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

 

[PremiershipNo4]

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

Ginbey says hi.

 

[Bender_]

Ginbey says hi.

Yes, literally twice the size. 13 feet tall and 200+ kilos.

 

[THE A5]

Yes, literally twice the size. 13 feet tall and 200+ kilos.

Is he a rock hard seasoned man?

Asking for a mate Byron_Clanger

 

[We_The_West]

Bo Allan is emerging as one of my early standouts this preseason. Not because of anything spectacular he did today, but in general he looks fit, is moving well and looks powerful and strong. Skills also looked sound today from what I saw

Sometimes I get caught up on all the other draftees we've taken and forget about this bloke and how much potential he has. Hopefully with sharpened skills he can have a really good crack at a midfield role this year. Would be very happy for him to develop his craft in the WAFL and start averaging 20+ disposals a game as an inside mid.

• Like what I’ve seen early from Newton

Another who we haven't seen much of and potentially could be a surprise packet. Would love to see him become the Mark LeCras 2.0 as that skilled, marking small/medium forward who loves a goal.

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

I was watching tapes of Davis again and his ball drop looks questionable but after closer analysis we might be being misled and he actually could be quite coordinated and know what he's doing.... excited to see him develop this year.

 

[JADED]

Is Harry Schoenberg going to be our new Chad Rintoul?

Chode Rintoul maybe.

 

[TheBudgies]

• Kelly and Owies also did the warm up but spent the rest of the session training together away from the main group. They went through some run throughs, agility work and light skill work, before finishing up around 10:30

Any chance this was a separate WAFL training session and they've accepted not being part of the AFL side this year?

 

[Bender_]

Any chance this was a separate WAFL training session and they've accepted not being part of the AFL side this year?

Mini: "You 2 losers aren't getting a game anyway so I don't give a shit what you, go train by yourselves or something."

 

[Doashuey]

.

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

Curled through a few beauties from behind the boundary?

 

[bzparkes]

Curled through a few beauties from behind the boundary?

Time for a taste of your own medicine, methinks...

How about we give this overused, unfunny joke a rest?
Its right up there with posting Gee on anything to do with Venables and putting in Jack Watts as a poll option as embarrassing crap just clogging up threads.

 

[Happy Mastenator]

• Bo Allan is emerging as one of my early standouts this preseason. Not because of anything spectacular he did today, but in general he looks fit, is moving well and looks powerful and strong. Skills also looked sound today from what I sa

This has always been the case for Bo. It's the skills that need to catch up to his physical talent.

Given how his year went last year (suspension, then a couple of sub games), he will be like a new player to the list this year. Very excited to see what he can do.

 

[Wedgetailed Westerner]

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

With this new 100 % widget, i for one am upset that we are missing a 67

 

[Dark Sharks]

Mini: "You 2 losers aren't getting a game anyway so I don't give a shit what you, go train by yourselves or something."

"Take Bennett with you onto the outer oval and run some circle work...."

 

[Monocle]

"Take Bennett with you onto the outer oval and run some circle work...."

Looks like we have a new train on player.

I think Bennett must be Mastons cousin.

 

[Slothh]

Yes, literally twice the size. 13 feet tall and 200+ kilos.

Awesome description. Great size. Sounds thick. Solid. Tight. Keep us all posted on Ginbey's continued progress with any new progress pics or vid clips. Show us what Ginbeasts got man. Wanna see how freakin' huge, solid, thick and tight he can get. Thanks for the motivation

 

[Astro7]

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.

Hoping that Starcevich being an absolute specimen and Dev Rob being in good nick, translates to them being good players - as there are some who think they won't even move the needle for us as players?
Ideally they'll turn out thick solid and tight.

 

[Big_Birdy]

Hoping that Starcevich being an absolute specimen and Dev Rob being in good nick, translates to them being good players - as there are some who think they won't even move the needle for us as players?
Ideally they'll turn out thick solid and tight.

Starcevich is already a very good player. He isn't a project.

 

[Astro7]

Starcevich is already a very good player. He isn't a project.

I completely agree.

 

[RustyShacklefordFalcon]

With this new 100 % widget, i for one am upset that we are missing a 67

No cap

 

[RookiePick]

"Take Bennett with you onto the outer oval and run some circle work...."

too subtle.

 

[Doashuey]

Time for a taste of your own medicine, methinks...

Gee

 

[Keys]

Considered posting the above in the injury thread but decided against causing any undue anxiety

This is old news to an extent, but it’s a real positive we’ve developed a good working relationship with a world leading expert who acknowledged his visit was mutually beneficial

Hopefully we won’t require his expertise too often in the future but nice to have someone we can call on for outside advice if needed

 

[Barrybran]

who acknowledged his visit was mutually beneficial

He's probably writing a thesis on Elliot Yeo

 

[Chris_6678]

He's probably writing a thesis on Elliot Yeo

The Yeo Manifest.

 

[The Gtrain]

The Yeo Manifest.

The Yeostein files

 

[Ilkka Sinisalo]

Considered posting the above in the injury thread but decided against causing any undue anxiety

This is old news to an extent, but it’s a real positive we’ve developed a good working relationship with a world leading expert who acknowledged his visit was mutually beneficial

Hopefully we won’t require his expertise too often in the future but nice to have someone we can call on for outside advice if needed

Mutually beneficial in that the club received some of his excellent knowledge and recommendations, and he received enough money to build another wing on his mansion.