SuperCoach 2016: we bring you the best pre-season whispers as clubs return to training
December 4, 2015 1:35pm
Ben HigginsNews Corp Australia
Subscriber Exclusive Icon
THE AFL pre-season is back in full swing.
It’s the time of year when the phrases “burning up the track” and “best pre-season ever” get thrown around like meatballs in a food fight.
STAY TUNED AS SUPERCOACH 2016 PLAYER PRICES AND OUR SUBSCRIBER EXCLUSIVE TEAM PICKER ARE REVEALED IN THE COMING WEEKS
We’ve keep an eye on all 16 teams to try and bring you the best SuperCoach whispers.
Every week we’ll keep our loyal SuperCoach fans updated on which players are looking the goods or are making progress after injury.
CASH COWS: THE DRAFTEES TO WATCH IN SUPERCOACH 2016
RE-CAP: WHICH TRADED PLAYERS WILL MAKE A SUPERCOACH IMPACT
LANCE FRANKLIN (Sydney)
Buddy’s return to training is already a contender for biggest media circus of the 2016 season. However, once he stepped out on the track it was nothing short of sensational. Franklin’s time away has obviously been used to full effect with his running capacity on show after his battle with mental illness.
Nat Fyfe trains with draftee Harley Balic. Picture: Matthew Poon
NAT FYFE (Fremantle)
The Brownlow Medallist is back in training after recovering from a fractured leg, sustained in the preliminary final. The Fremantle superstar also appears to be rid of the hip injury that threatened to derail his 2015 season.
OLEG MARKOV (Richmond)
The Richmond draftee is one to put on your watch list. Assistant coach Mark Williams has been around the AFL a long time and rumours has it described Markov’s first session as a Tiger as the best he’s seen by a first-year player.
MATTHEW SUCKLING (Western Bulldogs)
A dual premiership player should improve any team and so it seems at the Western Bulldogs. Suckling has put in some eye-catching performances as pre-season training with Matthew Boyd telling the club website recently: “if training today is any indication, he’s going to be pivotal (for us). He carved us up a bit out there.”
Brodie Smith does a fitness test in front of Matthew Bode. Picture: Sarah Reed
BRODIE SMITH (Adelaide)
New Adelaide coach Don Pyke has declared Smith’s best position is off the half-back flank. The 2014 All Australian was cruelled by injury in 2015 and while Pyke said Smith will still be used up the ground it would seem he will spend more time in defence in 2016.
BEN KENNEDY (Melbourne)
The former Magpie wants to make an instant impact at Melbourne. The midfielder-forward believes he can provide “outside speed and inside grunt” for the Demons in 2016 after playing just five games for the Magpies in 2015.
JEREMY McGOVERN (West Coast)
The return of Eric Mackenzie and Mitch Brown to the West Coast backline should see Jeremy McGovern move forward in 2016. After an injury-interrupted 2015, McGovern has been impressive in pre-season training, running a personal best in the club’s recent time trial. Adam Simpson has also hinted McGovern could pinch hit in the ruck.
Dale Thomas back at Carlton training. Picture: Tim Carrafa
DALE THOMAS (Carlton)
Thomas played just five games in 2015 due to a shoulder injury. However, the Blues star says his recent injuries are behind him and the time off as allowed his troublesome ankle to heal up. Thomas is due to join Carlton’s full pre-season training in coming weeks.
NICK RIEWOLDT (St Kilda)
St Kilda and Australia teammate Leigh Montagna says the Saints skipper has been doing plenty of running during his time off and has slimmed down considerably. Riewoldt is expected to return to pre-season training after Christmas.
TOM LIBERATORE (Western Bulldogs)
The 2014 Charlie Sutton Medallist missed the entire 2015 season after rupturing his ACL in the opening NAB Challenge game. However, the tough midfielder is making impressive progress in pre-season training. The time on the sidelines has allowed Liberatore to build up his body, adding to his already elite contested ball winning ability.
December 4, 2015 1:35pm
Ben HigginsNews Corp Australia
Subscriber Exclusive Icon
THE AFL pre-season is back in full swing.
It’s the time of year when the phrases “burning up the track” and “best pre-season ever” get thrown around like meatballs in a food fight.
STAY TUNED AS SUPERCOACH 2016 PLAYER PRICES AND OUR SUBSCRIBER EXCLUSIVE TEAM PICKER ARE REVEALED IN THE COMING WEEKS
We’ve keep an eye on all 16 teams to try and bring you the best SuperCoach whispers.
Every week we’ll keep our loyal SuperCoach fans updated on which players are looking the goods or are making progress after injury.
CASH COWS: THE DRAFTEES TO WATCH IN SUPERCOACH 2016
RE-CAP: WHICH TRADED PLAYERS WILL MAKE A SUPERCOACH IMPACT
LANCE FRANKLIN (Sydney)
Buddy’s return to training is already a contender for biggest media circus of the 2016 season. However, once he stepped out on the track it was nothing short of sensational. Franklin’s time away has obviously been used to full effect with his running capacity on show after his battle with mental illness.
Nat Fyfe trains with draftee Harley Balic. Picture: Matthew Poon
NAT FYFE (Fremantle)
The Brownlow Medallist is back in training after recovering from a fractured leg, sustained in the preliminary final. The Fremantle superstar also appears to be rid of the hip injury that threatened to derail his 2015 season.
OLEG MARKOV (Richmond)
The Richmond draftee is one to put on your watch list. Assistant coach Mark Williams has been around the AFL a long time and rumours has it described Markov’s first session as a Tiger as the best he’s seen by a first-year player.
MATTHEW SUCKLING (Western Bulldogs)
A dual premiership player should improve any team and so it seems at the Western Bulldogs. Suckling has put in some eye-catching performances as pre-season training with Matthew Boyd telling the club website recently: “if training today is any indication, he’s going to be pivotal (for us). He carved us up a bit out there.”
Brodie Smith does a fitness test in front of Matthew Bode. Picture: Sarah Reed
BRODIE SMITH (Adelaide)
New Adelaide coach Don Pyke has declared Smith’s best position is off the half-back flank. The 2014 All Australian was cruelled by injury in 2015 and while Pyke said Smith will still be used up the ground it would seem he will spend more time in defence in 2016.
BEN KENNEDY (Melbourne)
The former Magpie wants to make an instant impact at Melbourne. The midfielder-forward believes he can provide “outside speed and inside grunt” for the Demons in 2016 after playing just five games for the Magpies in 2015.
JEREMY McGOVERN (West Coast)
The return of Eric Mackenzie and Mitch Brown to the West Coast backline should see Jeremy McGovern move forward in 2016. After an injury-interrupted 2015, McGovern has been impressive in pre-season training, running a personal best in the club’s recent time trial. Adam Simpson has also hinted McGovern could pinch hit in the ruck.
Dale Thomas back at Carlton training. Picture: Tim Carrafa
DALE THOMAS (Carlton)
Thomas played just five games in 2015 due to a shoulder injury. However, the Blues star says his recent injuries are behind him and the time off as allowed his troublesome ankle to heal up. Thomas is due to join Carlton’s full pre-season training in coming weeks.
NICK RIEWOLDT (St Kilda)
St Kilda and Australia teammate Leigh Montagna says the Saints skipper has been doing plenty of running during his time off and has slimmed down considerably. Riewoldt is expected to return to pre-season training after Christmas.
TOM LIBERATORE (Western Bulldogs)
The 2014 Charlie Sutton Medallist missed the entire 2015 season after rupturing his ACL in the opening NAB Challenge game. However, the tough midfielder is making impressive progress in pre-season training. The time on the sidelines has allowed Liberatore to build up his body, adding to his already elite contested ball winning ability.
