We got a few intra-club matches in this report, but theres also a fair lockout occurring from a few choice clubs!

Check out the last month worth of training reports from the Bomber, Docker, Cats, Suns and Giants.

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Essendon

Seriously Bombers!! Give us something please!

6/2

We got a puff piece here on Hille, officially "training the house down". Is an interesting option, but surely the Bombers will be looking to get gametime into Bellchambers?

10/2 INTRA-CLUB

The club intraclub match, and like all things Essendon this season, the details have been pretty sketchy! That said however;

Browne, Gumbleton, Hocking, Hunter, Hurley, Steinberg & Winderlich were missing.
Zaharakis was looking pretty good, however, he did spend a lot of time up forward.
Leroy Jetta played the game off of the Half back flank. Interesting role for the boy and could be what he needs to raise his confidence.
Hille, Watson and Stanton are all looking very fit. (as youd expect!)
Kavangh and Brendan Lee are both shaping up to being decent picks Id think (provided Lee can score an elevation.)
Interestingly, in the post game sprints, Kyle Reimers tore it up. But there is speculation as to whether that was due to increased fitness, or simply not working hard enough through the game.

Fremantle

See, this is how you let the fans into your training sessions!!

16/1

Still no Mundy, Sandilands, Grover, Wilson or Faulks
Fyfe was training, looked good from all reports.
Mzungu was on the track as well, thankfully.
Ballantyne is still getting massive wraps.

18/6

A short session which only had half the Dockers out there.
Fyfe was moving freely, but heading inside after the skill session.
Word is that Morabito wont be available til mid-year. Also that Neale should be playing early in the season.

20/1

Grover, Mundy, Spurr, Michie, Wilson-King and Forster were all missing
As with every other session, Balla midfield time is looking a reality.
Fyfe did a fair bit of running away from the main group.
Sandi spent the early session running laps, before heading in.
Neale was looking very good.

23/1

Its noted that Suban has been playing on the last line of defense, but is also the bloke kicking in and setting up play.
Duffield is playing further up the ground, more as a rebounding defender where hes been a big point scorer in the past.
Pav hasnt seen much midfield time at all this pre-season.
Hill looks to be a particular focus point this year.
Broughton has been playing in the backline, pushing into the mids a bit.

25/1

A nasty little rumour a bout Neale and Shin splints popped up today - was put to bed pretty quickly.

27/1

Lachie Neale is training fine - no sign of the shin splints.
Griffin, Grover, Spurr, Sutcliffe, king-Jones, Mundy, Morabito were all missing.
Suban is still running the kickouts.

30/1

Mundy, Morabito, Mitchie, Forster, Griffin, Sutcliffe and King were missing.
Spurr, Lower and Roberton were in rehab.
Pretty much continuing on with the ol Balla, Hill, Suban looking great, Fyfe moving well.

Gotta post this image, though due to copyright and all that, if anyone wants me to take it down, just email.
<img src="http://i688.photobucket.com/albums/vv243/Lach72/Ballas.jpg">
<font style="font-size:8pt">My pressssioussss...</font>

1/2

The whole Morabito thing is just confusing, so many conflicting reports on his status its not funny. In short, who knows, so just avoid!
Looks like Mundy has been ruled out of the NAB.

3/2

Looks like Balla went the fisticuffs with big Jack Anthony. I reckon thats the biggest risk with Balla- hes a niggler, and you just know that hes gunna miss games!
Mzungu was very impressive with the mids throughout the session.
Spurr trained with the midfielders.
Neale continues to impress.
Broughton is still training in defence.

6/2

Bit of a scratch match today with Ballantyne, Mz, Neale, Spurr, Crowls, Dawson and Fyfe all seeing a fair bit of the footy.
Broughton and Duffield were playing in defense.

7/2

Looks like Pav has shaved 20 seconds of his PB over 3ks. Not bad for the ol dog.

10/2 INTRA-CLUB

Looks like McPharlin missed out due to an ankle injury, but should be right for the NAB.

Purple: Ibbotson, Fyfe, Lower, Sheriden, Crozier, Barlow, Mayne, Neale, Faulks, Clarke, Spurr, Schloithe, Joohnson, Menegola, Van Berlo

White: Ballantyne, Sawson, Pitt, Broughton, Suban, McPhee, Crowley, Anthony, Mellington, Bradley, Pavlich, Sandilands, Hill, De Boer, Duffield, Cricton, Pearce

Missing: Morabito, Mundy, McPharlin, Grover, Griffin, Walters, Forster, Michie, Roberts, Silvagni, Sutcliffe, Wilson-King

Purple pulled away early, getting up 31 to 17 at half time, but White was able to run out victors in the end.

Not suprising though, Fyfe was everywhere for the purples in the first half, but was taken off. Looked buggered when he went off apparently.

Barlow, as expected, saw a lot of the bal, as did Neale.

Annoyingly, Spurr didnt do much, so well need to keep a closer eye on him over the NAB.

Ballantyne looked poor initially, but got better as the game went on. It will be interesting to see how his midfield role works when the NAB comes round.

Sandi dominated the rucking, but really, he was up against one of the WAFL fill-ins, so he should have.

Hill didnt get too much of it, disappointing considering how hyped his pre-season has been.

12/2

Ross said that Mundy wont be right for round 1.
Also mentioned that Neale was in the top3 or 4 for possessions during the scratch match.
Sutcliff *was* impressing before the stress fractures in his foot.
JWK has a hot spot.

13/2

Morabito started with the main group, before moving back to running drills.

Geelong

20/1

The first of 4 scheduled open session, it looks like the Cats are gunna be pretty tough to get much out of this pre-season.
Varcoe was missing, but word is he has stress fractures.
Stephenson is fitting in quite nicely from the sounds of things.
Mitch Brown was seen training with the defenders.
Smedts was training with the midfield and small forward groups.
And the next open session is in April... shesh cats!!

27/1

Scott stated that while Horlin-Smith will be getting NAB time, hes unlikely to get a birth come round 1.

29/1

Looks like the Varcoe concern was valid- foot stress fractures will see him missing at least the first 4 games of the season.

Gold Coast

20/1

Wowzers, Hunt has really shaped up over this summer. Looks a completely different bloke (but has only lost 2kg.
<img src="http://resources0.news.com.au/images/2012/01/20/1226249/358788-karmichael-hunt.jpg" width="470px">

9/2

Looks like Caddy, Day, Toy and McKenzie will be heading over to Arizona for 15 days, meaning theyll all miss the NAB Cup.

10/2

Love the puff piece today stating that Abletts training volume has almost doubled from this time last year. Gunna be tough to not have Gaz come round 1 I reckon.

13/2

Sounds like Hunt might be getting groomed for some time in the middle.
Also sounds like the Suns will be looking to bed down their 22 this year, meaning less time for the kids.
Dixon and Gorringe might be getting a move to defense to add some height.

GWS

10/2 INTRA-CLUB

Sounds like Izzy wasnt very effectual up forward.
Ward however was very strong. Picked up a lot of touches.
From the sounds of things, Brogan beat Giles on the day. Interesting to think about.
McDonald is looking ready to go come round 1.
Power and Palmer did alright, nothing to write home about though.
Smith was very good playing off the half forward line.
Dom was lining up with the possibles, not the probables.
Hampton was excellent up to half time before going missing. That said though, as a forward, I imagine the second half will replicate the real season more than the first.
Studly Chad was very good from the sounds of things. I would love to see him turn the clock back a little next year!