New Adelaide coach Phil Walsh appears to be doing something right. Photo: Getty Images
The Christmas turkey has been digested and the New Year’s sparklers have been tucked away for another year. It’s time for the AFL’s 18 teams to return to work.
ADELAIDE
New coach Phil Walsh must be doing something right! After three months in the job, there has been no inkling of a player revolt. Following the sacking of Walsh’s predecessor Brenton Sanderson back in September, chairman Rob Chapman said mediocrity wouldn’t be accepted at the club and some of the Crows’ best players have embodied that mantra out on the training track. Patrick Dangerfield, Rory Sloane, Taylor Walker and Brad Crouch have all led by example and seem to be relishing Walsh’s uncompromising focus on maintaining elite standards. Adelaide resumes pre-season training on Monday.
BRISBANE LIONS
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There is a huge buzz up at the Gabba following the Lions’ brilliant off-season recruiting campaign and that enthusiasm has been evident in the way new signings Dayne Beams, Allen Christensen and Mitch Robinson have attacked pre-season. The trio have been very impressive and adding to the positive vibes at the club is the fact that Daniel Rich (knee), Jack Redden (ankle), Matthew Leuenberger (knee) and Brent Staker (calf), who only managed 22 games between them in 2014, all made it to the Christmas break unscathed. The Lions return to business on Monday.
CARLTON
Mick Malthouse’s third pre-season in charge has gone a lot smoother than his second with almost a clean bill of health to report at Visy Park. New recruit Kristian Jaksch (foot) and Cameron Giles (foot) have been the only injury concerns a far cry from last summer when the Blues had a whopping 19 players undergo surgery! Later this month they will head to Mount Buller for altitude training and it might also serve as a good chance to weed out any downhill skiers. Former skipper Chris Judd, Lachie Henderson, Levi Casboult and Tom Bell have been the standout performers to date. Carlton goes back to work on Tuesday.
COLLINGWOOD
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AFL teams return to pre-season training with injuries under control