ADELAIDE
Break started: December 20
Return: January 4
The Crows had the worst possible start to the summer, losing NAB AFL Rising Star runner-up Andy Otten to a season-ending knee injury. Brad Moran (knee) and Brad Symes (knee) also suffered injury setbacks and will join Nathan Bock (heel) and Nathan van Berlo (back) on the sidelines until mid-January. Young forward Taylor Walker has impressed the Adelaide coaches with his efforts so far while Patrick Dangerfield has a midfield spot in his sights after an injury-free six weeks.

BRISBANE LIONS
Break started: December 20
Return: January 4
Ex-Saint Xavier Clarke and draftees Callum Bartlett and Mitchell Golby are recovering from serious knee injuries and will be eased through the pre-season in an attempt to have them ready for 2010. Ruckmen Jamie Charman (ankle) and Matthew Leuenberger (knee), who missed most of 2009 with injury, are into full training, while second-year players Jack Redden and Todd Banfield have added considerable bulk. Luke Power could spend more time up forward next year, with the Lions in need of a small crumbing forward. Jared Brennan is likely to have greater time in the midfield and Brent Staker, claimed from West Coast in the trade period, could be used as an impact player there too.

CARLTON
Break started: December 18
Return: January 4
Carlton skipper Chris Judd continues to lead by example on the training track, but he and fellow fitness freak Andrew Walker have some competition in the form of new Blue Brock McLean. Second-year players Jeff Garlett and Chris Yarran have bulked up noticeably. The Blues' big fellas make up the bulk of the rehab group, but all appear to be making solid inroads. Michael Jamison is set to join the main group post-Christmas after recuperating from hip and shoulder operations. Jarrad Waite, on the way back from a knee reconstruction, remains on track for round one and Robbie Warnock continues to make slow but steady progress.

COLLINGWOOD
Break started: December 23
Return: January 6
Having completed its annual high-altitude camp in Arizona the club is pleased with the overall direction of its pre-Christmas program. Key defender Nathan Brown has put on a bit more size and has been one of the more impressive Pies during pre-season. Paul Medhurst had well-documented battles with injury in 2009 but is reported to be in good physical condition. Experienced recruits Darren Jolly and Luke Ball are said to have made big impressions already. Travis Cloke and Josh Fraser have been on modified programs pre-Christmas, but the club is happy with the way both are tracking. Brad Dick will miss the start of the season after undergoing a shoulder reconstruction on December 16.

ESSENDON
Break started: December 22
Return: January 4
Jay Neagle (groin) is on a modified program after November surgery and is expected to resume full training in early 2010. Michael Hurley (wrist) is training without contact until the end of the year, while Tyson Slattery (fibula) is on non-weight bearing duties until Christmas. David Hille (knee) also remains on a modified program but is running and Jason Laycock is fit with the club harbouring hopes of him becoming a goalkicker next year. Neagle is reported to have bulked up while Andrew Welsh hasn't missed a session after he sustained a serious leg break almost a year ago. The Bombers will open 2010 with Jobe Watson their new captain.

FREMANTLE
Break started: December 21
Return: January 4
Steven Dodd has been the only pre-season casualty so far, with shoulder and wrist surgery set to delay his start to 2010. On the track, Ryan Crowley has shone after a serious foot injury in 2009, while a bulked up Rhys Palmer has returned and is set for the first NAB Cup fixture. Prize youngsters Stephen Hill and Chris Mayne have also added size and power in the off-season, while Paul Duffield is working hard on his engine. Captain Matthew Pavlich is training for increased forward line duties in 2010.

GEELONG CATS
Break started: December 19
Return: January 4
Steve Johnson (hip) and new draftee Daniel Menzel (groin) are on shortened programs, while Josh Hunt (ACL, early 2009) is back in the main group. Young key forward Tom Hawkins had slimmed down a fair bit for the 2009 season, and has toned further as he looks to increase his time in the ruck. Ex-Fremantle player Marcus Drum is looking good on the track and fitting in beautifully. Hand surgery after a pre-Christmas water skiing accident will now stall ruckman Brad Ottens' preparations until February.

HAWTHORN
Break started: December 24
Return: January 4
The Hawks are in a much better position than they were this time last year but there are still a few big names being nursed along. Lance Franklin is recovering from minor surgery on his left foot and is still keeping weight off it. Shaun Burgoyne is also in the rehab group as he recovers from knee surgery. Beau Muston looks to have added some bulk across the shoulders, while Brent Renouf could be marked for a tall forward role after doing some work with Jarryd Roughead.

MELBOURNE
Break started: December 18
Return: January 4
Youngsters Colin Garland (foot stress fracture) and Sam Blease (leg) are progressing, but the club is taking a cautious approach with Garland's injury. Blease has been running and involved in handball/kicking drills. Brad Green (wrist) and Matthew Warnock (ankle) are back into training after their injuries shortened their 2009 seasons. Austin Wonaeamirri was training strongly until a hamstring injury set him back last week. Second-year Demons Jamie Bennell and Neville Jetta are also looking good on the track, and Cale Morton and Jack Watts have added five and six kilograms respectively. Jack Grimes is training with the midfield and looks set to spend further time there in 2010.

NORTH MELBOURNE
Break started: December 23
Return: January 6
New coach Brad Scott, the new $15 million facility and a new player, Sudanese-born Majak Daw, have created a big buzz at Arden Street. The Kangaroos' only real concern is Daniel Wells, who continues his gradual recovery from osteitis pubis and won't be kicking footballs until the new year. Liam Anthony (hand) is also limited to cardio work, but Andrew Swallow (groin), Aaron Edwards (thumb) and Leigh Adams (shoulder) have overcome their setbacks. Ben Warren, Sam Wright, Hamish McIntosh, Drew Petrie and Nathan Grima have stood out in game-based training and endurance testing.

PORT ADELAIDE
Break started: December 23
Return: January 6
A season-threatening knee injury to midfielder David Rodan marred what was otherwise a solid start to training for the Power. The club is filled with fresh faces, having recruited former North Melbourne coach Dean Laidley and Geelong great Garry Hocking to its staff and adding seven new players. Daniel Motlop (ankle/shoulder/groin), Josh Carr (ankle) and Jason Davenport (shoulder) are on track in their respective rehabilitation programs while second-year players Hamish Hartlett and Matthew Broadbent have impressed on the track.

RICHMOND
Break started: December 21
Return: January 4
Ben Cousins is in Perth recovering from hand and shoulder surgery from a couple of weeks ago, while midfield speedster Nathan Foley (ankle/calf) and young gun Trent Cotchin (achilles) are on modified programs but are ahead of schedule in terms of recovery. All should be available for Richmond's first game next year.

ST KILDA
Break started: December 24
Return: January 4
All the talk coming from Moorabbin has been about the impressive performance of Tommy Walsh. The Irishman was St Kilda's last pick in the NAB AFL Rookie Draft - and international rookie selection - and is still learning the basics of the sport. However, his athleticism, size and work ethic has turned heads at Linton Street. Nick Riewoldt has managed to avoid surgery despite having problems with his knee late in the year. Steven King is still being nursed along through his own knee problems, while Brendon Goddard is making steady progress after breaking his collarbone in the grand final. Recruit Andrew Lovett has been suspended indefinitely, which will prevent him from training with his teammates when they resume.

SYDNEY SWANS
Break started: December 19
Return: January 4
The Swans’ earliest start to pre-season training in seven years has allowed most players to reach the Christmas break in outstanding condition. Craig Bolton (shoulder) and recruits Mark Seaby (ankle) and Josh Kennedy (hip) began on modified programs but are now training with the main group. Kristin Thornton has had a minor knee cleanout but he should be fit for the NAB Cup opener against Carlton. Adam Goodes is preparing to play as a permanent centre half-forward in 2010, Patrick Veszpremi is exploring a new role in defence and Tadhg Kennelly looks like he never left. Nick Malceski, Ed Barlow, Lewis Johnston and newly-drafted rookie Nathan Gordon have been the early standouts on the track.

WEST COAST
Break started: December 23
Return: January 4
A knee injury will keep Beau Waters off the track until mid-January after he had returned to pre-season training in tremendous physical condition. Dean Cox is in full training after completing rehab for a groin injury, while Daniel Kerr is on the cusp of full duties. New arrival Bradd Dalziell has kept pace with lead runner Tim Houlihan in the time trials and draftee Brad Sheppard has made an immediate impact on the track. Eric Mackenzie (shoulder) is being eased into the summer program.

WESTERN BULLDOGS
Break started: [from] December 19
Return: January 4
Sam Reid and Stephen Tiller are recovering from major groin operations and will start the new year in the rehab group. So will draftee Christian Howard, who requires hip surgery and is likely to be unavailable for NAB Cup selection. Brad Johnson, Liam Picken, Easton Wood and Jordan Roughead are returning from post-season shoulder operations while Adam Cooney, Dylan Addison and Ayce Cordy are all running after knee surgery. Barry Hall (ankle) will step up his program in January with Robert Murphy (knee) to follow. Daniel Giansiracusa and Jason Akermanis are said to be training well, while Andrejs Everitt has taken his commitment to a new level.

The views in this article are those of the authors and not necessarily those of the clubs or the AFL.