PRE-SEASON training is ramping up across the competition and with that comes plenty of Fantasy news.
Players are beginning to catch the eye in match simulations at clubs with matches now just weeks away.
Popular premium options Nick Daicos and Andrew Brayshaw are among the players who have been in the news already.
Catch up with all the Fantasy news you may have missed so far this pre-season.
January 28
Coaches will be forced into at least one rethink after news popular forward option Mattaes Phillipou (MID/FWD, $656,000) would miss the start of the 2025 campaign due to a stress fracture in his leg.
If that news wasn’t bad enough, the Saints also confirmed star ruckman Rowan Marshall (RUC, $1,201,000) was dealing with a stress fracture in his pelvis.
St Kilda said it was hopeful Marshall would be “available for round one or soon thereafter”.
Among the many under-priced options being considered, Giant Stephen Coniglio (MID, $789,000) is targeting an Opening Round return.
Coniglio averaged 76.9 last year and played just 13 games, down from 101.6 and 23 respectively in 2023.
Hawks gun Will Day (MID, $760,000) has confirmed he is having stints up forward and it is something he wants to add to his game.
At the Tigers, popular rookie selection Josh Smillie (MID, $322,000) has suffered a minor hamstring injury, but Richmond is hopeful the No.7 pick will feature in pre-season matches. Josh Gibcus (DEF, $230,000) will miss the early rounds.
January 27
Elliot Yeo (MID, $933,000) could miss the start of the season after scans confirmed the severity of the knee and ankle injuries he suffered at training.
There were also injury news at the Bulldogs, with ruckman Tim English (RUC, $1,074,000) to be on a modified program due to an abdominal injury.
January 24
Is 2025 the year Jordan De Goey (MID, $819,000) reaches new heights in Fantasy? The Magpie took another step towards a return to full fitness.
In big news, Nick Daicos (MID, $1,074,000) showed no signs of the plantar fascia issue that has limited his training in January, while recruit Dan Houston (DEF, $964,000) starred across half-back during match simulation.
At West Coast, Elliot Yeo (MID, $933,000) was hurt during the Eagles’ match sim.
After being used in multiple roles throughout his career, recruit Liam Baker (MID/FWD, $805,000) continued to play in defence, while Jack Graham (MID/FWD, $662,000) was influential through the middle.
Reuben Ginbey (MID, $617,000) continued in defence, popular rookie option Elijah Hewett (MID/FWD, $332,000) featured and Jack Hutchinson (FWD, $385,000) won his fair share of the ball in a surprise role in the middle.
January 23
It was a big day of match sims on Thursday.
Connor Budarick (DEF, $709,000), picked by some coaches a year ago, made his mark at Gold Coast with star recruit Daniel Rioli (DEF, $857,000) recovering from a knee injury.
While Nick Watson (FWD, $569,000) starred at Hawthorn, popular option Will Day (MID, $760,000) also dazzled, but swapped between midfield and deep forward.
Midfielder Josh Ward (MID, $577,000) is pushing for more opportunities and James Sicily (DEF, $896,000) is nearing a return to full contact training.
January 22
For coaches considering saving some cash on their ruck lines, the news the Dockers were sending Sean Darcy (RUC, $798,000) to Qatar may put those plans on the backburner.
Freo is looking at methods to strengthen the ruckman’s troublesome knee after he was restricted to 12 games in 2024, following on from an ankle injury in 2023.
At the Western Bulldogs, Marcus Bontempelli (MID, $1,101,000) is enjoying a strong pre-season and Ed Richards (MID, $882,000) is flourishing from a full summer in the midfield after his positional switch in 2024.
Jordan Croft (FWD, $230,000) and Sam Davidson (FWD, $230,000) have also impressed and could be rookie-priced options.
January 21
Company for Rowan Marshall (RUC, $1,201,000) at St Kilda?
The Saints confirmed the signing of Harry Boyd (RUC, $230,000) during the pre-season supplemental selection period (SSP) to boost their ruck stocks.
January 20
A popular premium, Fremantle gun Andrew Brayshaw (MID, $1,073,000) was among the standouts during a Dockers match simulation.
Fellow vice-captain Caleb Serong (MID, $1,067,000) spent the session away from the main group, returning wing Nathan O’Driscoll (MID, $441,000) was impactful and draftee Murphy Reid (MID, $292,000) kicked two goals.
Read Nathan Schmook’s full match sim report here.
With spots up for grabs at Greater Western Sydney, Conor Stone (FWD, $230,000) is determined to make one of them his.
Harry Perryman and Isaac Cumming left the Giants in the off-season, providing opportunities for others in 2025.
January 18
Is Josh Rachele (FWD, $661,000) set to step up in 2025? The Crow was backed by vice-captain Ben Keays to reach another level this year.
A more popular option, Izak Rankine (FWD, $819,000) produced an “electric” match sim performance, according to Keays.
January 17
A popular Fantasy pick in recent seasons, Carlton defender Nic Newman (DEF, $1,052,000) was ruled out for the season after suffering a knee injury.
January 14
It’s another interrupted pre-season for Carlton star Sam Walsh (MID, $1,089,000).
The midfielder suffered a hamstring injury at training but is expected to be fit for the start of the season.
Every club previewed
Richmond: Kids take centre stage, can mid bounce back?
North Melbourne: Recruit a bargain, eyes on young guns
West Coast: Harley building, keep track of former Tigers
Adelaide: Big names in spotlight, ex-Giants to consider
Melbourne: Skipper a lock, can gun duo return to peak form?
Gold Coast: Midfield tempters, recruits worth watching
St Kilda: Track recruit, is young star set for breakout year?
Essendon: Skipper’s decade of dominance, defenders galore
Fremantle: Talent to burn, is gun recruit worth a punt?
Collingwood: Lock in star, youngster tempting again
Carlton: Gun draftee a steal, lock in athletic tall
Western Bulldogs: Lock this Dog in, recruit to watch
Hawthorn: Don’t sleep on Sicily, should you seize the Day?
Greater Western Sydney: Lock in Tom Green, eye on Finn Callaghan, beware Josh Kelly
Geelong: Recruit offers mega value, watch on veterans
Port Adelaide: Lock in this midfield bull, watch on draftee
Sydney: Captain a bargain, defender an option
