Fresh Round 1 bolters emerge; Docker domino effect amid Dog’s scary warning — Track Watch

A host of young guns are pushing their respective cases for early season debuts.

Plus Mason Cox’s multi-faceted Fremantle influence and promising Eagles signs.

Get the latest pre-season news in AFL Track Watch!

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HOW ‘EXTROVERT’ COX IS HELPING TALL DUO THRIVE

Mason Cox is “bringing the noise” at Fremantle as the new Docker earned praise for pushing an in-form Sean Darcy on the training track.

Cox has made a strong impression since joining the Dockers via the SSP late last year.

The 34-year-old on Monday had several ruck battles with Darcy and Aiden Riddle, while he also spent some time in defence.

“He’s such a big presence,” Dockers teammate Corey Wagner said of Cox. “He’s a big boy, his voice is very loud.

“He’s an extrovert – and we’re a pretty introverted club. He brings the noise out and challenges Sean, which we saw today, it was a good battle. He’s a really good addition.”

Cox’s arrival is also set to free up young star Luke Jackson from ruck duties even more. The West Australian reported Jackson on Monday trained purely as a big-bodied midfielder – a role he impressed in during the second half of last season when Darcy was available.

Wagner said Darcy, who’s coming into a 10th AFL season, was in good shape.

“Over the off-season, he’s really cracked into his rehab and the way he’s gone about his weights,” Wagner said of Darcy.

“I think the other day, it’s the best I’ve seen him move in the four years I’ve been here.”

SHOCK DEADLINE DAY RECRUIT IN THE MIX

Richmond recruit Patrick Retschko is “mounting a case for a Round 1 debut”, per AFL Media.

Retschko was a surprise late trade addition to the deadline day chaos in October, moving from Geelong to the Tigers in exchange for Pick 99 after just one season on the Cats’ list.

AFL Media’s Josh Gabelich reported Retschko was “dominating all the running and impressive in early match play”, adding the retirement of dual premiership player Kamdyn McIntosh had opened up a spot on the wing for Retschko to possibly take.

Fellow recent recruits Sam Cumming and Sam Grlj — the Tigers’ top two picks at last year’s draft — are tracking well, while luckless defender Josh Gibcus — who’s played just three matches in the past three seasons — is “building momentum” ahead of the start of the season, per Gabelich.

Fox Footy commentator David King was impressed by what he saw.

Triple premiership star Nick Vlastuin is also now back in main training after a nasty ankle injury cut his 2025 campaign short.

SWAN STRAIGHT IN?

Another possible Opening Round bolter is Sydney draftee Harry Kyle, who could be in the mix to face Carlton in the season-opener.

Kyle, a hybrid 188cm player with his run and dash a big feature of his game, was Sydney’s first selection of the 2025 draft after receiving an earlier-than-desired bid from the Giants at Pick 14.

CODE Sports reported on Monday that Kyle stood out at Swans training with his speed and athleticism, adding he “makes an imposing figure” after putting on size recently.

Dual All-Australian star Errol Gulden, who was restricted to just 10 games last season, was also a standout on the track as the Swans aimed to move the ball at speed during the session.

YEO BEAUTY: EAGLES VETERAN’S RETURN

Premiership Eagle Elliot Yeo returned to match simulation on Monday as he looks to put a wretched 2025 campaign behind him.

Yeo, a dual All-Australian and best and fairest winner, didn’t play a game last season for the Eagles due to knee and ankle injuries.

The club’s website indicated Yeo “eased into the session” before getting his hands on the ball several times in an on-ball role. The West Australian added Yeo “displayed his trademark power and skill” with his first kick to Harley Reid.

Yeo returned to modified duties for the rest of the session, but his match sim cameo was an encouraging step ahead of the 2026 season.

Liam Baker (load management) and Brandon Starcevich (knee) didn’t take part in the session.

Elsewhere, No. 4 draftee Cooper Duff-Tytler impressed with his competitiveness and athleticism in a ruck battle with Matt Flynn.

Tom McCarthy also shone with his speed in a midfield role, which saw him push forward to have a scoreboard impact.

DARCY DOMINANT

It’s going to be hard for the Western Bulldogs to contain the hype around Sam Darcy, who’s in ominous touch ahead of the 2026 season.

After booting eight goals in a Bulldogs match sim last week, Darcy backed it up on Monday with another impressive display at Whitten Oval, getting on top of veteran teammate Rory Lobb, per CODE Sports.

Darcy booted 48 goals from just 17 games last season. He seems primed to take the competition by storm in 2026.

SETBACKS FOR ROOS DUO

Two North Melbourne youngsters have suffered injury setbacks, per Zero Hanger.

Forward Brayden George is reportedly set to be sidelined from training for three weeks due to a hamstring issue, while 2024 draftee River Stevens will be nursed back into full training after suffering a broken rib.

Stevens copped a heavy hit at training, prompting the Roos to send the father-son recruit to hospital for scans, which revealed no serious damage.

George, who was taken at Pick 26 in the 2022 draft, has yet to play an AFL game primarily due to injury.

POWER’S MEAD EXPLAINS SWITCH

Port Adelaide player Jackson Mead says the seed for his positional switch was planted in his exit meeting last year.

“I have been playing as a midfielder for the last sort of six years, training there, and always game day ended up on a wing or half-forward. So, we just asked the question, how can I better use my time and either train fully as a wing or how about playing half back? And yeah, rolled with that and I feel like we’ve got a good position and I’ve got good traits where I can slot in there and add to the team,” Mead told reporters on Monday. “So, yeah, it’s going good so far.

“I’m really enjoying it. We’ve got a good group down there to learn from. We’ve got Kane Farrell and Connor Rozee who are exceptional high half backs. So a lot of good characters to learn from there.

“It’s obviously an emphasis on contest so I really thrive on that. And using my skills and probably going at the game a bit more, I think it helps me just to be a bit more direct and get the ball moving forward rather than sideways. So that’s something that I’ve been working on over the last six weeks of training.”