We’re now less than a month away from round 1 of the NAB Cup. Exciting times! So here’s what has gone on at your club the past week and most importantly who is looking good and who is Tambling it up.

 

ADELAIDE CROWS

Brenton Sanderson turned the intensity up a notch at West Lakes this week. Several of the Crows’ senior players were of the opinion that Monday was one of the hardest sessions they have ever done at the club. Interesting given that old mate Neil Craig had a reputation for somewhat uberflogging his players.

Looking Good

Nathan Van Berlo – is shining on the track. Coach Brenton Sanderson has left it in no doubt that he will captain the club again in 2012. Van Berlo’s intensity during pre season has impressed the new coaching staff.

 

Luke Brown – continues to impress on the track this pre season. The 19 year old Norwood recruit has a penchant for biffo as displayed during the club’s boxing sessions this week. He is surely one to look out for in the NAB Cup and being DP Back/Forward in 2012, his fantasy stocks will surely be rising.

 

Who’s Not?

Luke Thompson – had his ankle immobilised over the Christmas break and is not expected to return to training for a week. With Ben Rutten also carrying a niggling knee injury throughout the pre season the Crows’ key defender stocks are being stretched at the moment.

 

BRISBANE LIONS

Looking Good

Aaron Cornelius – is training with high intensity this pre season. With the skipper fighting fit, the addition of Jordan Lisle to the squad and Patrick Karnezis late season 2011 form, AC will have some real competition for a key forward role. His form on the track is a solid start.

 

Ryan Harwood – is training solidly, with an influx of talented youngsters vying for midfield spots this hardnut is putting his name forward for an early season midfield role.

Callum Bartlett, Daniel Merrett & Jonathon Brown – have continued their strong form on the track this week. Brown in particular should be a real cash cow early in the fantasy football season if he can avoid freak injuries.

 

Who’s Not?

Sam Docherty & Josh Drummond – are still the only Lions listed players in the rehab group. However, the former believes he should be able to participate in some NAB action which is heartening for FF coaches.

 

CARLTON BLUES

The Blues had a lighter week on the track this week with a time trial around Princes Park on Monday & lighter sessions later in the week. After doing some heavy loading pre Christmas including an elite training camp in Dubai, the Blues seem to be easing the load in the lead up to the NAB Cup.

 

Looking Good

Bryce Gibbs – continues to be the golden boy this summer, another massive wrap this week from his captain Chris Jud who believes the 2006 no 1 pick is ready to explode in 2012.

 

Ed Curnow – was a star in winning the time trial earlier in the week. Is really looking to get his spot back in the Blues midfield after a shoulder injury derailed his 2011 campaign following a bright start.

 

Andrew Walker, Tom Bell & Frazer Dale – all performed really well in the Blues time trial during the week. Bell in particular looks a meataxe, he could be a real smoky in 2012.

 

Levi Casboult – has looked really good on the track this week & all summer for that matter. The 2009 Booze Cruise champion could be a show for a key forward position at some stage in 2012.

 

Who’s Not?

Chris Judd – should resume contact training very soon after his pre Christmas shoulder injury. Is still very much in the frame for NAB Cup & Round 1.

 

Jordan Russell – left a training session early clutching his buttock. While this injury appears to be very minor, JR seems to be quite injury prone at this point of his career which isn’t good considering the competition for half back spots at Princes Park at the moment.

 

COLLINGWOOD MAGPIES

The Maggies also had a light week on the track. The first year players went on a bonding camp to Tasmania earlier in the week with a light session at Aurora Stadium.

Looking Good

Nathan Brown – appears to have fully recovered from his knee reconstruction last year. Is moving well and looking very fit, which is a good sign for the Pies defence.

 

Jarrod Witts – the baby giant has been noticeable on the track for obvious reasons. He is often seen still training after other players have left the track which is impressive for someone so early into his career. Really wants that second ruck spot, he also has the agility to play forward.

 

Who’s Not?

Ben Reid – is still consigned to gym work after his early pre season shoulder injury. Is still in the frame for NAB appearances though.

 

ESSENDON BOMBERS

Looking Good

Brent Stanton – has had yet another solid pre season to date and has displayed good intensity on the track during the week. With an uninterrupted pre season to date Stanton could prove popular again with FF coaches if not with his own fans!

 

Dustin Fletcher – Apparently, Old Man River is what he used to be! Despite being almost older than time itself Fletcher has been able to participate in almost full training loads during the season. He could go on for a few seasons yet!

 

Who’s Not?

Hurbleton – the Bomber bookends continue to be either in rehab or on modified programs due to injuries this pre season.

 

FREMANTLE DOCKERS

No problems with Freo’s commitment on the track this week with most of the players stepping out for match simulation in the pissing rain on Friday!

Looking Good

Lachie Neale – was a standout at training during the week, a real disposal accumulator during match simulation. With Fyfe struggling, this youngster should be one to watch through the NAB Cup. Could be an interesting unique rookie for fantasy coaches, whispers are that Ross Lyon is a real fan!

 

Jayden Pitt – has also been a star at training during the week. The youngster has displayed great poise and skill during competitive drills and should be another one to look out for in 2012.

 

Who’s Not?

Jack Anthony – is really just stinking the joint up! Has been fatiguing early during most of the pre season work and rumours are still abound about possible attitude problems. He has ability but really needs to lift his game.

 

GEELONG CATS

The reigning premiers had their first open session on Friday last week at Skilled Stadium.

Looking Good

Mitch Brown – again looked fit and was moving well on Friday. Interestingly, he was training with the defenders group – could this signal a change of role in 2012?

 

Orren Stephenson – trained strongly under the watchful eye of new ruck coach Brad Ottens. Big bodied and agile, others may disagree but I believe he will be the Cats number one ruck this season.

 

Who’s Not?

Nathan Vardy – is looking a bit better this week having resumed some light duties but in my opinion is behind the eight ball given; his already limited pre season, competition from West and Stephenson as well as his young body.

 

Travis Varcoe – was a no show on Friday at training. There has been no word of an injury to date so hopefully he is simply on a modified program.

 

GOLD COAST SUNS

The Gold Coast boys were spotted flexing some muscles down at the beach this week in addition to a few competitive training sessions.

Looking Good

Matthew Warnock – has been dishing out some punishment to the Suns’ young talls in competitive work during the week. The former Dee looks a shoo-in to be the Suns full back this coming season.

Karmichael Hunt – Special K is looking leaner and meaner this pre season. Apparently this is the result of a low carb Atkins-style diet. It would be kool if this helps K not be as krap as last season.

 

Who’s Not?

Josh Caddy – has suffered a hip flexor injury. It doesn’t seem dire or as if he will miss too much training or footy. However, it is really disappointing that this talented youngster can’t seem to catch a lucky break with injury in his short career to date.

 

Jack Hutchins – is currently on a restricted program. He suffered a near calamity earlier in the pre season with what looked like a certain ACL injury. Luckily this wasn’t the case and the follicly unchallenged youngster was spotted running laps during the week at training.

 

GREATER WESTERN SYDNEY GIANTS

Looking Good

Sam Reid – the former Bulldog toughnut has trained well this pre season. After being plagued with shoulder and groin injuries, Reid should easily be able to grab a spot in the AFL’s newest franchise.

 

Tom Scully & Callan Ward – have continued to train strongly this week. These two players will be important in ensuring the Giants don’t have too many cricket scores kicked against them in 2012.

 

Nick Haynes – has also set a cracking pace at training during the week. Look out for this rookie during the NAB Cup, could be a handy fantasy pick up.

 

Who’s Not?

Kevin Sheedy – direct quote from Sam Reid this week: “Choco’s been taking most of the training.” After letting Williams do pretty much all of the work in the NEAFL last year, while he was swanning around the world on AFL sponsored junkets, you might think Sheeds would want to stamp his authority on the group prior to round 1. Instead, he’s still spouting crap from the rooftops!

Can we just call Mark Williams the coach and KS the PR officer (Minister for Information) and end this farce? “Oh but they need him for the publicity and membership drive” they say? 4000 odd members from a geographic area with a population similar to Melbourne, 3 weeks out from the NAB Cup is what I say.

Honestly. Ivan Milat could do a better job of recruiting people to the cause at least he is a local (somewhat), well known in Sydney, hands on and more importantly cheaper than Sheedy.

 

HAWTHORN HAWKS

Looking Good

Lance Franklin – all FF coaches should have another serious case of Buddy love this season. The Hawks’ spearhead is fighting fit and has stood out during competitive drills during the week.

 

Sam Mitchell – continues to train extremely well and is looking really ripped. He was seen with a small group of players (mostly first year) staying back and doing centre square drills with the young rucks. Great commitment from the former skipper.

 

Cyril Rioli – seems to be fit and has made the competitive stuff look easy during the week. Hopefully, this can be his break out year.

 

Who’s Not?

Brad Sewell – was unable to do the competitive work this week and had his thumb heavily bandaged at Friday’s session.

 

Josh Gibson – was similarly restricted to lapwork during the week. Not to mention a ridiculous Mohawk style do which makes him look like a chav.

 

MELBOURNE DEMONS

Melbourne’s Friday session revolved mainly around stoppage drills – an area the club has been particularly poor at in the past few years. After reportedly leaving Gosch’s Paddock session due to rain the previous week whilst the Maggies were still out there training, it is heartening that the intensity went up a little this week.

 

Looking Good

James Magner & Rory Taggert – both youngsters have a real presence and intensity about them on the track. Big, confident and strong around the stoppages, one or both could break into the side given Tom Scully’s defection and Melbourne’s current 3rd world midfield.

 

Aaron Davey – trained mainly with the forwards group during the week and looked a class above. His skill and poise really stood out and most importantly he looks very fit. Hopefully he can have an impact as a crumbing/defensive small forward in 2012.

 

Jeremy Howe – looks to have added a bit more muscle to his physique but is still very lively on the track. Really should nail down his spot in Melbourne’s forward in 2012.

 

Who’s Not?

Luke Tapscott – was still restricted to lapwork this week. With a hip injury in his first year and chronic hammies last year, hopefully he is just on a modified program. Would expect him to be rusty early in the season.

Matthew Bate – was unseen at training on Friday. Given his form on the track in this pre season so far it would be devastating for the big red fire crotch if he were to break down now.

 

NORTH MELBOURNE KANGAROOS

Looking Good

Daniel Wells – trained really well during the week. Is excelling at all of the track work, typically his skill and poise really stood out. Exciting news for North fans when you consider his health scare last September. Could be a really good fantasy option if he keeps it up.

 

Jack Ziebell – continues to train strongly and has typically stood out during the competitive work. Could he be 2012’s Andrew Swallow in a fantasy sense?

 

Who’s Not?

Cam Richardson – was training away from the main group at stages during the week. Given last year, we can safely assume that Brad Scott hates him so he is definitely a fantasy risk when you consider these factors.

 

Ayden Kennedy – was restricted to light duties during the week after feeling moderate pain in his reconstructed knee during a drill the week before. Will be in doubt for the NAB Cup if he can’t find confidence in his body.

 

PORT ADELAIDE POWER

Looking Good

Alipate Carlile – is ok after scans confirmed he didn’t actually tear his hamstring last week. However, given he apparently carried on like a goose after such a minor injury that had club medicos thinking it was a serious tear, you would seriously have to question his mental toughness.

 

Troy Chaplin – looks leaner, which could be a move to increase his running ability & perhaps a subtle role change. He should be one to watch for FF coaches during the Nab Cup.

 

Jarred Redden – looks fairly handy in ruck drills so far. He will need to be ready to rock n roll if Lobbe & Renouf cannot overcome their injury woes.

 

Who’s Not?

Nathan Blee – is training with the rehab group this week which is disappointing for the youngster given he has been one of the Power’s better trainers in the pre season to date.

 

Brent Renouf – is still restricted to very light lap work. Is currently battling knee tendonitis and will miss round 1 of the NAB Cup. Have the Hawks sold another lemon?

 

Matthew Lobbe – will require hip surgery and looks set to miss up to 12 weeks which is a devastating blow for the club’s ruck stocks.

 

RICHMOND TIGERS

For more detailed Tiger news; be sure to check out KP’s excellent training report from last week.

Looking Good

Brandon Ellis & Bachar Houli – continue to impress and look to be taking kicking out responsibilities during match simulation. I expect both to be very fantasy relevant in 2012.

 

Tom Derickx – looks really good as a key forward prospect. He is big and strong and can clunk contested marks which should really relieve pressure on Jack Riewoldt in 2012.

 

Brett O’Hanlon – looked good up forward during the week. He could be the answer long term for the Tigers’ medium forward role after the trial and error of serial headcases Connors and Morton in recent years.

 

Who’s Not?

Trent Cotchin – was training with the rehab group during the week. His inability to ever have a good pre season doesn’t really seem to affect the midfield maestro on the field. Imagine what his output could be if he could get a full pre season in though!

 

Jack Riewoldt – is also training with the rehab group in a mirror image of his 2011 interrupted pre season. A bit like Cotchin he can still produce good footy without a pre season but surely it would help the Taswegian if he was more match ready in 2012.

 

ST KILDA SAINTS

The Saints were once again put through their paces with three closed sessions during the week. Their first open session of the new year is January 25th, however, here is a brief synopsis of what has been going on down at the Saints since October.

Looking Good

Jamie Cripps – contrary to last weeks wrap he is fine. The quad injury occurred during early December and he was back into training by the end of the month. Looks NAB Cup bound.

 

Lenny Hayes – is looking sharp after his 2011 knee reconstruction. Having done most of the training this pre season he looks to be an interesting fantasy option for those willing to take the punt this year.

 

Sebastian Ross – has been impressive on the track so far this summer. With a bigger body than most typical first year players he is certainly one to watch out for in the NAB cup.

 

Nick Riewoldt – hasn’t let a post season knee clean up affect his pre season to date. After a horror 2011 season in a FF sense he could be a real bargain in 2012.

 

Who’s Not?

Ben McEvoy – was unable to do much competitive work pre Christmas and seemed to be on some sort of rehab program. However, his running power hasn’t decreased and he has been an absolute time trial star for the Saints.

 

Nick Winmar – has been struggling with ankle complaints, which have disrupted the talented youngsters pre season.

 

Nick Dal Santo – injured his hand early in the pre season and wasn’t able to do much competitive work. However, given that skills with a football seem to come as naturally to him as riding a bike does to Lance Armstrong, I wouldn’t expect this to be a setback at all for NDS’ 2012 campaign.

 

SYDNEY SWANS

Looking Good

Mike Pyke – the big Canuck has had an uninterrupted pre season to date. With chronic quad problems derailing his 2011 season Pyke is looking to make amends by grabbing the number two ruck/forward spot in the team. With Mark Seaby perennially injured and Jesse White being a headcase, the man whose parents obviously had a cruel sense of humour could well be in the Swans best team come round 1.

 

Rhyce Shaw – has also had an uninterrupted pre season, the dashing defender looms as a good fantasy option in 2012.

 

Adam Goodes – the champion Swans has typically looked in good nick out on the track and is still one of the clubs fastest sprinters despite his age!

 

Who’s Not?

Dan Hannebury – underwent minor knee surgery this week in a blow to his pre season campaign. However, he is confident about making it back for the NAB Cup.

 

WEST COAST EAGLES

Looking Good

Fraser McIness – has really impressed throughout the course of the pre season and will surely play in the NAB Cup. However, given his natural position he may struggle for a spot in the Eagles best side given Eric MacKenzie & Will Schofield are more seasoned defenders.

 

Tom Swift – was spotted down at a Scarborough beach training session. He looks to have bulked up considerably. With Brad Ebert’s defection to Port, Swift could grab his place in the team.

 

Shannon Hurn – the meataxe from the west has been training well this week and has stated his ambition to play a bit more in the midfield. This is great news for fantasy coaches but terrible news for opposition midfielders who will have to combat the 186cm 98kg ball of muscle hurtling at them at the stoppages.

 

Who’s Not?

Daniel Kerr & Scott Selwood – were still in the (‘Ben Cousins Memorial’?) rehab group during the week. Hopefully the important midfielders can return to full training soon for the Eagles’ sake.

 

Beau Waters – was also training in the rehab group during the week. Surprise, surprise, great player and a good fantasy player but you would have to question his durability.

 

WESTERN BULLDOGS

Looking Good

Robert Murphy – completed full training during the week. When you consider his age and history with niggling injuries it is heartening to see him out there with the youngsters at this stage of the season.

 

Shaun Higgins – also participated in full training during the week. Higgins certainly is another player who has had his fair share of injury woes. Hopefully, for fantasy coaches he can have his best year yet in 2012.

Tom Williams – while he was training away from the main group during the week doing mainly running and kicking drills the key defender looks fit and ready to go. He surely can’t be that far away from full training unless he is on some sort of modified program.

 

Who’s Not?

Brian Lake & Adam Cooney – were unseen at Wednesday’s session. Cooney may well have been given the session off given that he has done most of the pre season work so far. Lake may also not be training because of his age, however, given his injury woes last season this doesn’t look a great start to 2012.