Training 2026 Pre Season & Training Reports

[My Left Foote]

Still trying to work out which side to hitch my wagon to...

Team A: we're so shit why are we bothering; or

Team B: is that all we're doing, why aren't we training harder?

I’m all in on Team C: If these (insert 6 X perennially injured players here) can get a good run at it and if these (insert 7 X below average players here) can go up a level we’ll play finals.

 

[koshari]

Curtis looks like he’s been working on the Burma railway for two months…

Bench pressing railway sleepers

 

[TennisPlayerAndy]

PC would have one of the least jacked physic, but he’d be pound for pound the strongest at the club

Full blown Tongan strength.

campaigner could snap a piece of rebar with one hand.

 

[shinboner magic]

I’d rather the players be able to run out games and hit targets over putting on size

 

[Themanbun]

I’d rather the players be able to run out games and hit targets over putting on size

It's not about size. The athletes here who appear smaller appear that way not because they've been 'slimming down' but because they seem to have gained body fat.

There's no way you lose weight (or 'trim down' to run better) as a professional athlete and end up less defined. None.

 

[amaz199]

I’d rather the players be able to run out games and hit targets over putting on size

It's not just about putting on size, though. Just the general 'looking after yourself' bit seems to be something that needs more work.

The off-season is the perfect time to sustain or at least build on muscle they had prior to the holidays. Its absolutely critical they build upon what they had, or hold what they currently have and put a program in place to work on their deficiencies. They'll fall behind otherwise.

When they come back, then they can go to work on their endurance and adjust their workouts accordingly for AFL pre-season. More reps, lower weight and more emphasis on cardio whilst they thrash themselves on the track. It's not freaking hard man. We are so easy to brush aside and score heavily against and that comes from lack of strength, lack of running capacity and general lack of professionalism. We're miles away from where we need to be.

Also bulking is so easy to achieve during the off-season because they are on holidays smashing cold ones and protein. Then when they come back to cut down for pre-season, their body will have less body fat as a result after burning off the bulk. It's just pure muscle definition mixed with a strong cardio training regime. So, increase calorie intake, burn it through muscle, come back, thrash remaining body fat on the track or through whatever means. Stick to a stricter diet when it matters.

This is where other clubs are at. We're not.

 

[zoomba23]

Speed and some midfield time in 2026

Between LDU, McKercher, Wardlaw, and a fit Sheezel, not enough points of difference in there apparently. The bloke's our best forward, for crying out loud. The last bloke I'd say would need to shed some kgs

 

[jay317]

Who won the time trial lads?

 

[Chip Scab1]

Zane’s arms look like sausages, bloke has zero definition, just a cylinder from shoulder to wrist.

I like your style just not the subject.

After his shoulder injury where he at 19 dislocated it, yeah? Of all the shit with which you could be concerning yourself, this is a bizarre hill to find yourself on (at best).

He looks bigger (to me) and more like a man rather than a boy, isn't limping... let this uber-talented campaigner do his thing ffs. He very well could win us big games one day if we display some patience, not everyone is built like The Sheeze. The Duursma hate from members of the faithful is hands-down, the weirdest shit I've seen in my time supporting the club. If he'd had a clear run I would probably understand. But he hasn't, the disgust he attracts isn't warranted.

We are allowed to hope that Harry's dedication is rubbing off on some of his teammates. We could have Curtain, I get it but he frauded the finals up, so meh. We'll know in 24 Months, there's no real point in fretting in the lead-up. No talent like him is coming to the club unless we draft them. We are not going to be mildly good until 2027 potentially, enjoy the ride, this is really as good as it gets before panic and fear kick-in.

 

[pupstar]

It's not about size. The athletes here who appear smaller appear that way not because they've been 'slimming down' but because they seem to have gained body fat.

There's no way you lose weight (or 'trim down' to run better) as a professional athlete and end up less defined. None.

My wife disagrees.

 

[Tas]

I’d rather the players be able to run out games and hit targets over putting on size

I doesn't matter how much you can run if you can't get the contested ball, can't effectively tackle the opposition and can't break tackles because you are weaker across the board.

There is no one thing you need to do right, but we have been so far off the AFL standard in physical conditioning that it requires us to send two or three players to tackle someone and we just get burnt on the outside. The bigger bodied teams have just outmuscled us to the point every other factor is a point of irrelevance.

We don't need to get jacked up like Arnold Schwarzenegger, but we have to be able to compete physically. Then other factors like skill and endurance then become factors. We need to address them all at the same time.

 

[Merlin007]

I appreciate we're all here to have a view, but personally, I don't take photos on the internet to be definitive evidence as to the quality (or otherwise) of the club's S&C program.

As one of the youngest lists in the competition, I think it's inevitable over the last few seasons players have missed tackles - just my impression, but McKercher would be a standout in that regard, but I don't think we'll be moving him on any time soon.

Despite maddiemelb using her best muscle filter, internet photos aren't the be all and end all

If they were, Paul Curtis might not be on the list much longer

 

[roopdog]

I appreciate we're all here to have a view, but personally, I don't take photos on the internet to be definitive evidence as to the quality (or otherwise) of the club's S&C program.

As one of the youngest lists in the competition, I think it's inevitable over the last few seasons players have missed tackles - just my impression, but McKercher would be a standout in that regard, but I don't think we'll be moving him on any time soon.

Despite maddiemelb using her best muscle filter, internet photos aren't the be all and end all

If they were, Paul Curtis might not be on the list much longer

View attachment 2474525

The pervie obsession with muscle definition is creepy!

Arnold Swartzenager would look ripped in a roos jumper....do you think he could run a lap?

Light weights are for building definition. Heavy weights are for building strength

 

[Zondor]

A lot of positivity, less stern looks. One up on the Misery Circle Jerk Chat I'd say.

Yes. Plenty to be excited about when it comes to the NMFC. Checks Ladder over the last 6 years. Hmmm. Checks to see what player we are going to pick up with our first round pick in this upcoming coming draft. Hmmm. Looks at the new Away Guernsey. Hmmm. Plenty to be positive about.

 

[Themanbun]

If it's all just angles and lighting (Mads' pics are usually flattering anyway), then why do the blokes with absolutely zero question marks over their off field professionalism all consistently look in better condition in those same set of pictures?

It's a mystery me thinks.

 

[New_Roo]

Good to see a bit more size on Goad, Whitlock and River

didnt see Goad in there?

 

[Pres]

I appreciate we're all here to have a view, but personally, I don't take photos on the internet to be definitive evidence as to the quality (or otherwise) of the club's S&C program.

Agree 100%

 

[zoomba23]

didnt see Goad in there?

He meant vertical size rather than bulk. Goad is the tree that you can see in the background

 

[Chadwiko]

We used to be a real country. Men were MEN. But then WOKE ruined it.

 

[amaz199]

If we were fair dinkum some of these boys should be looking a lot more primed for the track.

A couple of hours extra on whatever they're working on would be a considerable difference. If regular people have the inclination to do it for their own general well-being, it should be second nature to AFL footballers.

Maybe we just don't know elite standards and we're just gonna be perpetually stuck in mediocrity.

 

[Chadwiko]

If we were fair dinkum some of these boys should be looking a lot more primed for the track.

A couple of hours extra on whatever they're working on would be a considerable difference. If regular people have the inclination to do it for their own general well-being, it should be second nature to AFL footballers.

Maybe we just don't know elite standards and we're just gonna be perpetually stuck in mediocrity.

This is why Sheezel should be Captain.

Not even kidding; the kid handles his strength and conditioning like a professional, and it's the kind of standard you want your leaders to be setting.

 

[DuckYeah]

Light weights are for building definition. Heavy weights are for building strength

Is this how it works ey?

Light weights are for endurance and larger weights for definition? Because heavy weights at low reps builds the muscle, obviously helps definition.

 

[Themanbun]

If we were fair dinkum some of these boys should be looking a lot more primed for the track.

A couple of hours extra on whatever they're working on would be a considerable difference. If regular people have the inclination to do it for their own general well-being, it should be second nature to AFL footballers.

Maybe we just don't know elite standards and we're just gonna be perpetually stuck in mediocrity.

Seeing the Saints and Essendon first day photos from the same day terrifies me. And those clubs are hardly elite.

 

[DuckYeah]

Seeing the Saints and Essendon first day photos from the same day terrifies me. And those clubs are hardly elite.

The club has massive issues if we cant bridge that gap in 2026

 

[zoomba23]

If we were fair dinkum some of these boys should be looking a lot more primed for the track.

A couple of hours extra on whatever they're working on would be a considerable difference. If regular people have the inclination to do it for their own general well-being, it should be second nature to AFL footballers.

Maybe we just don't know elite standards and we're just gonna be perpetually stuck in mediocrity.

It was never gonna happen immediately though, was it. There's a trend, and trends like this continue until they are consciously halted. Mayyybe one of Barlow/Littlejohn will raise the issue before Christmas?