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

 

[We_The_West]

Was there a training session on today?

 

[matt_bas]

Hewett

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

unlikely since he's 44 and retired in 2016

Yea I deserve that

 

[bzparkes]

Was there a training session on today?

Monday, Wednesday, Friday I believe.

 

[Citizen Erazed]

Ok I am on board. Early days but it seems

Harley - Brownlow
J Williams - Coleman
Allan - Best Young Player

Flag.

 

[Keys]

Not that it’s huge news but Barnett in a knee brace. Might as well cut him and pay him out if he gonna miss all of the preseason

Don’t suppose you have a link for this?

 

[RustyShacklefordFalcon]

Has anybody seen Mitch Duncan on the track yet?

 

[THE A5]

Don’t suppose you have a link for this?

Look at the photos on the clubs website from monday

 

[bzparkes]

Has anybody seen Mitch Duncan on the track yet?

He's coaching, bud.

 

[RustyShacklefordFalcon]

He's coaching, bud.

Oh silly me. Thanks, champ.

 

[The Gtrain]

C'mon guys

 

[Elite Pete]

Has anybody seen Mitch Duncan on the track yet?

In Bali looking at his insta

 

[FKASC]

In Bali looking at his insta

Getting braids

 

[eaglevision]

Cripps has extended

 

[RustyShacklefordFalcon]

In Bali looking at his insta

Can't he look at his insta at home?

 

[Elite Pete]

There it is after Pyke got a nudge on Duffs show

 

[The Gtrain]

There it is after Pyke got a nudge on Duffs show

Crippa was secretly hoping they would forget

 

[bzparkes]

There it is after Pyke got a nudge on Duffs show

He seemed surprised they hadn't announced it. Probably gave the media department a kick.

 

[RustyShacklefordFalcon]

There it is after Pyke got a nudge on Duffs show

Is it just me or does Crippa kinda look like the Grinch when he smiles?

 

[Goroyals22]

Is it just me or does Crippa kinda look like the Grinch when he smiles?

Certainly the grinch when he is inside 50 with the ball

 

[RustyShacklefordFalcon]

Certainly the grinch when he is inside 50 with the ball

You mean he steals Christmas?

 

[Astro7]

Oh well, hopefully Cripps gets nudged out by a better player and carries on in the Wafl, where he'll do a great job.

 

[TwoStriders]

Hewett

 

[LittleFires]

There it is after Pyke got a nudge on Duffs show

Ah great - only took two weeks after the list lodgement deadline and a question from Mark Duffield to Don Pyke on radio for them to remember to announce it... sorry but that is pretty amateurish from the club.

Now I wonder if we'll ever hear about Malakai Champion? With a bit of luck they'll remember to announce his extension sometime before Christmas.

 

[WCE_2007]

There it is after Pyke got a nudge on Duffs show

Just sinking in...I've been watching Crippa play footy (to some extent) since I was 2 years old. Glad he got another year, and hope he gets a big farewell game near the end to send him off properly. Underrated career and will go out a legend of the club. Looking forward to what he brings to the AFL and hopefully the WAFL too in the meantime.

 

[bzparkes]

Just sinking in...I've been watching Crippa play footy (to some extent) since I was 2 years old.