Adelaide

Fitness guru: Nick Poulos is in his second pre-season with the Crows after being appointed in October 2012.





Who's flying: Key defender Kyle Hartigan is cutting an imposing figure on the track, Mitch Grigg's supreme endurance is on show while fellow youngster Rory Atkins is looking much more comfortable in his second pre-season. Matthew Wright looks in terrific shape, as does Jarryd Lyons.





Injured warriors: Taylor Walker (knee) is looking good , but still hasn't progressed to making sharp turns, while Scott Thompson (hip) won't return to full training until January. Josh Jenkins (ankle) and Brent Reilly (shoulder) are still both on modified programs, but are progressing well and should be back in full training by the new year.





Summary: There is a look of steely determination on the face of Crows players this pre-season. Indeed the club has much to atone for in 2014 after a disappointing showing this year and it appears the players are well aware. There has been far more running than last pre-season in preparation for 2014's interchange rotation cap. Consequently, players have slimmed down noticeably. - Harry Thring











Brisbane Lions



Fitness guru:

Former Crow Brett Burton is in place for his fourth season with the Lions.





Who's flying: Dayne Zorko has taken a huge step forward with his endurance and is now one of the Lions' front-runners, but second-year forward Michael Close is still the man to catch.





Injured warriors: Jonathan Brown (foot) is on light duties , but shapes to be ready for the new season, while Daniel Merrett (ankle) will rejoin the main group after Christmas. Tom Rockliff is back running after a back complaint, while Jackson Paine (shoulder) and James Polkinghorne are slightly restricted at the moment.





Carlton

Fitness guru: David Buttifant will be reunited with Mick Malthouse when he joins the Blues for his first season after 13 at Collingwood.





Who's flying: A knee injury prevented skipper Marc Murphy from producing his brilliant best this year but he says he is up to three months ahead of where he was at the same time last pre-season. Young midfielder Tom Bell impressed the Blues by returning to training in superb shape.





Injured warriors: Prized recruit Prized recruit Dale Thomas (ankle) had a delayed start to the Blues' altitude training camp in Arizona and has been eased into his workload. Seventeen Blues underwent surgery in the off-season but none of them were major procedures.





Summary: Carlton's first-to-fourth-year players returned to training on November 18 while the rest completed a session on December 2 - Ben Collins Carlton's first-to-fourth-year players returned to training on November 18 while the rest completed a session on December 2 before leaving for Arizona the next day . They will return on December 19. Up to a dozen Blues have remained home for a variety of reasons, including ruckman Matthew Kreuzer and veterans Chris Judd and Andrew Carrazzo.









Collingwood

Fitness guru: Bill Davoren will be running the show in his first season, taking over from David Buttifant who has rejoined Mick Malthouse at Carlton.

Who's flying: Luke Ball is back to his best , enjoying training after a few complications last year when returning from a knee injury. He looks strong and is leading from the front. Travis Cloke has added some muscle and has not missed a beat while recruit Taylor Adams is eating up the work, enjoying the combative elements of training. Nick Maxwell is not going to fade away and is working as hard as ever.

Injured warriors: Alan Toovey will return from a knee reconstruction early next season and keeps meeting his targets, while Alex Fasolo is expected to be in contention for selection having recovered from his foot injury. Clinton Young played just two games with ankle and hamstring problems dogging him. He is being taken along gradually to have him right to go when the season starts. Dayne Beams had an awful start to 2013, a quad injury causing him to miss the first 15 rounds, but he has had a solid pre-season building upon the good form he showed late this season.

Summary: Following the departure of some of the team's permanent fixtures during the off-season, the question remains as to how quickly the Collingwood youngsters can have an impact on games. Until that happens the Magpies remain reliant on their dominant midfielders Scott Pendlebury, Dane Swan and Beams, key forward Cloke and key defender Ben Reid, and their support cast of quality role players. Of course, Brodie Grundy shapes as an exciting ruckman and Marley Williams a defender of rare quality. The squad is enjoying the organised approach to pre-season training and appears to be a list with plenty of upside. - Peter Ryan





Former Giant Taylor Adams has been throwing himself into the fray at Collingwood. Picture: AFL Media













Essendon





Who's flying: The senior players who stayed in Melbourne and didn't venture overseas for the Colorado training camp – Jason Winderlich, Brent Stanton and Dustin Fletcher – are all enjoying injury-free pre-seasons and a strong start to their 2014 campaigns. Joe Daniher, too, has impressed on the track.





Injured warriors: It's a pretty fit list at the moment for the Bombers. There were some concerns over Dyson Heppell's foot injury after surgery but he took part in plenty of activity in Colorado, while Michael Hurley is easing into things after surgical operations post-season on his wrist and ankle.





Fremantle

Fitness guru:

Jason Weber, a mainstay of the Dockers setup is lining up for his seventh season as fitness coach.





Who's flying: Sam Menegola continues to set the standard in the time trials. Tendai Mzungu is running well, so too is Matt Taberner.





Injured warriors: Garrick Ibbotson and Clancee Pearce (both Achilles) have been working their way back to full fitness. Jonathon Griffin (ACL) and Kepler Bradley (ACL) are continuing their rehabilitation. Anthony Morabito (knee) continues to be monitored but has participated in the large majority of sessions. Can the Dockers finally get him on the park?



Summary: The Dockers have slogged away in the harsh Perth sun and will continue to do so after Christmas. - Alex Malcolm







Geelong

Fitness guru:

Geelong's fitness department is now under the guidance of former Australian Institute of Sport physio Peter Stanton, who was last month appointed as the Cats' head of sport science and sports medicine.





Who's flying:

Mark Blicavs has been dominating the time-trials , while Travis Varcoe has been up and about after two injury-plagued seasons. Tom Hawkins has also been moving well after struggling to overcome back soreness during the 2013 season.





Injured warriors: Daniel Menzel remains on the comeback trail after his fourth knee reconstruction. Daniel Menzel remains on the comeback trail after his fourth knee reconstruction. Menzel is aiming to start training with the main group in February . Corey Enright (knee), Dawson Simpson (knee), Jackson Thurlow (hip) and Shane Kersten (knee) have also started the pre-season in the rehab group. All of them should be fully fit by the time the NAB Challenge begins.









After a horrible off-season marred by boardroom dramas and an exodus of young players , the Lions have knuckled down well under new coach Justin Leppitsch. Two weeks in Arizona was as good for bonding as it was for fitness, and since returning to Brisbane the Lions have trained hard in stifling conditions.The group of 25 players who headed to the USA will re-join training at Tullamarine this week for a quick hit of pre-season work before the Christmas break. The younger players who didn't go overseas were last week put through an intense three-day camp at the True Value Solar Centre.Having started their pre-Christmas training program at Simonds Stadium, the Cats headed to Coffs Harbour for a week-long camp on Thursday. They return to Geelong on December 20 and will head off for their Christmas break shortly after.