AFL 2025 pre-season: The January standouts from every club on the training track
Pre-season matches begin this month, which means players are stepping it up a notch on the track. Who are the ones impressing at your club? Get all intel from across the league here.
Clubs are back from their December holidays, and with January training comes match simulations, bigger sessions and clearer pictures on best 23s.
Wesent our footy experts across the country to watch main training sessions for every club in January, where each team’s most impressive performers and breakout contenders were documented.
Here’s the breakdown each club’s most impressive performers on track through January.
ADELAIDE
Mark Keane: The Irish Crow has been a standout so far this summer, having spurned Collingwood’s advances to remain at Adelaide. He is a mainstay of the side’s defensive unit but looks to have made the leap to elite key back status. Keane is in for a big 2025 season.
Sid Draper: Adelaide’s top pick has been managed slightly to start the new year, however Draper has enjoyed a strong first pre-season at the level. Draper had one moment during match-play that showed why he went No. 4 in the draft, with his speed on show as he darted through traffic.
Rory Laird: The Crows have remodelled their midfield mix, and Rory Laird looks to be on the outer of the engine room. But it looks to be a move back to defence where Laird began his career, spending time rebounding off the flanks. He has been impressive so far through pre-season.
BRISBANE
Will Ashcroft: Fresh off a Norm Smith Medal and a successful return from an ACL injury, the elder brother is flying at the Lions. Heading into his third season and already an established star of the competition, Ashcroft’s professionalism is evident on the track, with a major role again in the midfield.
CARLTON
Jesse Motlop: The small forward has been inconsistent with his returns to start his career, but Motlop has impressed both his track watchers and his teammates with his strong summer form. With Matt Owies leaving for West Coast, Motlop will shoulder more responsibilities in the forward 50 and he looks up to the challenge.
Jagga Smith: There is a reason why Carlton mortgaged its future for the chance to trade up for Smith, with the young midfielder dominating against seasoned AFL veterans. Smith’s evasiveness and ball use through the midfield has given a new look to the brigade.
Charlie Curnow: Curnow had off-season surgery to clean out his knee, but has made his return to the field in promising signs he is regaining full fitness. He strapped his boots on and completed several drills, with Carlton’s success contingent on his strong goal-kicking form.
COLLINGWOOD
Reef McInnes: He has been thrown into defence in an attempt to fill the void left by Nathan Murphy, and McInnes has continued to impress throughout the pre-season. Clean by foot in difficult, windy conditions, McInnes caught the eye as a taller defender and looks to have one hand on the role. “Murph was a really big out for us – you can’t replace a person like Nathan Murphy – but Reef has done a really good job of bringing his strengths,” Darcy Cameron said of McInnes. “He’s training really well, and that move down back is looking really good for him.”
Oscar Steene: The untried ruck is putting his hand up for a senior debut with a strong pre-season. He earned an extension late in last year’s campaign and has become a force this summer, having missed most of 2024 with a toe injury. He was one of the leaders of the pack in the running drills and has impressed teammate Darcy Cameron: “(Steene) is looking really good at the moment – he’s put on a bit of size, he’s running really well,” Cameron said.
Ed Allan: He hasn’t broken into the best 23 at Collingwood yet, but this season is his best chance to get serious game time yet. With Tom Mitchell out with a foot problem and Nick Daicos battling plantar fasciitis, Allan can carve out a role inside the engine room. And he’s been dominant on track, training and running strongly in both inside and outside midfield roles.
ESSENDON
Archie Perkins: Dons fans are praying Perkins can make a leap and he teased some good signs. Rotating between centre bounces and a deep forward role, he looked strong in the midfield but couldn’t take his chances upfront.
Jade Gresham: It was only an OK first season at Essendon for the ex-Saint in 2024 but Gresham showed some flashes of his best early in the match on Friday, setting up multiple goals and nailing a pair of tackles.
Saad El-Hawli: Already a SuperCoach favourite, the dasher may face an uphill climb to play round 1 given a fit Essendon list full of runners but he will surely play a big role in 2025. He just knows how to collect the footy and is a good distributor.
FREMANTLE
Murphy Reid: The first round draft pick played predominantly at half-forward and had to work very high up the ground to get involved early. But he began to build more confidence as the quarters wore on and converted a goal after beating Luke Ryan in a marking contest.
Cooper Simpson: The second-year forward looks to be an early contender for a round one spot with an impressive body of work so far this pre-season. Playing at half-forward, Simpson’s delivery inside 50 was a standout, hitting Jye Amiss and Shai Bolton on the chest in two separate passages. Simpson also spun out of traffic after winning the ball on the ground in a dazzling move late in the session.
Neil Erasmus: One of the most intriguing players at Fremantle this pre-season, many are wondering whether Erasmus has done enough to become a consistent AFL player this season. Caleb Serong sang his praises last week for a productive off-season and Erasmus has come back noticeably bigger. But early on in match simulation, Erasmus looked fumbly and panicked under pressure around the contest. His clearance work improved as the session went on and he was able to get first hands on the footy during the second half. Erasmus also spent some time on the wing later in the first half.
GEELONG
Max Holmes: The reigning Carji Greeves medallist has been the top performer this pre-season, impressing him in their running blocks and in match simulation with his trademark speed. A shift into the midfield group had Holmes break out last season, having also starred off half back. But Holmes is expected to have a prominent role inside the centre square in 2025.
Connor O’Sullivan: The first-round draftee made his debut in 2024 but couldn’t add to the tally, however O’Sullivan has impressed Zach Guthrie with his summer: “He’s a really, really good athlete, he’s someone that is in that boat where he played one game last year and looked comfortable at the level,” Guthrie said. “So I’m sure he’ll be someone to watch early in the year and looking forward to seeing, because he is so flexible, a number of different roles that he can play. But I’m sure he’ll be someone who will be really keen to impress and he’s been looking really good.”
Shannon Neale: The young key forward kept legend Tom Hawkins out of the side in the finals, and Neale has taken confidence from the faith shown in him. The 203cm 22 year old has put on serious muscle in the off-season and will own Geelong’s goalsquare in a contract year.
GOLD COAST
Ethan Read: The second-year ruck-forward has put on noticeable size in the summer and is impressing teammates on the track, with a chance he breaks into the side’s best forward line. Ben King and Jed Walter are currently the tall pillars, but Read’s elite endurance is impressive and gives the side a different look.
Jake Rogers: Labelled as one of the best kicks at the Suns, Rogers broke through and played nine games in 2024 and looks primed to feature heavily this season. He came into the league as an undersized midfielder but his attack on the football and his defensive pressure will mean he forces his way into a role.
GWS GIANTS
Brent Daniels: Coming off a career-best year which included a place in the 44-man All-Australian squad, Daniels looked even quicker around the stoppages and a step ahead of his teammates. His ability to be in the right place whenever the ball hits the ground is such an advantage in what is going to be an incredibly dangerous forward line.
James Leake: There have been big wraps on James Leake for the past six months, however, the fact he was played through the midfield is a fantastic sign for his development. He combined really nicely with Rowston and Kelly, used the ball well and importantly was a nuisance for Green who didn’t get free for much of the simulation. The Tasmanian’s stocks continue to rise.
Josaia Delana: The rookie listed local product is making the most of every opportunity and had the highlight moment of the match simulation. Running towards his forward 50, Delana sold some candy, took a bounce and then converted beautifully from about 35 metres out. His family happened to be in attendance for the match, and he made sure to treat them with a celebration in the pocket which we might eventually see at AFL level.
HAWTHORN
Will Day: He did not miss a trick and showed no signs of a shoulder injury that kept him out of the Hawks’ finals campaign. Day played through the midfield and showed plenty of his trademark poise with ball in hand.
Nick Watson: Watson was not limited to a pure small forward role during match simulation, pushing further up the ground and collecting the ball at will. A deft sidestep and spin to dish the ball off through traffic showed his obvious skill, but the livewire found plenty of the ball and kicked a couple of goals. His mark over Seamus Mitchell was a highlight of the day, but his new-found accumulating trait was an unexpected bonus.
Connor Macdonald: The half forward started the day on the wing and found plenty of it matched up against Harry Morrison. He was a natural fit, pushing down back to help relieve pressure and providing a strong linking kick to the forwards. In the second half he started forward and was very dangerous, burst away from Will McCabe and kicked a running goal from 50m.
MELBOURNE
Clayton Oliver: After a difficult 2024, Clayton Oliver looks in ripping nick as he aims to rediscover his best football this year. A leaner Oliver was prominent once again during match simulation, showing off his signature clean hands and getting involved multiple times in chains working up and down the ground at Gosch’s Paddock.
Harrison Petty: The key utility struggled at times up forward in 2024, kicking just 9.15 in 20 games. But Petty has been shifted back to defence, where he started his career, and has looked good at training. The addition of Petty gives Melbourne plenty of height and intercepting prowess, with Steven May and Jake Lever already one of the league’s best combinations down back.
Blake Howes: The defender broke through for some games in 2024 and impressed during his limited time in the AFL side, but he looks to have gone to another level in the off-season. His ability to run for a bigger body catches his direct opponents off guard, but it’s a difficult defensive unit to break into.
NORTH MELBOURNE
Caleb Daniel: He came across from the Bulldogs to add to the experience at North Melbourne and is delivering on the promise. He is back in defence and is the major distributor, showing poise by foot and offering great use through the midfield and into attack. Nick Larkey would be loving life as a lead up key forward with Daniel bursting off the back flank and looking inside forward 50.
Tom Powell: The midfielder looks ready to take his game to the next level, and with the long-term injury to George Wardlaw there’s even more room inside the engine room for Powell to flourish. While he fought for minutes in the midfield last year, there’s no indication he will be anything less than a first-choice ball winner alongside Harry Sheezel and Luke Davies-Uniacke.
Will Phillips: Midfield minutes are only going to be harder to win at North in 2025 but Phillips looks to be doing everything he can to break through. He looks to have bulked up slightly and found plenty of the ball. While he’s made a name for himself as a run-with player, he was an accumulator as a junior and has shown flashes of that ability this pre-season.
PORT ADELAIDE
Joe Berry: It feels like a fair bit will have to go wrong for Berry to not be playing against Collingwood at the MCG on March 15, he is training that well. Berry’s evasiveness, smarts and finishing were on display again. Port needed to improve its small forward stocks and he should complement Willie Rioli, Sam Powell-Pepper and Byrne-Jones really well.
Zak Butters: Had several brilliant reads of ruck taps at centre bounces, hitting the ball at speed then distributing to his midfield teammates.
Dylan Williams: A very fit-looking Williams played with the B team and had a couple of nice passages, including a side step in the middle of the ground, and a strong mark late in the match simulation. After playing 21 games in 2023 but only five last season, Williams is doing his best to put his hand up for more opportunities now that Dan Houston is gone.
RICHMOND
Sam Lalor: The prized No.1 draft pick looks set for a round 1 debut, and it won’t be as a full-time forward. Lalor lined up in Richmond’s midfield for large chunks of Friday’s match simulation, at one point literally ripping the ball from Thomson Dow’s hands to earn a clearance. He spent time up forward and did not get managed during the hit out.
Jayden Short: He looks to be the primary ball user off half back after Daniel Rioli defected to Gold Coast. Short has been a consistent contributor down back for Richmond for years, but he was the main avenue out of defence and looked poised with ball in hand, with teammates actively looking to dish it off to him.
Thomas Sims: He lined up in the side’s weaker forward line, but Sims contested in the air well and offered plenty when the ball hit the deck. He looks like he needs to fill out his frame a bit, but with no Harry Armstrong or Jonty Faull participating in full training, Sims is the likeliest out of the key forward draftees.
ST KILDA
Harry Boyd: He’s only just officially signed, but Boyd played exclusively ruck for the stronger side and had his way with it. Mainly opposed to Dodson, Boyd fed his rotating midfielders, with a clean tap to Phillipou who burst through the centre square and hit the leading Mitch Owens on the chest a sign of things to come. Marshall did not play, but it is expected he spends more time forward in 2025 to help Max King in attack, giving Boyd a serious chance for a big first season.
Angus Hastie: The second-year defender managed five games in his debut campaign, but Hastie patrolled the half back line and was often the choice distributor by foot. While there was the rare blunder, Hastie was often poised in traffic and found a target, starting attacking thrusts during match simulation. However, he was stationed in the weaker side’s defence, indicating it is still a battle for the second year defender to get consistent games.
James Barrat: Playing down back for the weaker side, Barrat’s competitive attitude shone through, rarely beaten in the air and following it up well on the ground. Barrat was drafted as a swingman, but did not spend any time up forward, but his use by foot was impressive for a key position player.
SYDNEY
Callum Mills: The skipper was incredibly strong around the centre bounces and looks to be the piece of the puzzle the Swans were missing in 2024. What stood out was how tidy he was using the ball by hand and foot. After winning the contested ball, he looked to have a bit more time than everyone else and that turned into really efficient ball use. He also linked up nicely with his other midfielders, in particular, Heeney and Rowbottom who are likely to be the main pair around the centre bounces.
Ben Paton: He is still building his connections with many of the Swans players but it’s easy to see why he’s impressed early in his career in the red and white. His positioning was strong on the halfback flank and he was linking up well with his teammates as the game went on. His best moment of the day came late when he made a strong run off halfback, received a handball from Heeney and converted on the run from the arc. It looks to be between him and Ollie Florent for that spot on the halfback line, with the pair switching at half-time.
Angus Sheldrick: He had plenty of eye-catching moments as he looked to win the contested ball at the stoppage. While he sometimes lacked the cutting edge in linking up with some of his teammates, it’s a positive sign that the WA boy was looking so comfortable at the contest. He came into his own in the final term with some impressive decision making and field kicking.
WEST COAST
Jack Graham: The premiership Tiger has made a big difference in West Coast’s midfield and he’s already proven himself to be one of the strongest runners at the club. The big-bodied midfielder was composed and calm in traffic. He laid a few big tackles and notably forced Harley Reid to turn the footy over in congestion. He also found Jake Waterman in space tucked up against the boundary.
Harry Barnett: Drafted as a ruckman, the third-year tall has been retooled as a key defender this pre-season. And the new role looks to have potential. Barnett stood up in some big moments down back and notably spoiled the footy away from a leading Jake Waterman. The more options down back the better for the Eagles after the departure of Tom Barrass.
WESTERN BULLDOGS
Ed Richards: The defender-turned-midfielder has impressed on the track through summer so far and will remain as an onballer in 2025, with his silky ball use adding a different dimension to the hard-nosed ball-winning abilities of Tom Liberatore and Adam Treloar.
Sam Darcy: The key forward burst onto the scene in 2024 and will shoulder more responsibility this season, especially if teammate Jamarra Ugle-Hagan misses games. Darcy has piled on muscle and is learning how to throw his weight around in the contest.
Marcus Bontempelli: The captain has not put a foot wrong this pre-season, dominating all drills, running and match simulation work during the summer. Sporting longer hair that is often contained by a headband, Bontempelli’s new look is catching eyes as much as his strong match play in the midfield and up forward.
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