In the second instalment of pre-season progress, development manager Chris Maple casts his eye over the second year players and how they are tracking after the Christmas break.

Clay Smith: Clay is travelling really well this pre-season and has been impressive with his running. He is also working hard on his skills. He has had a really good summer.

Michael Talia: He has been terrific in the gym and in running sessions. Talia is another player who is working hard on his football skills. The key defender has certainly benefited from working closely with Bulldogs assistant coach Rohan Smith and specialist defensive coach Matthew Scarlett.

Daniel Pearce: Daniel has improved his tank a lot already this pre-season. He is also working hard in the gym, as he could still use some more size to compete at senior level. His running has improved and that will continue to be focus for him in the coming weeks. He also has to keep working hard on his skills.

Tory Dickson: Dickson’s training is coming along well in his first full pre-season. His main focus this summer has been his fitness levels and taking his conditioning up a notch – so working on his fitness, speed and agility. He has also concentrated on bringing his forward craft and skills up to a higher standard.

Fletcher Roberts: Fletcher has put on quite a bit of weight in his first year at the club and his skills have always been quite good. We are now just trying to build his tank and continue to put more bulk on him.

Lin Jong: Along with most of the second year players, Jong spent almost a month in the Victoria University altitude chamber before Christmas and is seeing value from the experience. He is now focusing on his kicking and his tank. His running has really improved, his kicking is getting better and he’s working really hard on all areas of his game.

Alex Greenwood: Alex is running with the elite runners in the Club. He is working hard in the weights room trying to build some size and bulk, which will put him in good stead for the rest of the year.

Tom Campbell: His running has improved dramatically which is a positive heading into next season. He is working hard with Will [Minson] and [Steven] Kingy, Ayce [Cordy] and [Jordan] Roughead.

Jack Redpath: He is running a lot better than last year and is working hard on his agility. Another big focus for Redpath this pre-season has been on his body positioning and body work.