Get the latest AFL pre-season news including who’s impressing on the training track and who’s auditioning for a list spot via the pre-season supplemental selection period in Track Watch!
Richmond has invited a pair of forwards, Kiwi Mykelti Lefau and East Perth’s Mitch Schofield, to train at Punt Road until at least Christmas in a bid for rookie list spots.
AFL Media reported Lefau and Schofield began training under Adem Yze on Monday morning as the Tigers began their pre-season.
Watch the AFLW Grand Final from 2:30pm Sunday December 3 LIVE & ad-break free during play on Kayo Sports. Join now and start streaming instantly >
The 195cm Lefau, who moved from Auckland to Melbourne in 2012 and once trained in Melbourne Storm’s NRL development program, played for Casey at VFL level pre-pandemic before joining the Tigers’ program in 2022.
He suffered an ACL tear after six games but returned this past June and played 11 VFL games.
VFL commentator Jason Bennett described Lefau as an “impressive specimen” who at school ran what would’ve been the fastest time at the 2023 combine in the 20-metres, and revealed he once kicked 25 goals in an under-19s game.
Schofield meanwhile had a breakout season in the WAFL, kicking 30 goals for East Perth, having focused on baseball as a child with plans to play at US college level before the pandemic scuppered that idea.
The Tigers’ VFL program has promoted several players to AFL lists in recent years including James Trezise, Tylar Young and Jake Aarts at Punt Road, plus Massimo D’Ambrosio and Sam Durham elsewhere.
Collingwood is trialling five players for a spot on the rookie list including a trio formerly on the St Kilda, Essendon and Port Adelaide lists.
Ex-Bombers tall Josh Eyre joined axed Saint Jack Bytel and Power 2022 mid-season draftee ruckman Brynn Teakle at Gosch’s Paddock as the premiers returned on Monday.
Eyre also trained with the Saints last pre-season but suffered a serious hamstring injury which cruelled his chances of a contract.
He then played for Collingwood’s VFL side, primarily as a key defender, along with fellow trainee player Campbell Hustwaite, the Magpies’ VFL co-captain and best and fairest winner.
VAFA star Sam Sofronidis, who impressed as a defender with Collegians as a 23-year-old this past season, completed the quintet.
The Magpies won’t have All-Australian defender Brayden Maynard training until February after a shoulder reconstruction while Jamie Elliott underwent minor shoulder surgery and will have a modified program before Christmas.
Carlton coach Michael Voss says new recruit Elijah Hollands can turn a two-week suspension to begin the season to his advantage as the Blues began their pre-season on Monday.
Hollands joined injury-riddled duo Zac Williams and Orazio Fantasia on the track at Ikon Park along with early-returning stars including Sam Walsh and Harry McKay.
The former Gold Coast wingman was earlier this month handed a two-match ban by the AFL for “conduct unbecoming” after pleading guilty to cocaine possession.
Voss said the 21-year-old would benefit from a new environment and training alongside his younger brother, Ollie, as the majority of the Blues’ list hit the track on a wet morning at Ikon Park.
Captain Patrick Cripps and Coleman medallist Charlie Curnow were the only notable absentees as more than a dozen senior Blues returned alongside the first to fourth-year players.
Voss said Williams was progressing “as expected” from his ACL injury in February and should be fully fit before the start of the season.
“If we just use the timeline of his injury as a bit of a guide, he should be back to full fitness in the first week of Feb,” Voss said.
“He’ll slowly start to join into the skills program throughout this next month with the hope that rolling into the New Year he’ll start to figure a bit more prominently.”
The coach said he viewed Fantasia as an important depth player in the Blues’ forward half, with the club taking a cautious approach with the Port Adelaide recruit despite him returning to training “fully fit”.
“His talent speaks for itself, and he understands what’s ahead of him – he understands that position that he’s going for is going to have some genuine competition,” Voss said.
“To get through a 23-24 week season, we’ve seen that you need to bat deep, so to be able to add even more talent in that part of the ground was pretty important to us.
“He’s completely fine to go, we’re sort of taking a steady approach with him though … so he’ll come in and out of training to start off with pre-Christmas … we just want to make sure we build him back up and make sure we build him up properly.”
Voss said Hollands would be primed to make an impact at the senior level when his suspension lifts ahead of round 3 against North Melbourne.
“The one thing I said and (Hollands) was keen to do is he gets a fresh set of eyes, he gets a fresh environment,” he said.
“He’s stated this himself, he just wants to go out there and prove himself through the work he brings, that’s all we’ve asked him to do.
“He’s a hard worker, he’ll mesh in really well with the group, and he’s got an added advantage having a brother here.”
Hollands appeared in court last month to plead guilty to the cocaine possession charge, with no conviction recorded.
He was placed on a two-month good behaviour bond and ordered to complete a drug diversion course.
Meanwhile Western Bulldogs superstar Marcus Bontempelli was the only notable absence as the full squad hit the track for the first time this pre-season at Whitten Oval on Monday.
Bontempelli was at the club but kept to the gym as he continued to recover from ankle surgery earlier this month.
His return to full training is expected soon but he did not join in the 2km time trial as Bailey Smith held onto his title as the club’s premier runner, coming from behind to beat out impressive draftees Ryley Sanders and Joel Freijah.
Freijah, a wingman from western Victoria taken with pick 45, led most of the way before Smith and Sanders shot past him close to the finish.
The 18-year-old revealed the Bulldogs had moved him in with Tom Liberatore and said he was enjoying his start to life with the quirky veteran.
“I’m loving it – I moved in with Libba last Thursday night and then started training here Friday. The brand new facilities are really good, and I loved meeting all the boys,” Freijah said.
“The club worked out (the move) – they rang me up on draft night and said I’d be moving in with him, and he sent me a text that night, so I was pretty stoked with that.
“It’s been awesome, he’s been cooking really well. He made a steak the first night, and then a nice curry last night … he’s looking after me very well, and I’m just getting used to (Liberatore’s two dogs) as well.”
Freijah said he was eyeing a berth on the wing this season, with the Bulldogs seeking out his running power on draft night to improve their outside midfield stocks.
“Definitely, I think I’m a good chance (to play next year),” he said.
“I just want to come in and earn respect, and I think I do that by working hard and training hard.”
Ruckman Lachlan Smith, who was selected by the Bulldogs two picks later at 47, said he thought he could also contribute at AFL level next season.
The 202cm teenager would be almost certainly thrown in the deep end if injuries struck both Tim English and Rory Lobb, with no other recognised rucks on the Bulldogs’ list.
“Physically, I think I’m up to it – I think I’ve got to work on my endurance a little bit to get up to this level, but I reckon I’d definitely be capable of playing next year if an opportunity showed,” Smith said.
New recruits James Harmes and Nick Coffield were on the track at Whitten Oval along with Adam Treloar, who trained lightly after the time trial along with Liberatore and Jason Johannisen.
Former Hawk Lachie Bramble was also present after the Bulldogs announced the speedster’s signing as a pre-season supplementary pick on the first day of the window.
Discussion about this post