-year players, several of the club’s experienced members also returned. Among them were defenders Sam Taylor, Connor Idun, Lachie Ash and Jack Buckley, as well as Brent Daniels and Xavier O’Halloran. Vice-captain Josh Kelly was also around the group but stayed mainly in the gym.
An early glance at the drills Kingsley was putting his players through indicated that speed was going to be the key yet again in 2025. Jones looked electric in the early passages while other youngsters such as Toby McMullin and Joe Fonti look primed to build on some impressive showings in the past 12 months.
The club is set to conduct its two-kilometre time trial for the first set of players on Wednesday. The Giants’ six new players brought in through the draft will also arrive later in the week as they begin their integration.
HOW ‘AURA’ OF CLARKO MADE SWANS GREAT A KANGAROO
– Josh Barnes
New Roo Luke Parker was all-in on a move down south after a simple pitch from Alastair Clarkson.
Clarkson went unusually public with his desire to land experienced players late last season and the master coach and his recruiting team delivered by drawing in Parker from Sydney, Caleb Daniel from the Western Bulldogs and Jack Darling from West Coast.
The aura of the four-time premiership coach and his plan for Parker won over the 293-game Swan immediately and he said he didn’t really draw interest from any other clubs before his trade.
“Once I had spoken to Clarko, I was pretty set on coming here,” he said.
“There was a lot of belief in what I could offer the club and what I could help build. And I think that was the biggest thing, he gave me belief in the impact I could have here.
“I was kind of all-in once I heard that.”
Parker left a club that sat on top of the ladder for 16 weeks this year and played in its second grand final in three years for North Melbourne, who has finished in the bottom two five years running.
But he was certain the wheel was about to turn for the young Roos.
“I’m just excited about where the club is sitting at the moment,” he said.
“You’ve got a great young group showing a lot of promise. I think talking to Clarko towards the end of the season, there was a real belief that they were really set to grow the club and head in the right direction and they only need a few little key changes and a few little percentage lifts that will take them to the next level.
“That was something that really excited me.”
Parker will again float between the midfield and the forward line, as he helps take some minutes off the young legs of Harry Sheezel, George Wardlaw, Colby McKercher and new No. 2 pick Finn O’Sullivan.
The ex-Swan said the North team sheet “looks as good as any other team in my eyes”.
“I think the biggest thing for these boys is just belief,” he said.
“They have got a core group of leaders who drive really high standards but because there is not the wins on the board, it’s probably that little bit of doubt.
“For me the biggest thing was, yes we need leadership. We also need help out on the field and steering guys in the right direction and to help carry a heavy workload.
“They’ve got a really strong midfield group and a few young boys who, when you’re 19, 20 (years old) sometimes it’s hard to get through a full season of football.”
A tough nut himself, Parker can’t wait to play alongside Wardlaw in the centre square.
“He looks like he’s got a screw loose … I love the way he goes about it,” he said.
TRACK WATCH: ROOS RECRUITS SHINE ON GLOOMY MELBOURNE DAY
– Josh Barnes
In the soggy gloom at Arden Street on Monday, one tiny bit of play in a nondescript drill would have made Alastair Clarkson smile.
Working through a kicking drill where one team had to get the ball from one end to the other, recruit Caleb Daniel bit off a trademark inside kick to hit the chest of Luke Parker, when their team had otherwise run aground in its ball movement.
It was a small moment but on a morning where rain fell throughout the entire 90 minute session, Daniel’s skill and Parker’s nous to find the space shone.
The pair and fellow veteran recruit Jack Darling took part in most of the session, as players with more than four years experience were required back for the first time on Monday.
Skills were tough in the wet – at one point ruck Tristan Xerri dropped the footy then slipped over when trying to retrieve it – but Jy Simpkin’s leadership again stood out.
Parker has been instantly impressed by Simpkin’s workrate, labelling the Roo a “workhorse” and “an absolute specimen”.
Full house.#Kangaspic.twitter.com/jvxzsF2ELf
— North Melbourne FC (@NMFCOfficial) November 25, 2024
The co-captain saw himself phased out of the midfield at times last year but he has been at every training session so far this pre-season and has seemingly always been at the head of any running.
Draftees Finn O’Sullivan, Matt Whitlock, Luke Urquhart and River Stevens were all in at Arden Street on Monday to start their careers but only took in light duties.
Whitlock attempted to only take marks using only his right hand but didn’t have any visible strapping on his left.
Zane Duursma (shoulder), Charlie Comben (shoulder) and Zac Fisher (foot) all continued patient build ups to pre-season.
Griffin Logue (wrist) was also away from the main group for much of the session but joined in some drills.
Former Sun Darcy Macpherson again took part in the session after recently joining the North Melbourne VFL side as he aims to impress AFL coaches and earn a second shot at the top level.
NEW CATS HIT THE TRACK FOR FIRST TIME — BUT WHERE WAS SMITH?
– Dan Batten
Geelong’s pre-season has officially kicked off with the Cats’ off-season recruits hitting the track for the first time, but big name signing Bailey Smith wasn’t out there just yet.
The Cats’ first to five year players returned on Monday, two months after the club’s heartbreaking preliminary final loss to eventual premiers Brisbane
Smith, who became a Cat during the trade period, posted an Instagram story early on Monday morning with the caption, “Day one”.
However, the 23-year-old wasn’t among his new teammates at Deakin University in Waurn Ponds.
The blistering midfielder is not expected to begin training until the entire squad is back later in the pre-season, but had flagged his intent last month to return early: “Very excited for when day one of pre-season rolls around. I’m itching for it to be honest.”
ASHCROFTS HIT THE TRACK AS YOUNG GUNS SHOW OFF
- Callum Dick
First-round draftee Sam Marshall was the surprise pacesetter on day one of Brisbane Lions’ pre-season as brothers Will and Levi Ashcroft trained for the first time as AFL teammates.
While No. 5 pick Levi Ashcroft stole the majority of headlines at the AFL draft last week it was Lions Academy product Marshall who set the tone on Monday when the 1-4 year players and a smattering of seniors hit the track at Springfield.
Marshall, the No. 25 and final pick of the first round, led every running drill to put himself front and centre in the minds of the coaching staff at his first opportunity.
The likes of Dayne Zorko, Josh Dunkley, Josh Berry and Harris Andrews all joined their younger teammates despite not being required back at training until next week.
Pre-season draftee and ex-Gold Coast Sun Sam Day also turned out for his first appearance in Lions colours as the temperature pushed 30 degrees in Brisbane’s west.
Meanwhile on the Gold Coast it was all hands on deck for the Suns, with the whole playing list expected back for day one of pre-season at Carrara.
The 1-4 year players saluted early on Monday morning for a 2km time trial at Griffith University but joining them was star midfielder Sam Flanders, who clocked the fastest time at sub-six minutes ahead of second-year player Ethan Read.
Prospective 2025 No. 1 pick Zeke Uwland joined his future Suns teammates for the time trial and finished fourth-fastest.
The younger brother of breakout defender Bodhi Uwland already looks right at home within the senior Suns set up, despite being still 12 months away from officially joining the AFL list as a Suns Academy selection.
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