Looks like weve had a number of teams kick off their pre-season training, so its time to dust off the ol clipboard and start scouting around the training reports to see if we cant dig up a little fantasy gold.

Of course, being the first update, info is fairly scant, but hey- its good to work ourselves into the pre-season!

Ill be looking to get these posts up at least weekly, concatenating just about everything in the weekly newsletter, so that come the NAB, youll have a great resource to draw upon for all your pre-season news.

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That said- try to follow along each week, while cramming at the end can definitely work, building up a solid basis of knowledge over the pre-season will definitely give you a better understanding on what has made a good pick a good pick, and why certain rookies will get great value next year when they do finally get a game. (ie- We all knew that Puopolo and I. Smith would be great value last year, when they finally got games and thus dynamically left room in my team to trade down into them, knowing that they would get games.) It also helps you to avoid trading into hype-ish players, like Siposs last year. I know a number of coaches that picked him up simply because they had to downgrade a forward, rather than picking up (the albeit injured) Mzungu, knowing that hed do well. Last year you could kinda get away with it, but if we go back to a 2 man bench, then a solid understanding of how the pre-season went down, will certainly help you out through the year.

Enough rambling however, on with the show!

Adelaide

2/11

The crows are looking to kick off training on Nov 7.

For the record though, the modified training group thus far will include: Talia (Achilles), Graham Johncock (ankle), Chris Knights (hip) and Shaun McKernan (ankle),

Brisbane

2/11

No report

Carlton

2/11

17 players (plus a few rookies) spent a two week period in a purpose built altitude facility in Qatar, and are currently spending an additional week training it the ridiculious heat.

For the record, the players over there are: Dennis Armfield, Eddie Betts, Paul Bower, Andrew Collins, David Ellard, Bryce Gibbs, Shaun Hampson, Aaron Joseph, Rohan Kerr, Jeremy Laidler, Kane Lucas, Luke Mitchell, Patrick McCarthy, Andrew McInnes, Jordan Russell, Matthew Watson and rookies Blake Bray, Mitchell Carter, Levi Casboult.

For mine, this makes Gibbs an even tastier early season candiate for next year.


Collingwood

2/11

Kicked off training on Oct 31 sortof, but arent offically scheduled to start until Nov 21.

Essendon

2/11

Started back at training on Oct 28, with not much to report but the obligatory "Hirdy is smashing us", and talk of pushing the players into the "Hardest preseason ever (TM)".

Fremantle

2/11

The Dockers were smashed on the track last year, with their pre-seasons consisting of doing 50-60km per week. I wonder if that will be reduced this year considering their injury tolls!

Sandilands and Mundy both appear to be fine thus far.

Walters has cancelled a family holiday to get impress the new coach after coming back last year with skinfolds well above what was expected.

Looking to start officially training on Nov 7.

Geelong

2/11

No report

Gold Coast

2/11

The Suns will be heading off to Arizona for two and a half weeks in November. Heres hoping we hear a little about it!

GWS

2/11

No report

Hawthorn

2/11

Roughead is progressing, currently on track to make it back into the fold in round 1. Still wouldnt expect him to fire out of the gates however, but might turn into quite the bargain has he gets his fitness back.

Melbourne

2/11

Well, first things first. Coln Silvia was a bad boy, and as such, has earned himself a club imposed round 1 suspension. Really though, its probably a blessing in disguise as any temptation to jump on his has now disapated.

Apparently Neeld has claimed that Melbourne were doing half the work that was being done at Collingwood/Adelaide/St. Kilda. Expect to hear a lot of reports of a Hardest preseason ever (TM)

Started training on Oct 31, with just a few quick notes coming out of it.
Strauss looks to be moving well.
Grimes and Spencer were doing rehab.
Clark and Evans were very light on, mostly doing laps.
Blease and T. McDonald were seen training with the Forwards, Bennell with the backs, while Bate could perhaps prove value, training with the mid group.


North Melbourne

2/11

Headed off to their Utah training camp in Utah on Oct 21. Daniel Wells (health), Andrew Swallow (International rules/arriving late), Brent Harvey (arriving late) and Cameron Richardson (hip/arriving late) were the only ones absent.

Luke Delaney, Cam Delaney, Robbie Tarrant, Jack Ziebell, Cruize Garlett and Lindsay Thomas all headed up a week early (Oct 17) to get a jump on it.

Levi Greenwood won <a href="http://www.kangaroos.com.au/tabid/4912/default.aspx?newsid=125656">The Hardest Run[/url], with surprisingly, Lachlan Hansen and Nathan Grima close behind.

I gotta say, Norths coverage of their Utah trip has been second to none. A fantastic example to what all clubs should be doing with their preseasons!

Port Adelaide

2/11

Start back training on Nov 3.

Richmond

2/11

Start back training on Nov 3.

St. Kilda

2/11

No offseason issues so far (Well, apart from the whole Lyon debarcle, and the salary cap stuff) - so thats a plus right?

From StkildaThunda
Lenny Hayes is running like a man possessed. Back upto full pace and at the club everyday doing his pre-preseason training. Looks certain to play preseaon and Round 1.

Riewoldt also has begun preseason weeks before everyone else. Looks to be recovering well after his post season knee op.

James Gwilt set to return Round 5 has also been at club most days.

Wont mean much to most but young rookie Tom Curren has been training alongside Hayes as he aims to break onto main list and have a crack in seniors. Def one to keep eye on.
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Sydney

2/11

No report

Western Bulldogs

2/11

No report

West Coast

2/11

West Coasts entire squad will head to the Kimberley in late November for a four-day pre-season camp to kick-start preparations for the 2012 season.