Richmond's AFLW Physical Performance Manager, Hunter Rubino, has provided an update on the Tigers' progress as the first block of pre-season comes to a close, with the 2026 campaign just under two months away. 

With match simulation and practice matches fast approaching, Rubino is confident the group is building to the level they'll need to be at to match it with the best of the competition this year.

"Pre-season has been awesome. Starting a program fresh has been really exciting. We're all really heavily aligned in the direction we want this football club to go in," Rubino said.

"For us, our training is focused on as much football as we can get in. It's been a welcome change for this playing group. It's a different look and feel. The list overall is in a really good spot. 

"We've just finished our first block of pre-season from a loading perspective, hitting more numbers. The players are responding well, and we're starting to build a core group of resilient athletes."

As for what has changed, Rubino and the new-look coaching staff have placed a focus on becoming well-rounded athletes who can out-run their opposition, which will be put to the test in upcoming games against other AFLW sides.

"A big one is the emphasis on high-speed running overall. It's widely publicised that the game is getting faster. Jarrad [Donders, AFLW Coach] likes to play an attacking style of football. Those two go hand-in-hand,” Rubino said. 

"Our practice matches and match simulations are going to be a really exciting venture for us, to see where our group sits based on the work we've done already.

"The focus still stays the same. The intensity stays the same, it's just the volume that will increase overall."

Rubino provided an update on a handful of players working through modified training loads and programs.

Zoe Hargreaves: ACL and hamstring

"She's going really well. We are hoping she will be ready to go by Round 1," Rubino said. 

"Unfortunately for Zoe, during her pre-season preparations, she did have a hamstring injury. It hasn't affected her ACL timeline, but we are building through those progressions.

"She's in a really good spot at the moment to launch back into the football program to be ready for Round 1."

Montana McKinnon: ACL

"She is in a really good spot and is ticking all the boxes quicker than we expected," Rubino said.

"She is not expected to return to play until Round 7, but Monty is mounting every case to hopefully come back a little bit sooner, but we will play that as it comes."

Rebecca Miller: Hamstring
Kate Dempsey: Adductor strain

"They're currently on modified programs with some soft tissue-based injuries. Bec has a hamstring injury, and Demps has a right adductor strain," Rubino said. 

"They both are progressing incredibly well, and will look to rejoin the main program quickly."

Sarah Hosking, Katie Brennan: Managed loads

"They're putting in a phenomenal amount of work. Both have been on managed loads for a number of years now. They are both completing a lot more loads than they have in the past,” Rubino said. 

"Katie got in the first three quarters of a recent match simulation, and she was over the moon. We are looking to build both of them up and hope to see them available for full training in the next couple of weeks."

Olivia Wolmarans: Lower back stress

"She is a super exciting prospect who has transitioned from WA into the AFLW lifestyle really well," Rubino said.

"As a part of her transition, she suffered some lower back stress. We are working to build up her loads through our football program and she joined our match simulation late this week.

"The glimpses that we have seen are really exciting. Each time she steps out on the park, we get more and more excited to see what she can bring to Tigerland." 

Sierra Grieves: Concussion

"Unfortunately, Sierra suffered a concussion recently. We are working through her protocols at the moment," Rubino said.

"She will be back on the track in the coming week."

Ally Dallaway, Georgia Stubs: General load management
Poppy Kelly: Thumb, General load management

"Ally Dallaway, Georgia Stubs and Poppy Kelly, we are watching their loads at the moment," Rubino said.

"Poppy unfortunately broke her thumb in pre-season camp and required surgery. She is back into the football program in a non-contact capacity and is going well."

Baia Pugh: Shin soreness

"She is dealing with some shin soreness. She will be de-loaded for a few weeks, then we will build her back up," Rubino said. 

"She's another super exciting prospect from the 2025 AFLW Draft."