All In

The whole team returned for the first time as the ASICS pre-season stepped up a notch at Mission Whitten Oval.

There was no rest for the wicked, with the first 2km time trial of the pre-season awaiting the players during the first all-in session.

It was the younger Dogs who set the pace, with Luke Kennedy, Joel Freijah, and Ryley Sanders all finishing in blistering times and well ahead of the pack.

Newly appointed Forwards Coach Ben Reid spoke positively about the condition in which the players had returned, noting a few standouts in these very early stages of pre-season.

“We had the young guys back last week, obviously, so to get the run in their legs was good to see, and they’ve all come back in really good nick,” Reid said.

“Then the older boys came in today and had the dreaded 2km time trial up front, which went really well. I think there were some PBs, which is fantastic.

“Joel Freijah came back running really well. Cooper Hynes - I feel like he’s come back in great shape after a year in the system.

“They’re a couple that have caught the eye. Overall, it’s been a really positive start.”

It was also an opportunity for the Dogs to meet their new teammates, with draftees Lachlan Carmichael, Louis Emmett, and Will Darcy taking to the track for the first time.

After a whirlwind few days, Reid believed it was good for the draftees to settle in and have an ‘easy’ introduction to life as professional footballers.

“All three boys from the draft have settled in really well,” he said.

“They were probably a little slow getting into it today- they didn’t do the whole session - but they’ll do more as they get their feet on the ground.”

Entering his second pre-season with the Club, Reid spoke fondly of his time so far at the Dogs, noting the VFL Premiership and the chance to work alongside other coaches as highlights in his own coaching journey.

With a new-look coaching structure for the season-including the additions of Luke Power (Head of Development), Anthony Barry (Development Coach), and Reid’s own elevation to Forwards Coach-it signals an exciting period for Reid, who believes the team has plenty to build on ahead of 2026.

“It’s been a great first 12 months. I’m lucky enough to work with so many great coaches and learn a lot from them.

“To finish off the year with the VFL guys and the young guys playing in a premiership was pretty special.

“Looking forward now to continuing to grow, learn more and more, and keep building those relationships that I think are really important.

“We’re not too far off if we get a few things right-it’s an exciting time.”