Western Bulldogs midfielder James Harmes has joined a growing list of AFL players in taking personal leave from pre-season.
It’s understood the premiership player hasn’t returned to the club since the Christmas break as he works through a sensitive personal matter.
There is no timeline on his return, putting a round one berth at the Bulldogs in doubt despite training right up until the end of the first training block.
Harmes, who is out of contract at the end of the season, played 13 games for the Dogs last year.
He has been in and out of Luke Beveridge’s best 23 since crossing to the Bulldogs from Melbourne, where he was part of the Demons’ drought-breaking premiership in 2021.
The Bulldogs squad was put through its paces with a match simulation on Monday morning, with more to come on Friday.
“There’s still a lot of work we’ve got to get in in the next few weeks, but it’s ramping up quite quickly,” assistant coach Daniel Pratt told club media.
“Fortunately, at the moment, we’ve got most guys on the track. There’s a couple still out, but we’re pretty healthy and we’ve got to make sure we keep that right up until the start of the season.”
The Western Bulldogs kick off their 2026 campaign against back-to-back reigning premiers Brisbane in Opening Round on March 7.
Harmes is the third AFL player in the past week to step away from club land, joining Tyson Stengle (Geelong) and Bobby Hill (Collingwood) in stepping away from pre-season training.
PREMIERSHIP CAT TAKES PERSONAL LEAVE
Geelong premiership forward Tyson Stengle is racing the clock to be ready for Opening Round after taking personal leave from the club.
The Cats confirmed on Monday that the 27-year-old has been granted additional leave after missing the club’s return to pre-season as he deals with a personal situation.
Geelong footy boss Andrew Mackie said Stengle had the club’s full support and it’s expected he’ll return to training in the near future.
“Tyson’s welfare is our priority and, with the support of the Club, he’ll be given the time he needs before returning to training,” Mackie said.
The all-Australian small forward is heading into the second of a five-year deal with the Cats, previously knocking back a lucrative offer from St Kilda after playing a starring role in Geelong’s 2022 premiership.
The Cats face Gold Coast at People First Stadium on March 6.
Stengle isn’t the only player to take personal leave so far this year, with North Smith medallist Bobby Hill currently spending some time away from the Magpies.
It comes as Collingwood’s challenging off-season has taken another hit, with captain Darcy Moore and Jeremy Howe suffering calf strains at training on Monday.
Scans revealed the minor setbacks, with the pair expected to be sidelined for at least a couple of weeks.
Howe, in particular, had an interrupted run into September, overcoming concussion and soft tissue injuries to feature in Collingwood’s preliminary final loss to Brisbane.
The Magpies will be back in action in Opening Round against St Kilda on Labor Day Eve at the MCG.
Originally published as James Harmes joins Tyson Stengle and Bobby Hill on personal leave after Christmas break