Training 2025 Training reports & Updates.

[Vankri]

The other bloke who could really benefit from a freshen-up over this fortnight is Membrey. He was a really solid third tall in the first half of the season but his impact has lessened as the year has worn on. Some strong marks on the lead and a couple of goals from him in the Prelim would be hugely helpful.

I see Membrey as way more likely to give way for McStay than Checkers because the latter gives us a lot of defensive forward pressure, has some mongrel and can agitate opposition KPDs and as many have pointed out looked a little off but still had plenty of chances with 5 behinds. I can only see serious injuries making us drop Checkers he’s far from being in McStay’s late season poor form.

Membrey on the other hand has always been a potential tough call as players come back in. Many will point out his accuracy and fair enough but if this is what you live and die by, 1 behind vs Crows in Q4 when he could have iced the game and 2 SIs across the game is not enough.

I would trigger McStay<>Membrey if we play the Suns and if and only if Bobby returns because the net positive will actually be a more dynamic forward line. Mac Andrew would be kept busy by Cox and Collins by McStay, giving Checkers the opportunity to rip the game open or at a minimum keep Uwland accountable. Plus Hardwick loves to swing his talls especially late game and we would make him second guess the moves with a taller fwd line or send McStay back.

 

[Scodog10]

I see Membrey as way more likely to give way for McStay than Checkers because the latter gives us a lot of defensive forward pressure, has some mongrel and can agitate opposition KPDs and as many have pointed out looked a little off but still had plenty of chances with 5 behinds. I can only see serious injuries making us drop Checkers he’s far from being in McStay’s late season poor form.

Membrey on the other hand has always been a potential tough call as players come back in. Many will point out his accuracy and fair enough but if this is what you live and die by, 1 behind vs Crows in Q4 when he could have iced the game and 2 SIs across the game is not enough.

I would trigger McStay<>Membrey if we play the Suns and if and only if Bobby returns because the net positive will actually be a more dynamic forward line. Mac Andrew would be kept busy by Cox and Collins by McStay, giving Checkers the opportunity to rip the game open or at a minimum keep Uwland accountable. Plus Hardwick loves to swing his talls especially late game and we would make him second guess the moves with a taller fwd line or send McStay back.

I may be missing the mark for some, but my view was that McStay only replaces Mihocek if Mihocek can’t get to the line. At least that was the only scenario I see as being possible from here.

I don’t think a Cox/ McStay/ Mihocek mix is on the cards with match committee. If it gets raised by Fly I’d buy in to your comments.

 

[Pistol Night]

The other bloke who could really benefit from a freshen-up over this fortnight is Membrey. He was a really solid third tall in the first half of the season but his impact has lessened as the year has worn on. Some strong marks on the lead and a couple of goals from him in the Prelim would be hugely helpful.

If all of our forwards fire at once we’ll end up kicking 34 goals. . We seem to always have one guy Bob up (no pun intended) and the others chip in with 1 or 2. I think it’s a great strength in a way

 

[LuckyLee]

I see Membrey as way more likely to give way for McStay than Checkers because the latter gives us a lot of defensive forward pressure, has some mongrel and can agitate opposition KPDs and as many have pointed out looked a little off but still had plenty of chances with 5 behinds. I can only see serious injuries making us drop Checkers he’s far from being in McStay’s late season poor form.

Membrey on the other hand has always been a potential tough call as players come back in. Many will point out his accuracy and fair enough but if this is what you live and die by, 1 behind vs Crows in Q4 when he could have iced the game and 2 SIs across the game is not enough.

I would trigger McStay<>Membrey if we play the Suns and if and only if Bobby returns because the net positive will actually be a more dynamic forward line. Mac Andrew would be kept busy by Cox and Collins by McStay, giving Checkers the opportunity to rip the game open or at a minimum keep Uwland accountable. Plus Hardwick loves to swing his talls especially late game and we would make him second guess the moves with a taller fwd line or send McStay back.

I think you're right. If Checkers is passed fit, his selection is in no doubt at all. Membrey's spot is not guaranteed, even if fully fit.

Perhaps for the remainder of this fortnight, a Membrey v McStay Bigfooty debate will break out to replace last fortnight's enthralling and passionate Cox v McStay tussle?

(Personally, I'd go Membrey. His career goals per game average is 1.61. McStay's is 0.93.)

 

[jathanas]

I may be missing the mark for some, but my view was that McStay only replaces Mihocek if Mihocek can’t get to the line. At least that was the only scenario I see as being possible from here.

I don’t think a Cox/ McStay/ Mihocek mix is on the cards with match committee. If it gets raised by Fly I’d buy in to your comments.

Agree.

McStay deep forward instead of Mihocek (if he doesn't pull up). No change to the big forward mix otherwise.

 

[Bianconeri]

What explains McStay’s continued lesser form against GC & Freo, when Cox played?

He was still moved to defence in those games

 

[Scodog10]

Agree.

McStay deep forward instead of Mihocek (if he doesn't pull up). No change to the big forward mix otherwise.

I think we’re all assuming he plays as well? Setting aside Ralph’s kite flying tweet I haven’t seen a report suggesting his absence so far this week is anything more than management.

 

[granniewolf]

I think you're right. If Checkers is passed fit, his selection is in no doubt at all. Membrey's spot is not guaranteed, even if fully fit.

Perhaps for the remainder of this fortnight, a Membrey v McStay Bigfooty debate will break out to replace last fortnight's enthralling and passionate Cox v McStay tussle?

(Personally, I'd go Membrey. His career goals per game average is 1.61. McStay's is 0.93.)

I don't see how you can drop someone who's kicked 30 goals this season.

 

[LuckyLee]

I don't see how you can drop someone who's kicked 30 goals this season.

Agreed.

Our 2025 top 4 goal kickers by both total and average this season are:

Elliott 56 (Ave 2.3)
Checkers 36 (Ave 1.7)
Membrey 30 (Ave 1.4)
Hill 20 (Ave 1.4)

IMO, we need all four of them to play in both the PF and GF.

McStay 19 (Ave 1.1) looms as the hard-luck story for 2025, just as he was in 2023. He'll be devastated to miss out again but the coaches have to calmly make those sorts of tough calls for the betterment of the team.

 

[No SPIN]

McStay played a lot better than Checkers in our last prelim.

So was McStays lead up form - which is not the case this time.

 

[No SPIN]

This for me, is spot on. The shifting to the ruck and even worse, down back, has destroyed McStay this season. He needs to be settled in the forward line.

If don’t think I’ve every seen a player drop his head so much as McStay.
He clearly struggles to put the last contest behind him, and that just erodes his confidence.

Fly says he wants his the team to always look like winners regardless of the circumstances, McStay is falling way short of that goal.

 

[sr36]

And he’s been dropped because of terrible form.

I still can’t understand how people say checkers had a poor game. He had 5 shots on goal and kept Keane in the goal square which freed up everyone else. He did exactly what his brief would have been.

I thought he had a good game too - some just seem to look at errors - and he made a few.

 

[sr36]

If all of our forwards fire at once we’ll end up kicking 34 goals. . We seem to always have one guy Bob up (no pun intended) and the others chip in with 1 or 2. I think it’s a great strength in a way

I think you're lying. I think you did intend that pun.

 

[Professor Knowall]

I think you're lying. I think you did intend that pun.

You're on to something here - the pun was capitalised!

 

[Daicosian silk]

If Gold Coast had beaten a Port side that couldn't make the finals, we'd have missed the Top 4 and the whole thing would've gone to shit.

Who won’t we have played if Port had lost to the Suns? Hawks??

 

[Kirby]

If all of our forwards fire at once we’ll end up kicking 34 goals. . We seem to always have one guy Bob up (no pun intended) and the others chip in with 1 or 2. I think it’s a great strength in a way

 

[Sea fog]

Notification from fb group resulted in a training report from Annabel

Notes from today's training session:
Conditions – ground looked in a pristine state save for surface water flared by the sun catching the eye. Overhead was a patchwork sky of royal blue with the milk white clouds sometimes morphing into grey ones which provided some transient light drizzle.
West was the first out closely followed by Josh.
Who was missing? Checkers, Beau, Reef, Smit. Checkers is supposedly nursing a sore foot, while Beau may have been managed due to his own recent foot issues.
It appeared as though what players wore today was a good pointer towards preliminary final participation with no obvious underlings donning the black today.
For the record here is a roll call of black and white from today’s session:
WHITE:
West
Hill
HDM
Hayes
Steele
Markov
Dean
Howes
Steene
Ash
Allan
Cochran
Mitchell
Harrison
Macrae
BLACK:
Josh
Long
Houston
Moore
Frampton
Cameron
McStay
Membrey
IQ
Parker
Crisp
Perryman
Lippa
Sidey
Pendles
Maynard
Howe
What was on the training menu?
Warm-up at river end with the resistance tape and some work around poles testing the players’ agility – which followed the usual desultory kicking as they wait for Wade to signal the start of proceedings – some more extended work around the poles with expectations high for speed and flexible movements – short high octane sprinting drills between the poles - groups involved in ground ball retrievals – kicking and handballing with players spaced at very short distances which appeared to combine skills with sharpening reflexes – marking practice for the big boys and some casual goal kicking routines – two semi circles of the ground occupied by whites on one side and those attired in black on the other with a focus on ground ball movement – followed by whole ground movement for most
Variations to the aforementioned routines? Maynard and Pendles ran relentlessly for the majority of the session with the beanie adorned evergreen trailing his younger partner but still looking mighty fit. Howe alternated between running and partaking of the drills. He was under the instruction of a trainer who was setting him goals. Clearly his objective was to continue to get miles into his legs.
Towards the end of the session Nick, JDG, Moore and Harrison partook of some repetitive running over medium distances on the outer side of the ground. Then Nick paired with Howe to continue building his aerobic capacity. Howe was heard to say he’s feeling good right now but maybe not so in an hour’s time which was code for he’d probably be knackered because he was really putting himself through his paces to ensure that he was cherry ripe for a tilt at the preliminary final.
Based on training performances both Howe and Hill looked sharp and we may roll the dice on the latter despite his interrupted preparation with Parker and Steele the most likely to make way for the flag heroes. Hill moved with his usual alacrity and looks in good condition.
On balance the session was not particularly intense but the focus was clearly on honing skills and practising their ball connection through targeted activities, while ensuring the players continued to put miles into their legs through a combination of endurance work for some and high-octane movements linked to the high twitch fibres.
Nick looked every inch the bellwether in ball drills with his rare skill, burst of speed and manoeuvrability of body leaving others in his wake as he drives through traffic with an air of imperium.
McStay looked solid with his marking, while those donning the white provided good ballast for the cause as they trained enthusiastically knowing they’re probably only a remote chance of progressing to the seniors during this campaign. Parker as someone teetering on the fringe was harelike the way he attacked the ball and Steene is developing nicely.
What was the vibe at training like? The players looked pretty upbeat as they plied their trade in front of a reasonable crowd. Those on the Glasshouse side were disappointed that a huge distance was placed between them and where the players entered by the officials as many seemed to be refugees from the classroom who had turned out in full Collingwood regalia brandishing pens and autograph books in the hope of attracting their favourite players. They screamed out “ Darcy”, Isaac etc. but may have to wait until Friday when it’s a designated open training session where players are mandated to provide signatures and pose with fans for pics.
The interesting aspect of training between 4 and 6 pm on Friday is that McRae is opting to allow players to be engaging in match play at the same time as our twilight encounter will take place on the following Saturday.
Cox had signed autographs before training and obliged by taking his glasses off for photos but said he can’t go long without them.

 

[Scodog10]

Who won’t we have played if Port had lost to the Suns? Hawks??

If all other results remained the same then yeah it would have been Hawthorn.

 

[Daicosian silk]

If all other results remained the same then yeah it would have been Hawthorn.

Probably dodged a bullet there then tbh

 

[Scodog10]

Probably dodged a bullet there then tbh

IDK. I’ve got this feeling that if we bring what we brought v Adelaide then we’d have the Hawks measure this year. GC and Geelong are the only two that really concern me from here because of the unknown.

If Brisbane make it through and can knock us off with everything they’ve had to deal with then they’re just better than us. GC in front of 90k + screaming Collingwood fans will see all the pressure on us and be 40k more than they’ve ever played in front of so I have no idea how they’d handle that. Geelong are coached to throw anything at you it’s like Batman against Bane in the dark knight rises they were born and raised in the chaos (instead of the dark).

 

[Pistol Night]

I copped a ban from a main board knob mod for a meme with a swear word you crafty devil.

 

[legendstatus]

let's go with McStay and drop Steele to stretch oppo defence or bring back AJ !!!!

 

[Kes1984]

If don’t think I’ve every seen a player drop his head so much as McStay.
He clearly struggles to put the last contest behind him, and that just erodes his confidence.

Fly says he wants his the team to always look like winners regardless of the circumstances, McStay is falling way short of that goal.

Jamie Elliott comes close I reckon. He’s just been playing so incredibly well this year we haven’t seen it lately. Both these two appear very hard on themselves if they don’t get something right.

Definitely see it a lot from Dan McStay

 

[Magpie Since 1986]

let's go with McStay and drop Steele to stretch oppo defence or bring back AJ !!!!

Forward line could be
AJ McStay West
Membrey Cox Mihocek

JUST STRETCH THEM !!

 

[manicpie]

I copped a ban from a main board knob mod for a meme with a swear word you crafty devil.

Was the mod Carro?