Training 2026 Preseason

[go_the_dockers]

I'm with you. I just don't get the hate for Banfield.

I think everyone admires Banfield for getting the most out of the talent he has. I don't think he has enough talent to be best 23 for us this year, but will be ok depth should we get injuries.

People talk about him as every year we think he won't be best 22, and every year he is best 22 and most times in a new role.

 

[anchor man]

I think everyone admires Banfield for getting the most out of the talent he has. I don't think he has enough talent to be best 23 for us this year, but will be ok depth should we get injuries.

People talk about him as every year we think he won't be best 22, and every year he is best 22 and most times in a new role.

As was stated by another poster, in different words,Fantasy footballer moaning.

 

[GingerDocker]

It's pretty simple to me...

BB as courageous, flexible, team-oriented depth

BB as a lock in our best 23 every week

 

[Randomizor]

These training reports are useless. Is nobody on hat watch anymore?!

 

[Docker82]

It's pretty simple to me...

BB as courageous, flexible, team-oriented depth

BB as a lock in our best 23 every week

Think a large reason why he kept getting games was because he was actually doing okay and/or JL wasn't willing to take the risk on a player that hadn't played in 3-4 months when it was a must win game.

When round one rolls around I expect him to still be in our best 30-odd, maybe in the team if we have enough injuries but I don't expect him to be playing the same role next year.

It's a lot harder to get out of the team whilst its winning than losing. We dropped Banfield earlier in the season when things weren't going as well.

Also think if you pick any of Brisbane's worst 6-8 players in the Grand Final and replace them with Banfield they still win that game easily. Our upper mid-tier getting better will take us the next step. Our depth players aren't that far behind the best teams if at all.

 

[DragoDelph]

 

[Footskill]

Think a large reason why he kept getting games was because he was actually doing okay and/or JL wasn't willing to take the risk on a player that hadn't played in 3-4 months when it was a must win game.

When round one rolls around I expect him to still be in our best 30-odd, maybe in the team if we have enough injuries but I don't expect him to be playing the same role next year.

It's a lot harder to get out of the team whilst its winning than losing. We dropped Banfield earlier in the season when things weren't going as well.

Also think if you pick any of Brisbane's worst 6-8 players in the Grand Final and replace them with Banfield they still win that game easily. Our upper mid-tier getting better will take us the next step. Our depth players aren't that far behind the best teams if at all.

This misconception perpetuated that anyone saying banners is best 23 or let alone any of the 6-8 bottom players should be a lock even before a ball is bounce is ridiculous. Also that he is JLs favourite and he'd never get dropped.

Don't think he was even selected in the preseason indigenous game last year. Got dropped after the demons game, kicked 4 at peel and made it back in as a sub in the GWS game. Came on kicked a goal and was sub again for the dogs game. Performed well when coops went off early and was part of the defensive team that had a good run. Had solid games against the pies and dogs game so deservedly kept his spot. There isn't any conspiracy theory or illogic reasons behind it

Will he make it into the team in 2026.. it'll be harder, which is a good thing with competition for spots . If he does remain in defense, which I think he will, he now has a preseason to further develop in the role and perhaps rather than purely defensive may add an attacking part to his game. However, like any of the players, he should be given the opportunity to prove himself and not be discredited or written off

 

[DragoDelph]

 

[Tonga Bob]

39? Snowing over here. Come train in that.

 

[largebus]

Hope Judd's family are okay with the fires in Geraldton

 

[Docker82]

This misconception perpetuated that anyone saying banners is best 23 or let alone any of the 6-8 bottom players should be a lock even before a ball is bounce is ridiculous. Also that he is JLs favourite and he'd never get dropped.

Don't think he was even selected in the preseason indigenous game last year. Got dropped after the demons game, kicked 4 at peel and made it back in as a sub in the GWS game. Came on kicked a goal and was sub again for the dogs game. Performed well when coops went off early and was part of the defensive team that had a good run. Had solid games against the pies and dogs game so deservedly kept his spot. There isn't any conspiracy theory or illogic reasons behind it

Will he make it into the team in 2026.. it'll be harder, which is a good thing with competition for spots . If he does remain in defense, which I think he will, he now has a preseason to further develop in the role and perhaps rather than purely defensive may add an attacking part to his game. However, like any of the players, he should be given the opportunity to prove himself and not be discredited or written off

It's why most off seasons I barely participate in the best 23 thread in terms of actually putting a team out there.

Pre season being both training and scratch matches will make a fair difference on who plays out of those ranked 16-30 on our list.

What we need however is some of the guys that aren't droppable but aren't A Graders to take the next step. Dropping Banfield and replacing him with a slightly better player won't make much difference at all.

 

[King Huskii]

This misconception perpetuated that anyone saying banners is best 23 or let alone any of the 6-8 bottom players should be a lock even before a ball is bounce is ridiculous. Also that he is JLs favourite and he'd never get dropped.

Don't think he was even selected in the preseason indigenous game last year. Got dropped after the demons game, kicked 4 at peel and made it back in as a sub in the GWS game. Came on kicked a goal and was sub again for the dogs game. Performed well when coops went off early and was part of the defensive team that had a good run. Had solid games against the pies and dogs game so deservedly kept his spot. There isn't any conspiracy theory or illogic reasons behind it

Will he make it into the team in 2026.. it'll be harder, which is a good thing with competition for spots . If he does remain in defense, which I think he will, he now has a preseason to further develop in the role and perhaps rather than purely defensive may add an attacking part to his game. However, like any of the players, he should be given the opportunity to prove himself and not be discredited or written off

He lacks skill especially by foot

 

[Spirit Level]

It's pretty simple to me...

BB as courageous, flexible, team-oriented depth

BB as a lock in our best 23 every week

Yeah pretty much this, not sure what is so hard to understand about this

 

[serial_thrilla]

So anyway…

Only 40?
Sturt has a leave pass. Name and shame the other two!

A quick glance at the photos, and I didn't see BCox, Switta, Oscar, MCox, or Murphy.

 

[Piggy Smalls]

He lacks skill especially by foot

Slow decision making seems to be his biggest issue. Most of his cat-10s are when he gets caught in two minds and then takes the third of two options.
He's not a bad left foot kick but has no right foot.

 

[Channels]

He lacks skill especially by foot

Maybe relook at the Collingwood game and his kick to Young.

 

[Footskill]

Slow decision making seems to be his biggest issue. Most of his cat-10s are when he gets caught in two minds and then takes the third of two options.
He's not a bad left foot kick but has no right foot.

Can't disagree with that. Seems the errors come when he has too much time or under less pressure. Maybe trying too hard to find best option or over thinks it. When he has just taken the first option to switch the kick or handball in close he usually pulls it off

Had quite a few good defensive acts in this game vs dogs 24, where he just had to go

 

[s_wd6]

Did the Yank get sacked already?

 

[Footskill]

He lacks skill especially by foot

BS. He has hit quite a few difficult switch kicks (not just the pies game) or kicks into fwd where they've hit the mark. He isn't Young by foot but could say the majority in the team are not either

 

[2big2strom]

regardless of whether Banners is B23 in 2026 or not, he is living permanently in some of your minds, rent free (and in this economy he is absolutely winning on that deal)

 

[go_the_dockers]

Did the Yank get sacked already?

View attachment 2489047

Collingwood finished year later.

He may get another week or 2

 

[E Shed]

Can't disagree with that. Seems the errors come when he has too much time or under less pressure. Maybe trying too hard to find best option or over thinks it. When he has just taken the first option to switch the kick or handball in close he usually pulls it off

Had quite a few good defensive acts in this game vs dogs 24, where he just had to go

He was good (Banners). So was everyone really. Great efforts in there.
I laughed at Erasmus, Oh shit moment and then "I know give it to Reid" (who's completely covered) who promptly pulls off one of his magic over the head pinpoint handballs.

 

[Sherriff Incorporated]

Belated training report here. Most of the squad out today bar Mason Cox

46

Mason Cox

Age

34

Ht

211cm

Wt

110kg

Pos.

F/R

Career

Season

Last 5

D

8.7

2star

K

5.2

2star

HB

3.5

3star

M

4.0

4star

T

1.6

4star

G

1.2

4star

D

6.0

1star

K

3.0

1star

HB

3.0

2star

M

2.3

2star

T

0.3

1star

G

1.0

4star

D

9.0

3star

K

5.4

2star

HB

3.6

3star

M

2.6

3star

T

2.4

4star

G

1.8

5star

and a few others but hard to work out players with so many wearing hats (Including Davies) Bolton, Brayshaw, Ryan and Cox running laps only.

Michael Walters

10

Michael Walters

Age

34

Ht

176cm

Wt

77kg

Pos.

Fwd

Career

Season

Last 5

D

17.2

4star

K

11.0

4star

HB

6.2

4star

M

3.9

4star

T

2.9

4star

G

1.7

5star

D

20.9

5star

K

11.8

5star

HB

9.1

5star

M

3.6

4star

T

3.3

4star

G

1.0

4star

D

13.0

4star

K

9.4

4star

HB

3.6

3star

M

4.4

4star

T

1.8

4star

G

0.8

4star

was in the stands and was happy to chat and answer polite questions. He has a job with the WA Football Commission helping out NGA's which sounds like a role he'd be well suited to. He also said he was wrapt when we picked up Leon Kicket who he has a strong family connection with. He said he thought Leon should have gone way earlier in the draft due to his talent. Id agree judging by what I watched today. Leon had some terrific moments including kicking a couple of goals and also a fantastic run down tackle of Cooper Simpson. After the tackle Serong came over to enthusiastically say well done. I wouldn't worry about his 20 metre sprint time that a was decent without being elite. He has fantastic speed on the football field.

Sweid is already a fantastic tackler for such a young player aa he is already strong enough to tackle at an elite level. His speed and skills looked great today with a couple of terrific hand passes setting up goals. He could play early if he can mover past Dudley who also had some great moments today. Dudley's slimmed down a fair bit since last season.
.
Found out some info outside of just observations talking to other watchers. We won't be running any 2km's under our strength and condition boss doesn't think that 2km's relate to football running in games so instead we'd be doing a ton of repeat sprints. Which is why today there was a massive beep test involving two groups. One of the groups was won by Jarren Carr and in the other group Freddy and Wagner dominated. Wagner went way longer than any other player and looks like he's put in a ton of running since the season ended. His efforts in the beep tests were absolutely superb. He also dominated some brief match sim play with his speed and endurance playing mostly on a wing.

Murphy Reid in the midfield was exceptional in the brief match sims today. He looked super quick off the mark and like he'd trained hard since the break.

Amiss looked terrific out there today too. He's definitely leaner and quicker since last season. He kicked quite a few goals leading when being manned by Hugh Davies.

Chapman also looked great. Super quick and mobile. Im not sure if he was playing high half back or wing in match sims.

Draper's definitely put on some muscle and he too looked terrific today. I think he'll bounce back in 2026.

We definitely played on more from half back in the training sims for what it's worth. McVee looks like hell be a very good addition to our team next season judging by his efforts today.

The only player I would describe as struggling today would be Walker who seemed to lack a bit of confidence but overall it was a great session given the heat and we are definitely doing a few different things than previous preseasons. l

 

[Ysaye]

Belated training report here. Most of the squad out today bar Mason Cox and a few others but hard to work out players with so many wearing hats (Including Davies) Bolton, Brayshaw, Ryan and Cox running laps only.

Michael Walters was in the stands and was happy to chat and answer polite questions. He has a job with the WA Football Commission helping out NGA's which sounds like a role he'd be well suited to. He also said he was wrapt when we picked up Leon Kicket who he has a strong family connection with. He said he thought Leon should have gone way earlier in the draft due to his talent. Id agree judging by what I watched today. Leon had some terrific moments including kicking a couple of goals and also a fantastic run down tackle of Cooper Simpson. After the tackle Serong came over to enthusiastically say well done. I wouldn't worry about his 20 metre sprint time that a was decent without being elite. He has fantastic speed on the football field.

Sweid is already a fantastic tackler for such a young player aa he is already strong enough to tackle at an elite level. His speed and skills looked great today with a couple of terrific hand passes setting up goals. He could play early if he can mover past Dudley who also had some great moments today. Dudley's slimmed down a fair bit since last season.
.
Found out some info outside of just observations talking to other watchers. We won't be running any 2km's under our strength and condition boss doesn't think that 2km's relate to football running in games so instead we'd be doing a ton of repeat sprints. Which is why today there was a massive beep test involving two groups. One of the groups was won by Jarren Carr and in the other group Freddy and Wagner dominated. Wagner went way longer than any other player and looks like he's put in a ton of running since the season ended. His efforts in the beep tests were absolutely superb. He also dominated some brief match sim play with his speed and endurance playing mostly on a wing.

Murphy Reid in the midfield was exceptional in the brief match sims today. He looked super quick off the mark and like he'd trained hard since the break.

Amiss looked terrific out there today too. He's definitely leaner and quicker since last season. He kicked quite a few goals leading when being manned by Hugh Davies.

Chapman also looked great. Super quick and mobile. Im not sure if he was playing high half back or wing in match sims.

Draper's definitely put on some muscle and he too looked terrific today. I think he'll bounce back in 2026.

We definitely played on more from half back in the training sims for what it's worth. McVee looks like hell be a very good addition to our team next season judging by his efforts today.

The only player I would describe as struggling today would be Walker who seemed to lack a bit of confidence but overall it was a great session given the heat and we are definitely doing a few different things than previous preseasons. l

Thankyou for the report; may I ask where you thought Draper was playing positionally?

 

[Sherriff Incorporated]

Thankyou for the report; may I ask where you thought Draper was playing positionally?

Matchg sim was very short but he appeared to be in defence the whole time.