Training 2026 Preseason Thread

[Proper Gander]

Is there any word on train on players? Seen a lot already at other clubs seemingly, I feel we are always slow in this regard

Did we have our bonding camp earlier than other teams this year? I feel it’s happened before

 

[Bluelegs]

Did we have our bonding camp earlier than other teams this year? I feel it’s happened before

I won't be convinced they've bonded until I hear a story about Jai Culley telling the whole team they are selfish and shit while having a quiet beer around a campfire, or the whole team deciding to go for some impromptu skinny dipping in the middle of the night.

 

[Proper Gander]

I won't be convinced they've bonded until I hear a story about Jai Culley telling the whole team they are selfish and shit while having a quiet beer around a campfire, or the whole team deciding to go for some impromptu skinny dipping in the middle of the night.

True.

Koz playing Whitney Houston to everyone doesn’t have similar promise

 

[dazzledavey36]

Is there any word on train on players? Seen a lot already at other clubs seemingly, I feel we are always slow in this regard

Pretty sure we dont have a list spot available after taking Onley in the draft.?

 

[Crusty Demon]

Pretty sure we dont have a list spot available after taking Onley in the draft.?

I think a club is allowed 44 list spots across 3 categories. Pretty confident we had 39 prior to drafting the 5 new kids. So yeah, i think we are full.

 

[MarcMaverick]

I reckon we have a train on list just in case.

 

[Proper Gander]

I’ve just noticed I’m not really reading these threads properly and answering with random shit.

It’s taken me 10 years to notice though

 

[Lampers]

I reckon we have a train on list just in case.

Unfortunately there’s a high chance someone goes down with a long term injury in the pre-season just like McAdam and Moniz-Wakefield at the start of this year.

You’d need a few options in case of this scenario.

 

[quicksmart]

Alright, so Melbourne’s off-season has been pretty interesting. We’ve brought in Jack Steele

9

Jack Steele

Age

29

Ht

187cm

Wt

90kg

Pos.

Mid

Career

Season

Last 5

D

20.9

5star

K

8.7

3star

HB

12.2

5star

M

3.7

4star

T

6.8

5star

CL

3.6

5star

D

21.3

5star

K

10.0

4star

HB

11.3

5star

M

4.0

4star

T

5.8

5star

CL

4.6

5star

D

16.8

4star

K

5.0

2star

HB

11.8

5star

M

2.6

3star

T

6.4

5star

CL

3.6

5star

to add some grunt to the midfield, which I think is a great move given we’ve lost some big names. Brody Mihocek

41

Brody Mihocek

Age

32

Ht

192cm

Wt

99kg

Pos.

Fwd

Career

Season

Last 5

D

11.9

3star

K

8.2

3star

HB

3.7

3star

M

5.3

5star

T

2.0

4star

G

1.6

5star

D

8.4

2star

K

6.3

3star

HB

2.1

2star

M

4.3

4star

T

1.9

3star

G

1.7

5star

D

10.2

3star

K

6.4

3star

HB

3.8

3star

M

4.6

5star

T

1.8

4star

G

1.6

5star

coming in should help straighten us up forward finally a reliable target! Max Heath looks like a handy depth ruck option, and I’m keen to see what Riley Onley and Kalani White can do as young mids. The wildcard for me is Oscar Berry ex-basketballer turned defender. If he clicks, that could be a huge win for us long-term.


Overall, I reckon Steele will slot straight in and give us leadership, Mihocek will do his job, and the kids will need time but could surprise. The big question is whether this mix is enough to cover losing Oliver and Petracca. Personally, I think we’ll be competitive, but it might take a few rounds to gel. What do you guys think top 8 or still rebuilding?

 

[schmuttt]

Alright, so Melbourne’s off-season has been pretty interesting. We’ve brought in Jack Steele to add some grunt to the midfield, which I think is a great move given we’ve lost some big names. Brody Mihocek coming in should help straighten us up forward finally a reliable target! Max Heath looks like a handy depth ruck option, and I’m keen to see what Riley Onley and Kalani White can do as young mids. The wildcard for me is Oscar Berry ex-basketballer turned defender. If he clicks, that could be a huge win for us long-term.


Overall, I reckon Steele will slot straight in and give us leadership, Mihocek will do his job, and the kids will need time but could surprise. The big question is whether this mix is enough to cover losing Oliver and Petracca. Personally, I think we’ll be competitive, but it might take a few rounds to gel. What do you guys think top 8 or still rebuilding?

We finished 14th two years in a row with Oliver and Petracca - we could definitely be worse than that but I don't think anyone is expecting top 8.

 

[Demon Attack]

But what about top 10?

 

[Bluelegs]

But what about top 10?

That would be wild.

 

[I Love Lamb]

Just going to park this here until we open the 2026 Brownlow thread

 

[Demon Attack]

Move over Kysaiah, hand the keys to Culley. Draft his cousins next year to keep him happy.

 

[Bluelegs]

Laser Culley

Headless

 

[stEdy]

Move over Kysaiah, hand the keys to Culley. Draft his cousins next year to keep him happy.

"Today is a very special moment for the club, with us picking up Jaxon Culley with the same Supplemental Selection Period pick as Jai was in 2025. Jaxon comes from the Langwarrin Penguins junior football club having not had much exposed form at the highest level, but he's got a promising athletic profile and he will have a strong mentor in Jai who will help him adjust to the environment"

 

[MarcMaverick]

"Today is a very special moment for the club, with us picking up Jaxon Culley with the same Supplemental Selection Period pick as Jai was in 2025. Jaxon comes from the Langwarrin Penguins junior football club having not had much exposed form at the highest level, but he's got a promising athletic profile and he will have a strong mentor in Jai who will help him adjust to the environment"

Caleb Culley.

 

[ABray10]

Unfortunately I doubt we are troubling the top 8 for a while, hopefully we just show signs of a competitive game plan.

Don't really want to come mid-table either, could quite easily see us being perpetual 9th placers over the next 5 years if we don't finish this mini-rebuild with some more strong picks next year. Bottom 4 wouldn't be the worst outcome.

 

[stEdy]

We may as well fully shit the bed this year results wise and get a juicy pick before Tassie comes in instead of fiddling around 10th-12th*

*As long as the bed shit doesn't disenfranchise players/coaches and lead to a huge exodus

 

[mrmonkey]

I think our biggest hole is left by Trac. As others have mentioned Oliver has been under perfoming for quite some time. Steel will will definitely be a good replacement while others develop. Judd is essentially replaced with Jiath. Spargo isn't really a loss as he has been struggling to get on the park, and hasn't been great either. We haven't been able to replace Trac with someone of his experience but I think we have the personnel to cover. Overall it feels the same in terms of experience but it will definitely be a different looking team. I think we've made the right moves for the future.

 

[A11dAtP0w3R]

Move over Kysaiah, hand the keys to Culley.

Are we still doing 7-8 year deals?

 

[A11dAtP0w3R]

I'm looking forward to watching little contest and defense and trying to beat teams 130 def 125 instead of 58 def 55.

sKing era is all about enjoying watching football again, results this year are irrelevant for me if we are playing some attractive footy. Godspeed sKing.

 

[danster168]

Alright, so Melbourne’s off-season has been pretty interesting. We’ve brought in Jack Steele to add some grunt to the midfield, which I think is a great move given we’ve lost some big names. Brody Mihocek coming in should help straighten us up forward finally a reliable target! Max Heath looks like a handy depth ruck option, and I’m keen to see what Riley Onley and Kalani White can do as young mids. The wildcard for me is Oscar Berry ex-basketballer turned defender. If he clicks, that could be a huge win for us long-term.


Overall, I reckon Steele will slot straight in and give us leadership, Mihocek will do his job, and the kids will need time but could surprise. The big question is whether this mix is enough to cover losing Oliver and Petracca. Personally, I think we’ll be competitive, but it might take a few rounds to gel. What do you guys think top 8 or still rebuilding?

well we came 14th last year and just lost 2 of our best players. so 14-17th this year I think. Oscar berry won't play. He's not even fit at the moment.

also Kalani White isn't a young mid. He's a key position player?

 

[Daemon]

I must be the only person here who thinks we are actually going to improve. I think top 10 isn't unrealistic. We still have some good players and have brought in some good young talent. A change in game plan and removal of some cancers could work wonders.

 

[mrmonkey]

I must be the only person here who thinks we are actually going to improve. I think top 10 isn't unrealistic. We still have some good players and have brought in some good young talent. A change in game plan and removal of some cancers could work wonders.

I wouldn't say you're alone. I think most supporters are cautiously optimistic. It's definitely a possibility because the bottom 10 teams are mostly rubbish. We are going into the season completely not knowing what to expect, which is very different to what we've had in the last few years. That and the fact that we've been so bad for 2 years is the reason most are expecting bottom four. Also there's an element of the team taking a while to gel, might be a slow start and a good finish.