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

 

[Astro7]

Im still hopeful Owies can produce the goal tallies of his Carlton seasons when he was at the feet of Curnow and McKay with a semi decent midfield supply.

Hopefully a fit Waterman and Shanahan and more competitive midfield can see him and others reap more rewards.

Have given up on Owies (curious to see how Mini values him this pre/season)
Hoping he's passed by other more electric/dynamic players.
But if he improves significantly thats a good thang.

 

[Farmer Lister]

I brought binoculars with me today thanks for the idea Keys and it was great to be able to see all the action up close.

At one point right in front of me Duursma, Lindsay, Rodriguez and Tylah Williams practiced a handball drill. The coach was giving very precise and clear instructions, don't know his name but he seemed really switched on. Tylah Williams definitely has something, he's very quick and has some strength to him.

Davis and Allan both looking in really great nick with Davis in particular really giving it his all.

Watched Owies doing some goal kicking practice and I don't think I saw him miss a single one so that's really good.

Seeing Starcevich up close and boy what an absolute specimen he is. Really glad we picked him up.

Dev Rob worked one on one with Mini for a while, he seems in good nick.

Didn't see Allen out there but all the rest of our new recruits look totally at ease, well developed and up to the level of the senior players. Wouldn't be surprised if most of them get senior games this year.

 

[groga]

From the training photos on instagram Harvey Johnston looks like he has put on some weight! Hopefully he can surprise a few and get a start.

 

[WCEswift]

Didn't see Allen out there

running the stairs apparenty

 

[Dark Sharks]

Watched Owies doing some goal kicking practice and I don't think I saw him miss a single one so that's really good.

Must have been within 25m from goal then i take it?

 

[RustyShacklefordFalcon]

From the training photos on instagram Harvey Johnston looks like he has put on some weight! Hopefully he can surprise a few and get a start.

Get a load of this flame grilled whopper

 

[bUCKET__]

Johnston's best chance of cracking a game will be as a small forward I reckon, backline is looking well out of reach with our recent acquisitions. If he can't push Owies out of the side there, surely no chance of him making it in the AFL.

 

[THE A5]

Davis seems like one of the those guys that will be elite trainers and trains the house down at preseason. Best case we another Chris Masten

Chris Masten

Age

36

Ht

180cm

Wt

80kg

Pos.

Mid

Career

Season

Last 5

D

20.8

5star

K

10.9

4star

HB

9.9

5star

M

4.1

4star

T

2.7

4star

CL

1.7

4star

No current season stats available

D

14.8

4star

K

8.8

4star

HB

6.0

4star

M

4.2

4star

T

5.0

5star

but worst case hopefully a guy thats around the 23 and can be solid depth

 

[Wce17]

Get a load of this flame grilled whopper

View attachment 2486038

Good to see.

Feel like his main weakness last year was his strength. Got tossed aside a lot with his tackling & had trouble sticking them which lead to goals at times. Did have a dodgy elbow so not sure how much that had an influence & could be why he never got a game.

 

[RustyShacklefordFalcon]

Johnston's best chance of cracking a game will be as a small forward I reckon, backline is looking well out of reach with our recent acquisitions. If he can't push Owies out of the side there, surely no chance of him making it in the AFL.

If I recall correctly, someone mentioned here recently that he's been training with the forwards

 

[HoneyBadger35]

Johnston's best chance of cracking a game will be as a small forward I reckon, backline is looking well out of reach with our recent acquisitions. If he can't push Owies out of the side there, surely no chance of him making it in the AFL.

Backline is looking too stacked for him to crack a game there now, but I can’t believe we didn’t lean into his elite use by hand to give him a free month of footy off half back in the new game style at some stage last year.

 

[THE A5]

Get him as a HFF and have him delivering to the forwards

 

[Avalor]

Johnston's best chance of cracking a game will be as a small forward I reckon, backline is looking well out of reach with our recent acquisitions. If he can't push Owies out of the side there, surely no chance of him making it in the AFL.

He has stacked on the beef. He looks like a football player now. I agree, forward should be his go as he is quite highly skilled.

 

[Elite Pete]

Johnston did some very nice things at AFL level in his first year. Never got going last year, will be interesting to see how he goes this year.

 

[Byron_Clanger]

Jobe and CDT doing a little contest work in between all these clips

Also love hearing Harry Taylor in the background

 

[WCErevival]

Get a load of this flame grilled whopper

View attachment 2486038

If you squint its Rotham.

 

[garlic munchers]

Jobe and CDT doing a little contest work in between all these clips

Also love hearing Harry Taylor in the background

So good to finally see an influx of talented, fit (largely) and enthusiastic younguns.

There will be some tough times, but seems that we have moved past pre-season at WC having all the excitement of a morgue and that whilst our excitement may be a tad over-enthusiastic, it feels right this time around.

Surely the club can't f### this up going fwd.

 

[Bender_]

Starcevich looking twice the size of everyone on our list (besides Dev of course). What a beast.

 

[JoshWoodenSpoon]

Ginbey was just moving around the ground not doing anything in particular

This is a spectacular image.

 

[Bender_]

Any update from the #39 bus?

 

[KERRPOW]

Any update from the #39 bus?

Not today as i was WFH. But im glad this has become a running meme.

 

[Bender_]

Not today as i was WFH. But im glad this has become a running meme.

This and eating chicken off the Optus Stadium concrete floor will be your board legacy.

 

[RustyShacklefordFalcon]

If you squint its Rotham.

But we were only just beginning to heal

 

[sharps24]

Man asked for theory. Man got theory.

 

[RustyShacklefordFalcon]

Starcevich looking twice the size of everyone on our list (besides Dev of course). What a beast.

It's like if Sheed bought a Tower 200 and started eating boiled chicken breast and steamed broccoli 3 times a day.

Gotta say it feels right having another baldy in the number 4.