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

 

[RustyShacklefordFalcon]

Also this on Barnett



A partial PCL tear would explain his slow start to the preseason.

They also explained how Bailey Williams was barely training but didn't provide a reason why.

Thanks as always mate. Love your work.

Did you notice Rodriguez much?

 

[DorothyG]

An underrated selling point of Perth for young players is that after training/gym sessions, when you're looking jacked you can go to the beach while it's hot, have a swim, and then strut, and look and be looked at by hot chicks in bikinis

You can do that at St Kilda beach....

 

[Ambrose Burnside]

You can do that at St Kilda beach....

Strong "We 'av sandy beaches in England Avi!" vibes

 

[LittleFires]

Thanks as always mate. Love your work.

Did you notice Rodriguez much?

He wasn’t too noticeable today. Trained as a midfielder.

I said this last week but his body looks AFL-ready, probably the most well built of our draftees

 

[Eaglemaniac]

You can do that at St Kilda beach....

Have you ever heard of shrinkage?

 

[FKASC]

You can do that at St Kilda beach....

Have you ever heard of syringage

 

[Doashuey]

You can do that at St Kilda beach....

As can be seen in the current swell cam- sun shining brightly on a balmy 13C day, wall to wall honeys, pristine waves and squeaky white sand..




Whereas things are just downright depressing at shitty Scarbs...

 

[ziad]

You can do that at St Kilda beach....

There are great beaches for sure and brilliant surf, but once while living in country Vic I was invited to go sailing at St Kilds beach. My wife jumped at the chance to get to a beach, it wasnt a good day I must say and she declined to get out of the car.

 

[Hu$tler]

Love our coach but still got the sick feeling he is just way off AFL level.

His communication is so gentle and weak.

 

[flyinghi64]

I want to see a post training interview with one of the Vic draftees please.
Pretty please.

 

[Dom sheed pocket]

Love our coach but still got the sick feeling he is just way off AFL level.

His communication is so gentle and weak.

He’s dealing with 18-19 year olds and a bunch of losers who have been losers for almost 5 years. Can only go so hard every so often and week 2 of pre-season might not be it.

 

[RanaNaved]

Love our coach but still got the sick feeling he is just way off AFL level.

His communication is so gentle and weak.

What do you want him to do? Rip them a new one for coming back in seemingly very good shape (even Harley too)? Lol

 

[Happy Mastenator]

You can do that at St Kilda beach....

 

[PremiershipNo4]

Love our coach but still got the sick feeling he is just way off AFL level.

His communication is so gentle and weak.

Very interesting take on preseason training.
Would you prefer a Clint Eastwood style or maybe a more Putin style?
Maybe if we just shoot whoever comes last in the 2km time trial after Xmas, just to set an example?

 

[Ambrose Burnside]

Maybe if we just shoot whoever comes last in the 2km time trial after Xmas, just to set an example?

Can we then replace Kelly (RIP) with Banners Jnr?

 

[RustyShacklefordFalcon]

You can do that at St Kilda beach....

You don't see too many girls at St Kilda beach, they're afraid of rodents.

 

[dzeRnumbrd]

Love our coach but still got the sick feeling he is just way off AFL level.

His communication is so gentle and weak.

You never know what it is like when the camera isn't around.

Ross Lyon sounds like a softest bloke around but apparently gives a really good spray behind closed doors.

 

[Boohemian]

Love our coach but still got the sick feeling he is just way off AFL level.

His communication is so gentle and weak.

Nah. I think McQualter comes across as quite measured and deliberate with his communication. Don't think he's weak at all.

 

[WCEswift]

The first 30 minutes after I arrived consisted mainly of skill work, including a flow drill involving kicking at speed, handballing in congestion and fast ball movement by foot - these drills involved full contact.

how did the movement look though? clean or fumbly

 

[THE A5]

Love our coach but still got the sick feeling he is just way off AFL level.

His communication is so gentle and weak.

Would you like my mum to coach? She’ll come with a belt, a coat hanger, a cane and slipper

 

[Boohemian]

Would you like my mum to coach? She’ll come with a belt, a coat hanger, a cane and slipper

A coat hanger? Geeez, that's dark Vishy.

 

[Astro7]

Love our coach but still got the sick feeling he is just way off AFL level.

His communication is so gentle and weak.

You're right, it is a sick feeling!

 

[Monocle]

Love our coach but still got the sick feeling he is just way off AFL level.

His communication is so gentle and weak.

 

[TY24]

Would you like my mum to coach? She’ll come with a belt, a coat hanger, a cane and slipper

Sounds like a standard Tuesday for me

 

[Carbine Chaos]

I really like the HJ > forwardline move.

He's a crafty player and clever finisher.