Latest AFL News

Highlights of every club’s start to pre-season

What has your club been getting up to in their preparations for next year?

Published by
Alex Pipicella

With pre-season well underway for all 18 teams, we've taken a look at how each club have begun their gruelling training regimes and how they've integrated their new recruits into their sides.

Adelaide

The Crows have turned over a big portion of their squad in the 2019 off-season, introducing a host of new names and faces to the mix at West Lakes. The club's national recruiting manager Hamish Ogilvie has been busy with the drafting process, taking five players in the national draft and two more in the rookie draft.

Brisbane

Coming off a stellar 2019 season, the Lions have not rested on the laurels this off-season, picking up four players in the national draft, including highly-touted midfielder Deven Robertson, and have been quick to introduce them to the club and their new teammates.

Carlton

With the arrival of two top-20 picks, gun forward Jack Martin and the return of co-captain Sam Docherty, the Blues are primed for a big 2020 season. Fans are ecstatic with the homecoming of cult hero Eddie Betts and are excited to see his x-factor ability, but not before he gets shown up by Coach Teague...

Collingwood

After the success of Collingwood's 'From the Inside Out' documentary last season, the club will be following suit the off-season with 'The Grind'. The six-part series will focus on the AFL side's efforts to bounce back from their heartbreaking end to the 2019 season.

Essendon

Essendon brought in five new faces in the national and rookie drafts, and have also added former premiership tiger Jacob Townsend during the supplemental selection period. With the Bombers keen to go deeper into September in 2020, the club will be hoping their newest members can make a difference, starting in pre-season.

Fremantle

After picking up three players within the top nine picks, the Dockers were one of the big winners of this year's draft period. With a new coach at the helm and one of the youngest sides in the competition, it should be an exciting pre-season for Fremantle fans.

Geelong

The Cats have a solid mix of youth and experience heading into 2020, picking up two first-round picks in addition to new recruits Josh Jenkins and Jack Steven. Class is now in session at the Cattery as the club look to win their 10th premiership and send off Gary Ablett Jr in style.

Gold Coast Suns

After a poor 2019 season, the Suns have gone hard this off-season, making moves in the off-season and drafting a plethora of talented youngsters. The main focus now for Stewart Dew and his coaching staff is prepping the youngest list in the competition for round one and beyond as they look to build a future core.

Greater Western Sydney

GWS have his the track hard as the look to put the Grand Final loss behind them and challenge again in 2020 under new captain Stephen Coniglio. After landing two top-10 prospects in the draft, adding to an already young core, the Giants are set to dominate the competition for years to come.

Hawthorn

Hawthorn have tried something different in their pre-season preparation, giving players the opportunity to work 9-5 jobs as a part of an eye-opening 'work experience week'. It'll be a big pre-season for the Hawks, who alongside the arrival of new recruits, will also be excited by the return of Tom Mitchell from injury.

Melbourne

Simon Goodwin's men will be under immense pressure to improve after their 17th-placed finish in 2019, with a stronger pre-season the key. The Dees picked up two remarkable youngsters in Luke Jackson and Kysaiah Pickett in the first round of the draft and added former bomber Mitch Brown to the mix just a few days ago.

North Melbourne

With Rhyce Shaw set to preside over his first pre-season as head coach, he will want to set the tone from the get go and light a fire under a group which hasn't played finals since 2016. The Kangaroos had one of the quietest off-seasons in the league and it will be interesting to see which players step up in pre-season to replace the retired Scott Thompson down back.

Port Adelaide

2020 will mark the 150th anniversary for Port Adelaide and they have been working hard to bring in more members ahead of the landmark season. After another exciting draft haul, fans will be excited to see what this young squad will bring next year.

Richmond

The reigning premiers are doing everything they can this pre-season to go back-to-back in 2020, picking up five new players in the national draft and getting straight into the swing of things before Christmas. All eyes will be on Alex Rance this off-season as he looks to make a full recovery from his ACL injury suffered early last year.

St Kilda

St Kilda recruited hard this off-season, bringing in five players in the trade period as they look to turn their fortunes around and qualify for their first finals series in nine years. With Josh Bruce leaving to the Bulldogs, Tim Membrey will be a pivotal member of the Saints squad next year and has already made an impact as a leader early into pre-season.

Sydney

The Swans lost a wealth of experience this off-season with Kieran Jack, Heath Grundy, Jarrad McVeigh and Nick Smith all retiring, with the baton now passed onto the next generation of leaders. Sydney had a strong trade and draft period, picking up valuable squad members who will compete for starting 22 spots from the get-go in pre-season.

West Coast

West Coast relinquish a srong draft position this year in favour of luring superstar Tim Kelly to the club to join their already star-studded midfield. The Eagles now have high expectations going into 2020 and it will be good to watch how the on-ballers gel around Kelly and a fit Nic Naitanui.

Western Bulldogs

The Bulldogs have one of the most talented lists in the AFL and it just got a whole lot better with the additions of Alex Keath, Josh Bruce and exciting youngster Cody Weightman. With another pre-season under their belt, this young dogs core could be knocking on the door of another flag in 2020.

Published by
Alex Pipicella