Western Bulldogs midfielder James Harmes has joined a growing list of AFL players in taking personal leave from pre-season. <\/p>\n
It\u2019s understood the premiership player hasn\u2019t returned to the club since the Christmas break as he works through a sensitive personal matter. <\/p>\n
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. <\/p>\n
Harmes, who is out of contract at the end of the season, played 13 games for the Dogs last year. <\/p>\n
He has been in and out of Luke Beveridge\u2019s best 23 since crossing to the Bulldogs from Melbourne, where he was part of the Demons\u2019 drought-breaking premiership in 2021. <\/p>\n
The Bulldogs squad was put through its paces with a match simulation on Monday morning, with more to come on Friday. <\/p>\n
\u201cThere\u2019s still a lot of work we\u2019ve got to get in in the next few weeks, but it\u2019s ramping up quite quickly,\u201d assistant coach Daniel Pratt told club media. <\/p>\n
\u201cFortunately, at the moment, we\u2019ve got most guys on the track. There\u2019s a couple still out, but we\u2019re pretty healthy and we\u2019ve got to make sure we keep that right up until the start of the season.\u201d<\/p>\n
The Western Bulldogs kick off their 2026 campaign against back-to-back reigning premiers Brisbane in Opening Round on March 7. <\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
PREMIERSHIP CAT TAKES PERSONAL LEAVE<\/p>\n
Geelong premiership forward Tyson Stengle is racing the clock to be ready for Opening Round after taking personal leave from the club. <\/p>\n
The Cats confirmed on Monday that the 27-year-old has been granted additional leave after missing the club\u2019s return to pre-season as he deals with a personal situation. <\/p>\n
Geelong footy boss Andrew Mackie said Stengle had the club\u2019s full support and it\u2019s expected he\u2019ll return to training in the near future. <\/p>\n
\u201cTyson\u2019s welfare is our priority and, with the support of the Club, he\u2019ll be given the time he needs before returning to training,\u201d Mackie said. <\/p>\n
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\u2019s 2022 premiership. <\/p>\n
The Cats face Gold Coast at People First Stadium on March 6. <\/p>\n
Stengle isn\u2019t 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. <\/p>\n
It comes as Collingwood\u2019s challenging off-season has taken another hit, with captain Darcy Moore and Jeremy Howe suffering calf strains at training on Monday. <\/p>\n
Scans revealed the minor setbacks, with the pair expected to be sidelined for at least a couple of weeks. <\/p>\n
Howe, in particular, had an interrupted run into September, overcoming concussion and soft tissue injuries to feature in Collingwood\u2019s preliminary final loss to Brisbane. <\/p>\n
The Magpies will be back in action in Opening Round against St Kilda on Labor Day Eve at the MCG. <\/p>\n