Dane Swan in action during Collingwood's intraclub match. Picture: Wayne Ludbey Source: News Corp Australia
WE look at every club ahead of the NAB Challenge.
Hawthorn and Collingwood kick off the pre-season on Thursday but before the teams take the field find out the young guns to watch and who's playing to win.
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Big name recruits Paddy McCartin, Tom Boyd and Dayne Beams are all expected to suit up while a host of unknowns are hoping to enhance their chances for Round 1.
Have your say on your club's prospects in the pre-season below.
Former captain Nathan van Berlo is back to full fitness. Picture: Dean Martin Source: News Corp Australia
ADELAIDE CROWS
NEW FACES
Rookie Keenan Ramsey, who is partially blind in one eye, has won over teammates with his versatility and ball use over summer and is in line for game time in his first NAB series. Developing 201cm ruckman Reilly O'Brien will also get a look in after being taken with the Crows' first rookie pick. Third-year midfielder Rory Atkins is also ready to go after another solid summer.
STRATEGY
Phil Walsh is trying to instil a harder defensive edge in his first year as coach - more organised behind the ball.
NOT YET
Expect No.1 ruckman Sam Jacobs to get an easy ride through the NAB Challenge to ensure he is primed for Round 1 against North Melbourne. Patrick Dangerfield and veteran midfielder Scott Thompson will also be handled cautiously. Brent Reilly (fractured skull), Riley Knight (ankle), Andy Otten (knee) and Sam Shaw (hamstring) are the only four players on the injured list.
Daniel Rich is back after a knee reconstruction. Picture: Brad Cooper Source: News Corp Australia
BRISBANE LIONS
NEW FACES
The Lions will unveil big-name recruit Dayne Beams and former Blue Mitch Robinson during the NAB Challenge. After back surgery last year, ex-Cat Allen Christensen has just joined the main training group and the Lions hope he will be able to play one NAB game later in the campaign to prepare for Round 1. The Lions expect young Queensland pair and the club's top two draft picks Liam Dawson and Harris Andrews to also make an appearance during the pre-season competition.
STRATEGY
"Our main focus is the preparation of our players leading up to the premiership season. We'll put in a strong team, but we'll look at managing the player loads ... to finish off their preparation for the season,'' Lions football operations manager Dean Warren.
NOT YET
The major pre-season casualty for the Lions was midfielder Pearce Hanley, who will miss the first half of the season with a hip injury. Young forward Jonathan Freeman is set to miss the next 12 weeks after undergoing back surgery to repair a slight disc bulge. Ryan Harwood also had groin surgery and is expected to miss six to eight weeks. Ruckman Trent West continues his recovery from an ACL and won't play until Round 4 or Round 5.
Marc Murphy, Kade Simpson, Mark Whiley and Chris Yarran watch Carlton's intraclub match. Source: Getty Images
CARLTON
NEW FACES
The Blues will wheel out Blaine Boekhorst, Liam Jones, Jason Tutt plus Kristian Jaksch, Tom Fields, Billy Gowers and Matthew Dick. Three to watch after impressive pre-seasons are Tom Bell, Ciaran Byrne and Patrick Cripps, while Dale Thomas appears to have regained his kicking penetration. Matthew Watson looked sharp with six goals in Friday's intra-club match.
STRATEGY
"We want to get up to 35 players on the park at different stages and have a look at as many young players as possible." Andrew McKay, general manager of football operations
NOT YET
David Ellard (calf), Cameron Giles (foot), Matthew Kreuzer (foot), Andrew Walker (knee) and GWS recruit Mark Whiley (Achilles) won't be seen in the early rounds.
Collingwood players put through their paces in an intraclub match. Picture: Wayne Ludbey Source: News Corp Australia
COLLINGWOOD
NEW FACES
Off-season acquisitions Levi Greenwood, Travis Varcoe and Jack Crisp all played this week's intra-club and are scheduled to feature, as is No.5 draft pick Jordan De Goey who has impressed. American college basketballer Mason Cox has a solid pre-season behind him and is in contention.
STRATEGY
After last year, staying healthy would be a good place to start. Had a whopping 37 players available to play before its intra-club game and only four players in rehab. Last seasons injury crisis seems long forgotten, with Scharenberg and Macaffer the only long-term absentees. "We're in very good condition at the moment," football manager Neil Balme said.
NOT YET
Brent Macaffer and Matt Scharenberg are no chance to play as they continue their recovery from knee reconstructions, while Clinton Young (hamstring) is still some way off. Ben Reid (hamstring), Paul Seedsman (hip), Jarrad Witts (shoulder) and Darcy Moore (toe) should be ready to go before the end of the pre-season comp.
David Zaharakis tackles Ben Howlett at Essendon training. Picture: Michael Klein Source: News Corp Australia
ESSENDON
NEW FACES
Given the unavailability of senior list players at the club before the 2012 season, all new arrivals should play. Adam Cooney (on-ball), James Gwilt (defence) and Jonathan Giles (ruck) are the established inclusions plus the exciting Kyle Langford (on-ball/forward), Jayden Laverde (wing/half forward) and Shaun McKernan (ruck/forward). Even Jake Long and Conor McKenna, who may normally have been held back, should get a taste.
STRATEGY
Circumstances ensure they are all about attracting a ready-made bunch of experienced heads to fill holes and at the same time exposing as many of their new faces as possible.
NOT YET
Nick Kommer remains on the indefinite list after knee surgery while Alex Browne will miss at least the first two NAB Challenge games after a knee reconstruction this time last year.
Luke McPharlin will be eased through the pre-season. Picture: Will Russell Source: News Corp Australia
FREMANTLE
NEW FACES
All eyes will be on young big men Michael Taberner, Michael Apeness and Jack Hannath as the Dockers look for big bodies to provide some goalscoring support for Matthew Pavlich. Tough inside midfielder Connor Blakely is in the mould of Michael Barlow and has impressed with his ability to read the play and get to the next contest. He will be given a chance in the NAB but is likely to be set for a full season in the WAFL. Lachie Weller is a polished midfielder in the making, but third-year wingman Tom Sheridan is ahead in the queue for a permanent midfield spot.
STRATEGY
The Dockers have focused on improving their kicking, particularly out of half-back, very much along the lines of Hawthorn.
NOT YET
Veterans Luke McPharlin, Aaron Sandilands and Matthew Pavlich are arguably the Dockers' most precious commodities this season and may play about half of the NAB series minutes. Colin Sylvia was banished the WAFL for his poor fitness and Nathan Fyfe may wait until the last NAB game for some action after straining a hamstring.
Mitch Clark hopes to be ready to Round 1. Picture: Mark Dadswell Source: News Corp Australia
GEELONG
NEW FACES
Last year's top pick Nakia Cockatoo has turned heads over the pre-season with his explosiveness and defensive ethic. With a small forward spot up for grabs, Cockatoo and another first-year livewire, Cory Gregson, have the chance to prove their senior readiness over the NAB series. Medium midfielder Dean Gore is not flashy but continues to meet the pre-season demands and could help build the Cats' midfield depth, along with second-year playmaker Darcy Lang. Mitch Clark has put together an outstanding summer and is in line for a Round 1 berth, playing ruck and deep forward.
STRATEGY
As ever, it's pretty simple at the Cattery - refine their game style and improve. Opposition scouts will watch the Cats' new-look forward line with interest.
NOT YET
Dawson Simpson has returned to full training in his latest injury comeback and will have his fitness tested in the NAB games ahead of a likely Round 1 berth. Fellow ruckman Hamish McIntosh is unlikely to see much pre-season game time and there are some question marks on Rhys Stanley after a bout of bone bruising interrupted his campaign. Steve Johnson has responded well to a week off to help his foot problem and is leaner than in previous years. Like many of the Cats' senior stars, Johnson and Joel Selwood will be managed through the NAB series. The key backs, such as Andrew Mackie, Tom Lonergan and Jared Rivers, are in the same boat, but have hardly missed a session to this point.
Nick Malceski is ready to roll for his new club. Picture: Regi Varghese Source: News Corp Australia
GOLD COAST SUNS
NEW FACES
Former Swans star Nick Malceski and ex-Hawk Mitch Hallahan look ready to slot straight into the team. Draftees Touk Miller and Jarrod Garlett will get a chance to push their selection cases in the NAB Challenge.
STRATEGY
New coach Rodney Eade is urging his charges to play faster, more instinctive football. "If you go too slow or too measured you're not going to score, so I think you've got to be able to, well not so much take the game on, but you've got to be able to hit the scoreboard,'' Eade said this week. "And that's what we're trying to do." Eade has drummed home the message about taking calculated risks and is red hot on limiting turnovers.
NOT YET
The Suns will be undermanned in their NAB Challenge opener, with 8-10 of their best 22 missing. Key defenders Rory Thompson (toe) and Steven May (minor knee surgery last month) are among those who could return for NAB 2, with other senior players including Gary Ablett (shoulder) expected back by NAB 3.
Jonathon Patton is recovering well from a knee reconstruction. Picture: Phil Hillyard Source: News Corp Australia
GWS GIANTS
NEW FACES
Shock trade capture Ryan Griffen is ready to go, as is former Brisbane Lion Joel Patfull. No.4 draft pick Jarrod Pickett will play, but the first-year bolter is strong-bodied academy selection Jack Steele, who has impressed on the track.
STRATEGY
It's all about stopping the opposition from scoring. The Giants feel they made gains in this department last year, but are aiming to knock another 2-3 goals per game off the "against" column in 2015. The acid has also been put on the fourth-year players such as Devon Smith, Adam Treloar and Stephen Coniglio to further improve.
NOT YET
Luckless knee victim Jonathon Patton is sidelined until mid-year, while the NAB Challenge also comes too early for Lachie Plowman (dislocated elbow), Liam Sumner (navicular) and draftee Jeremy Finlayson (hip). Tim Mohr, who ruptured his ACL in Round 18, is said to be a slim chance of featuring in the pre-season.
HAWTHORN
NEW FACES
Trade-ins James Frawley (Melbourne) and Jonathan O'Rourke (Greater Western Sydney) will seek to cement spots in the premier's best 22, while youngsters such as James Sicily, Dallas Willsmore and Zac Webster could get some NAB Challenge exposure as part of their development.
STRATEGY
Hawthorn will continue to work on player versatility, so that as many Hawks as possible can play in multiple positions. "If you get pigeon-holed into one position you really limit yourself in being able to play and I think that's what 'Clarko' and the coaches have really drummed into the players here,'' 2014 club champion Jordan Lewis said. "Don't just focus on one position, make sure you have a second position that you can go to if your one wood isn't working at any time."
NOT YET
Unlike last year, Hawthorn enters the season with a fairly clean bill of health. The Hawks hope that defender Grant Birchall, who injured his knee in a tackling drill earlier this month, will get in a game late in the pre-season.
Heritier Lumumba gets away from Dom Tyson during Melbourne's intraclub match. Source: Getty Images
MELBOURNE
NEW FACES
Lock in crumbing forward Jeff Garlett and former Magpie Heritier Lumumba, who may switch between the midfield and half-back. Jesse Hogan will start at full-forward. Former Giant Sam Frost and Ben Newton (ex-Port Adelaide) will get games, as will lightly-framed teenager Billy Stretch, who impressed in the intra-club match on Thursday.
STRATEGY
The Demons will continue to refine their work at stoppages and centre-bounce clearances, and will focus on stamping out the "stifled ball movement'' that inhibited them last season. Assistant coach Jade Rawlings said the Dees would go hard in the NAB Challenge. "We're not in a position to roll into a NAB series, we want to put our best sides out there as much as we can and be prepared for the Gold Cost in Round 1 with a good-shape team and some players who have got some good minutes under their belt.''
NOT YET
Jeremy Howe is still on the comeback from a hamstring complaint, while Bernie Vince will miss a few weeks with a shoulder injury. Jack Watts should be back playing in the early NAB Challenge matches after struggling with groin niggles during the pre-season.
Brad Scott speaks to Jarrad Waite during North Melbourne training. Picture: Hamish Blair Source: News Corp Australia
NORTH MELBOURNE
NEW FACES
Recruits Shaun Higgins and Jarrad Waite will be the two-key players unveiled for North Melbourne during the NAB Challenge, with the pair impressing over summer.
"Of our draftees it's just going to be a matter of how many we have available in total," Kangaroos director of football Geoff Walsh said. "Young kids in their first year, they'll often get a run at some stage in the NAB, particularly when there's 26 players that you can use. Without putting a fine point on anyone ... you might look to give one or two of the draftees a taste.''
STRATEGY
"Strategy A is to win, Strategy B is to just play all our young kids. We'll certainly be fielding teams that we think are capable of winning any game,'' Walsh said.
NOT YET
Defender Nathan Grima is expected to miss at least three months after undergoing back surgery last week. Fellow defender Aaron Mullett is also unavailable after undergoing shoulder surgery last month, which is expected to keep him sidelined until Round 7. Lachie Hansen is also unlikely to be available as he continues his recovery from surgery on both hips.
John Butcher recovers after a running session at Port Adelaide's pre-season camp in Dubai. Picture: Sarah Reed. Source: News Corp Australia
PORT ADELAIDE
NEW FACES
The Power are looking at Karl Amon, Brendon Ah Chee, Darcy Byrne-Jones and Dougal Howard playing in Round 1 of the NAB Challenge. The Recruit winner Johann Wagner is coming off injury but should be seen later in the series along with Logan Austin and Jesse Palmer. Star recruit Paddy Ryder isn't expected to play until the Essendon verdict has been handed down.
STRATEGY
"We will use the depth of our list as much as we possibly can and hopefully rotate virtually every player through the NAB Challenge." Chris Davies, general manager of football.
NOT YET
Chad Wingard (right knee surgery in late January) and Jackson Trengove (shoulder surgery in mid-January) are progressing well and are hopeful of playing the last NAB Challenge round at best or Round 1 of the AFL season at worst.
Ivan Maric has a full pre-season behind him this season. Picture: Wayne Ludbey Source: News Corp Australia
RICHMOND
NEW FACES
A star of the VFL last year, mature-age recruit Kane Lambert has been the standout of the Tigers' new draftees and will get a big chance to secure a rookie upgrade in the next month. Line-breaking defender Connor Menadue has not missed a beat and second-year classy ball-user Ben Lennon will reveal a bulked-up frame in the NAB series. Powerful key forward Reece McKenzie already has an imposing frame and will be fun to watch for Tigers' fans in the summer series.
STRATEGY
"We don't want to denigrate the NAB Challenge, but it's more about the process and preparing the team and individuals as well as possible for the first block of the season." GM football Dan Richardson.
NOT YET
Like most sides, the Tigers will likely rest a lot of their big names in the first NAB game against Western Bulldogs. Ivan Maric, Troy Chaplin, Jack Riewoldt, Trent Cotchin and Brett Deledio could all be spared in the first hit-out as the Tigers build towards the Round 1 blockbuster against Carlton and focus on making a stronger start to the season than last year
Jack Billings gets tackled by Daniel Markworth during St Kilda's intraclub match. Picture: Wayne Ludbey Source: News Corp Australia
ST KILDA
NEW FACES
No.1 draft pick Paddy McCartin will be given plenty of game-time to find his AFL feet. And he has competition up forward from a fit and firing Tom Lee, who has overcome double shoulder surgery 12 months ago, in the battle to be skipper Nick Riewoldt's tall companion inside the forward 50. Tim Membrey, recruited from the Swans, looks a ready-made Round 1 applicant.
CLUB STRATEGY
"We need to be much better and much more consistent with our performance. We need to raise expectations and be much more consistent with our performance." St Kilda coach Alan Richardson.
NOT YET
Riewoldt, Jack Steven, Tom Hickey, Sam Gilbert and Adam Schneider sat out yesterday's intra-club practice match, but all will get a run in the NAB Challenge. "Nick's right to play, but the season's get longer and longer and he's getting older and older and we want to manage him. He's training really well, he's joining full training and he stands out and we'll get him right for Round 1,'' midfield coach Adam Kingsley said.
Sam Reid has been training in defence where he's matched up on Lance Franklin. Picture: Phil Hillyard Source: News Corp Australia
SYDNEY SWANS
NEW FACES
Buzz academy selection Isaac Heeney will be on show in the midfield despite managing some knee tendinitis this summer. Mossman lads Daniel Robinson, Sam Naismith and Jake Hiscox, plus project ruckman Toby Nankervis and talented utility George Hewitt are all expected to get a run. Expect to see plenty of Dean Towers and Brandon Jack.
STRATEGY
For the Swans it's all about preparing each individual and the team to the maximum leading into 2015.
NOT YET
Alex Johnson remains on the indefinite injury list after a fourth knee reconstruction last year and rookies Nic Newman and Lloyd Perris (knee surgery) won't be seen in the NAB Challenge. Perris will be sidelined for the next 10 weeks.
West Coast took on the AFL Indigenous All Stars in their first competitive hit out. Source: News Corp Australia
WEST COAST EAGLES
NEW FACES
Strong-bodied utility Tom Lamb has quickly shown why he was widely rated one of the best value picks of the draft at No.32. At 193cm, Lamb can play almost anywhere for the Eagles and along with running half-back Jackson Nelson, will vie for a large slice of NAB game time. Malcolm Karpany is tipped to bob up as a livewire forward.
STRATEGY
Skill improvement has been a major focus over the summer. Midfield depth has also had some attention with the Eagles keen to get Sharrod Wellingham and Matt Rosa back in the mix.
NOT YET
Gun forward Jack Darling could miss months after spending the bulk of the pre-season in a moon boot to overcome a foot injury. Likewise, hard midfielder Scott Selwood faces a slow start in his comeback from ankle surgery. Beau Waters retired this week.
Draftee Declan Hamilton marks over Jake Stringer. Picture: David Smith Source: News Corp Australia
WESTERN BULLDOGS
NEW FACES
The club's big off-season recruit Tom Boyd will be the one to watch, while former Cat Joel Hamling will also be in the frame for the NAB Challenge. Of the club's draftees, 168cm Caleb Daniel, taken at pick No.46, has impressed on the track and is the most likely to feature in the pre-season matches.
STRATEGY
"Our focus over the NAB Challenge series is to build on a quality pre-season, field a strong team every week, while ensuring we have our best possible team ready for Round 1 against West Coast. It also provides our players with opportunities to continue to adapt to Luke's game plan," Dogs general manager of football Graham Lowe said
NOT YET
Father-son recruit Zaine Cordy will miss the start of the regular season after undergoing a shoulder reconstruction last month. Clay Smith is still recovering from an ACL last season and will also miss the early rounds. Forward Stewart Crameri will sit out the first two rounds of the NAB Challenge while the AFL's Anti-Doping Tribunal deliberates on any possible suspensions of those involved in the Bombers' 2012 supplements program.
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