Training Preseason Training Thread - 2026

[Keys]

The below is the OG faux training report from nearly 9 years ago - often imitated but never surpassed

In the absence of Keys I went down for a trundle this morning to check them out on return. Just a few random notes I took down...

• A lot of running work again, clearly a focus even in the heat.
• Duggan looked on and was hitting targets left and right. Set for a huge 2017.
• Giles went up against Vardy in the ruck contests and I'd say that Giles has the inside running at the moment.
• Mitchell looked a class above the other midfielders bar Priddis. Just knew how to find the footy and wouldn't miss a target all session. Shuey was very quiet and seemed to be taking direction from Mitchell. Doesn't bode well for his captaincy credentials, maybe he doesn't want the gig?
• Won't say too much about it in case I was just reading too much into it, but Rioli looked as though he'd enjoyed the Christmas break a bit too much. A few of the coaches pulled him aside and they were having quite an animated conversation before Rioli was sent to do laps for the rest of the session. Good news for Le Cras, I suppose.
• Sheed kicked on his right foot for 80% of the session, I reckon. Nice to see players working on their non-preferred so readily.
• Petrie looked like he was doing a great job 'coaching' the younger forwards in between the drills. Darling in particular seemed to be following him around.
• Gee Venables has some skills. He mainly jogged laps before spending the last half hour or so on set shots - curled a few beauties from behind the boundary line at the end for a bit of fun. Hardly saw him miss a kick.
• What interested me the most was that McGovern split his time between the defenders and the forwards, could be seeing a swingman role in 2017. He was his usual dominant self down back in some match simulation drills before going head-to-head with Mackenzie in a forward role.
• Bayok is very fast - Cripps was in most of the drills with him and couldn't keep up.
• Nelson is pale as buggery and still doesn't really have the body shape you'd expect of an AFL player.
• There was a big bloke who pulled up next to me and I could have sworn it was Suma, but I'm sure I was wrong...
• Masto was the player picked to kick the goal at the end today and nailed it. Celebrations were huge.
• No sign of Cole, Parto or Hill. Couldn't tell you why.

Will upload pics later if I have time. Let me know if you have any questions!

You might wonder why I’ve put this up and stickied it

Because this is the standard all copies should be measured against and it’s a reminder of how high the bar was set

And to hopefully discourage sequels.

If you want to have a crack in my absence, go ahead but if it doesn’t equal the standard set (as judged by me), then expect

• A one week threadban for a first offence
• A two week threadban for a second offence
• A one year threadban for a third offence

Actual training reports, minus discussion, can become found here:

Training - Preseason Training Reports -2025/26

This thread has been setup for training reports only and won’t be open for replies Informative reports from the preseason thread will be copied into this thread so posters have access to the quality work from the likes of LittleFires without wading through pages of general posts

www.bigfooty.com

 

[THE A5]

if i lived in south australia I'd probably want to go to a decent beach too

tbf SA does have some decent beaches

 

[THE A5]

HJ’s a similar size to Mccarthy. He’s put some work over the preseason and doesn’t look like a twig as much.

Can’t upload the lic but the ranga isn’t Gross but he kinda looks familiar but I guess all rangas look a like

 

[Bleedblueandgold]

HJ’s a similar size to Mccarthy. He’s put some work over the preseason and doesn’t look like a twig as much.

Can’t upload the lic but the ranga isn’t Gross but he kinda looks familiar but I guess all rangas look a likeView attachment 2475687

HJ needs to consistently perform at WAFL level to trouble the selectors and survive the end of 2026 cull.
Saw some potential in him during his debut season, but was invisible in 2025.

 

[Seadog]

tbf SA does have some decent beaches

Unfortunately none of them are in Adelaide.

 

[eaglevision]

HJ needs to consistently perform at WAFL level to trouble the selectors and survive the end of 2026 cull.
Saw some potential in him during his debut season, but was invisible in 2025.

Great kid but can’t see him getting another contract. Bazzo, Long and our three rucks would be nervous too.

 

[jdisc]

HJ needs to consistently perform at WAFL level to trouble the selectors and survive the end of 2026 cull.
Saw some potential in him during his debut season, but was invisible in 2025.

Outside mid role predominantly, which is hard to show a lot when your inside mids are getting thrashed every week

Hopefully those new SPP pickups bolster the WAFL side a bit, either by directly playing or by forcing current B23 players down to the WAFL

 

[garlic munchers]

Most exciting players on our list:

1. Reid,
2. Shanahan,
3. Then Daylight to Ginbey (which is not a knock on Rubes who is going to be our heart and soul for a decade).

 

[DorothyG]

Hopefully those new SPP pickups bolster the WAFL side a bit, either by directly playing or by forcing current B23 players down to the WAFL

I think the WAFL team actually being competitive this coming season is almost the most important thing we fix next year.

We need actual development from our youngens
We need it to be at a standard where anyone one can be plucked and injected in to the League without doubt.
We need serious competition for spots to keep everyone accountable.

We need to get back the winning culture at the club. No one is really expecting too much from the league team, a handful of wins most.
But if the Beagles can win more than they lose and look competitive in the remainder, the atmosphere of the place on Monday morning will change.

The cliches of winning breeds winning and a good house needs solid foundations all are apt.

 

[jdisc]

I think the WAFL team actually being competitive this coming season is almost the most important thing we fix next year.

We need actual development from our youngens
We need it to be at a standard where anyone one can be plucked and injected in to the League without doubt.
We need serious competition for spots to keep everyone accountable.

We need to get back the winning culture at the club. No one is really expecting too much from the league team, a handful of wins most.
But if the Beagles can win more than they lose and look competitive in the remainder, the atmosphere of the place on Monday morning will change.

The cliches of winning breeds winning and a good house needs solid foundations all are apt.

A lot of running work again, clearly a focus even in the heat

 

[We_The_West]

Jack Williams is in the break out year category and needs to be given a read hot crack this season especially with Oscar leaving.

Smart footballer, reliable mark and a great set shot. Looks like he's giving himself the best chance to lock down a role in the team.

Would love to see him and Jobe kick 30 goals each this year and another 40-50 from Snake which will go a long way to us notching a few more wins

 

[Farang83150]

Most exciting players on our list:

1. Reid,
2. Shanahan,
3. Then Daylight to Ginbey (which is not a knock on Rubes who is going to be our heart and soul for a decade).

Mccarthy

 

[We_The_West]

Good to hear some kind of improvement in Bo Allan. I think if his kicking skills aren’t that great, we need to use his speed, size and strength to win the inside footy and get it out to guys with better foot skills.

I wouldn't be opposed to him playing a tagging role this season to build his fitness and learn the inside craft.

Similar to Windhager at the Saints.

 

[shooshka]

Mccarthy

Was going to say the same.

Sure he is mature age, but this is his first AFL preseason and he’s barely even been in a semi professional environment for 2 years.

Upside is still massive, and hard not to make the case he was our best player in the second half of the season.

 

[eaglevision]

Fixture out at 9AM. Might be the first team in history to have every game of the year played on a Sunday.

 

[bombard]

But as you say nothing wrong with a bit of preseason optimism I suppose

The months of March, April, May, June, July, August and definitely September beg to differ.

 

[WCErevival]

Fixture out at 9AM. Might be the first team in history to have every game of the year played on a Sunday.

That was this year wasnt it.

 

[matt_bas]

Most exciting players on our list:

1. Reid,
2. Shanahan,
3. Then Daylight to Ginbey (which is not a knock on Rubes who is going to be our heart and soul for a decade).

Hewitt has untapped potential

 

[fullbull]

Most exciting players on our list:

1. Reid,
2. Shanahan,
3. Then Daylight to Ginbey (which is not a knock on Rubes who is going to be our heart and soul for a decade).

Fair to say next Wednesday, Duursma immediately inserts himself into the top 3 (4 if you include T-Mac) of this list.

 

[Yippy Yi Yeo]

Hewitt has untapped potential

Hewett

 

[Doashuey]

Hewitt has untapped potential

Can see him winning a US Open and a Wimbledon one day.

 

[jdisc]

Hewitt has untapped potential

unlikely since he's 44 and retired in 2016

 

[NSLK]

C'mon guys

 

[MaxHunt]

Mccarthy

Those pointy elbows excite you?

Hope he builds up his frame a bit now he's a full time professional sports person.

 

[FKASC]

Can see him winning a US Open and a Wimbledon one day.

Those pointy elbows excite you?

 

[Astro7]

I think the WAFL team actually being competitive this coming season is almost the most important thing we fix next year.

We need actual development from our youngens
We need it to be at a standard where anyone one can be plucked and injected in to the League without doubt.
We need serious competition for spots to keep everyone accountable.

We need to get back the winning culture at the club. No one is really expecting too much from the league team, a handful of wins most.
But if the Beagles can win more than they lose and look competitive in the remainder, the atmosphere of the place on Monday morning will change.

The cliches of winning breeds winning and a good house needs solid foundations all are apt.

Yep agree, it ll starts this season, the swing around season, the turning point. Wafl and Afl.