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Training 2026 Preseason Thread
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Bluelegs
Content Enthusiast
Questions more on the older guys now. Would be a lot to ask for Gawn to play at the same level again, May will go even further backwards. Levers form dropped off a lot last year, can he get it back? Langdon, Melksham another year older etc.
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Lord Nev
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All fair points.
I would say though - Gawn still AA last year, and rucks are overrated in terms of importance anyways. We've just been lucky.
TMac or Petty > May
Turner or Taylor > Lever
Langdon hasn't made a genuine impact for a few years IMO, and having Windsor, Langford, Lindsay, *Latrelle, *Fritsch, all as potential wing options gives us a fresh look there.
We have Mihocek, Fritsch and **Tholstrup, **McAdam all as medium forwards, Latrelle not far off that size as well, so think we have options for post-Milkshake. Add to that we probably expect a much better performing forward line with a new game style.
*Just a hunch on them as options.
**Unproven (at best), but you never know under a new coach.
Bluelegs
Content Enthusiast
Rucks aren't necessarily that important. Gawn is absolutely important to us though. Much more than a ruckman. I reckon he'll still be good though.
Langdon's defensive running is on par with ANB imo, if he slows down we will miss what he adds.
Tmac, and May are both old and slow, they will continue to get older and slower. Petty hasn't played backline in two years and his ceiling was never that high anyway. Hopefully he can transition back there and take that spot full time again.
Turner is probably our best defender but he was a mainstay in our team all last year, so a known quantity unless he gets even better. Taylor hasn't played a game.
I think it's possible we could see a bounce, youth can give an old team a new lease on life, but I think it's more likely we will be about the same from a win/loss perspective next year.
Our list makeup is a lot of young guys and old guys with not a huge amount in the middle. That's the profile of a rebuilding side that is going to be inconsistent.
That being said I think guys like Fritsch, Rivers and Kozzy will all benefit greatly from a faster style and could all have career years, but my expectations for next season are pretty low and that's fine.
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Lord Nev
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Yeah, to clarify too - I'm not expecting us to leap up the ladder, more just saying that guys like May, Langdon, Lever etc haven't really contributed that much the last few years so I'm not too concerned about them getting older tbh. I'm also hoping 'defensive running' isn't as much of a thing under King as it was Goodwin. Everyone needs to apply pressure sure, but I'm convinced one of the reasons our skills were so poor so often is because of the heavy running involved with our 'rolling zone' style of play. Seeing Van Rooyen in the backline often was a sign of that.
Honestly, taking off the black-tinted glasses for a moment, I think we'll improve this season.
I'd back us to win 10 games this year, though honestly I wouldn't be at all surprised if we finish bottom three or in the top 10 instead. It's nice to go into a year not knowing what to expect for a change.
- Of the players we lost during the off-season, Petracca is the only one we'll genuinely miss. Oliver for Steele is at worst a wash. Spargo couldn't get on the park and McVee was poor. On the flip side, while they won't be part of our next premiership tilt, Mihocek and Jiath provide something we lacked and will make the team better on balance. Having literally anyone else other than Petracca delivering the ball into forward 50 might improve our conversion anyway.
- We went 0-6 games in games decided by 8 points or less last year. Convert half of those into wins and we're immediately a midtable team as opposed to a bottom-4 team without improving anything else.
- New coach is always a bit of an unknown proposition in terms of how that translates into different fortunes on the field, but I think just playing a new style with fresh ideas is going to improve player motivation, which will hopefully translate into improved performance by itself even if it takes a while for the gameplan to properly 'click'.
- Concerns over decline of some of the older blokes, but Gawn is the only one I'm really concerned about there. May was terrible last year, and Lever was clearly unfit, so we're not missing much there if they decline further. Melksham plays a role that isn't too athletically demanding, but I'd be worried if we're as dependent on him this year as last year. We know what we're gonna get from Viney and Langdon week-in / week-out for better or worse. TMac and Salem are role-players.
- Can realistically expect improvement from some of the younger players. Lindsay hopefully over his injuries, Windsor should imrpove with more midfield time, JVR should do better with a new gameplan and Checkers there to help him out. I'm optimistic about the development of Culley and Turner. AMW, Latrelle Pickett, XT and Kentfield are wildcards who could all play a role this year. Langford a realistic shot at finishing top-3 in the b&f.
I'd back us to win 10 games this year, though honestly I wouldn't be at all surprised if we finish bottom three or in the top 10 instead. It's nice to go into a year not knowing what to expect for a change.
Yeah Lever, Petty, Fritta, JVR are four guys who we can potentially expect improvement from who's been on the list awhile. Not sure these 4 have contributed much of late and a new style/position could definitely see them give us more. The young kids including Kozzy/Riv/Culley will surely benefit with a more attacking gameplan. Windsor looks the type that could explode under an attacking style. Tholstrup as well I really want to see a jump in form. I think he's capable, but has looked quite poor mostly at senior level. Would love to see him and Kentfield playing well at senior level. Definite room for improvement from last year, but expectations by most are around the same ladder position but with obviously a more attacking gamestyle.
ray_purchase
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A very important training report from an insider over at Demonland.
Put your house on the Dees to finish top 4!!!
Put your house on the Dees to finish top 4!!!
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Bluelegs
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I can already hear Kelli Underwood screaming "Don't you just love to watch Trelly on the telly!"
MarcMaverick
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I have a drill in each ear just in case.
Lampers
Norm Smith Medallist
I popped down for a proper gander (see what I did there?) at training this morning.
Our comrades over at DL have quite a bit of good detail.
My observations:
A bit of a theme seemed to be players backing themselves more to evade opponents and take risks. They even did a funny drill where they ran with a light barbell plate weight (probably 5kg at most) in both hands, changed directions and then thrust the weight out in front a bit like a fend off.
Our comrades over at DL have quite a bit of good detail.
My observations:
- every player was in attendance.
- Viney’s leg looks pretty cooked, he was moving like an invalid.
- McAdam and Moniz-Wakefield mostly ran laps, as did Bowey. They did some light skills stuff but didn’t participate in broader drills. I overheard AMW say he hopes to be back in full training after Christmas.
- Henderson and new boy Matthews also didn’t participate in proper drills but didn’t seem to be doing the running that the other three were.
- May also did quite a bit of running towards the end and doesn’t look as lean as the others although I guess he’s always been a bigger build.
- unsurprisingly Berry’s body looks a fair way off. He looks a bit “soft” in the legs, not much upper body definition. His skills and the way he moves looks reasonable though.
- no real surprises on player positions during drills. Petty wasn’t forward. The rest you’d expect to be forward were.
- Mihocek was doing a fair amount of coaching/chatting/teaching.
- Kozzie kept trying to do too much himself, got caught several times during a quick hands movement drill.
- Latrelle has got a fair bit of scope to go on the upper body, pretty spindly arms on him.
- Taylor tries to take on players so you can see the self confidence, he’s not strong enough to break out of even light tackles yet though.
A bit of a theme seemed to be players backing themselves more to evade opponents and take risks. They even did a funny drill where they ran with a light barbell plate weight (probably 5kg at most) in both hands, changed directions and then thrust the weight out in front a bit like a fend off.
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Bluelegs
Content Enthusiast
We signed Viney for three more years
Lampers
Norm Smith Medallist
I’ll give Viney some credit, for an old injured crock he looked the most jacked of any player out there. Comfortably.We signed Viney for three more years
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Who are our small defenders in the drills? Especially since Bowey and AMW are on the injury list I would be keen to know who they have down there.
More run and dash and taking the opposition on, juts the sort of stuff we've been hoping for over the last few years.
Will happily take take a few years down the bottom to get that style up and running properly.
Lampers
Norm Smith Medallist
A good question and I didn’t pay much attention to that, but thinking back there probably weren’t many obvious small defenders.
There was a drill where they worked the ball from the backline to the forward line. It started with switching a kick deep in the backline, then predominately nonstop run and carry with hand to move the opposite wing.
I can recall Lever, Jiath, McDonald, Berry and Taylor being the ones starting it or receiving that switch kick.
So the closest to small defenders in that lot was Jiath and Taylor, neither of who are really small. They are agile types though.
I was right down one end of the ground and they ran the drill from each end. I didn’t see who was starting the drill up the other end.
Proper Gander
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I think my favourite bit is Koz looking at the ground while also listening and with a sense of pride
MarcMaverick
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Hopefully not pulling a Matt Rowell and start munching on the turf. Then again, Rowell did win a Brownlow so who knows
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I actually don't hate it if we go pretty tall down back. Bowey is already a midget and CJ/Taylor are pretty good at ground level.
Lampers
Norm Smith Medallist
On the defender talk, to be fair I didn’t see any proper defensive drills where it was genuinely a forward vs. a defender.
Not even tall vs. tall marking stuff which I’ve seen before at training.
So that made it tricky to work out who are the true defenders.
Wednesday was all about fitness drills, mobility drills and ball movement drills. Even the ball movement stuff up the wing had more players moving the ball than defending so an outnumber effectively created by run from the backline. So they weren’t ultimately delivering the ball into a realistic forward line. It was always a tall forward by himself deep who took the final mark.
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Because he's HEART and SOUL.We signed Viney for three more years
Now, if only we could find some LEGS and FEET for him.
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Ask Headless. He doesn't really need them and then he can really lean into the nickname Less
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Training (Fri, 5th Dec).
Firstly I'll say that training is much more enjoyable to watch than under Goodie. Much more full length ground stuff. And doing match sim stuff so early on in the preseason is something that wouldn't have happened before.
The general gist that I got from King was to just get the ball moving forward. If you're getting tackled, or don't see options, just handball it forward. Get the ball moving forward.
My only criticism was no goal kicking practice in the 2 hours that I was there. It's been my major criticism for years but I'm over being annoyed by this lol.
NOTES
Firstly I'll say that training is much more enjoyable to watch than under Goodie. Much more full length ground stuff. And doing match sim stuff so early on in the preseason is something that wouldn't have happened before.
The general gist that I got from King was to just get the ball moving forward. If you're getting tackled, or don't see options, just handball it forward. Get the ball moving forward.
My only criticism was no goal kicking practice in the 2 hours that I was there. It's been my major criticism for years but I'm over being annoyed by this lol.
NOTES
- Jake Bowey in a moonboot, crutches and casual clothes. Unsure on what's gone on there.
- AMW running at 90% clip around the boundary.Looks in great nick. Ripped and ready. Fingers crossed he gets opportunity this year because I think most fans love him.
- Melksham on modified training. Looks in amazing condition though. Super strong through the shoulders.
- Thomas Matthews doing rehab stuff. He is in elite condition though. Does not need any extra gym work. When his knee is ready, he is physically good to go. Strong build.
- Daniel Turner running laps at a good clip. Looks strong.
- Shane McAdam doing his usual laps. He's the only guy that is not in acceptable condition. He has some weight to lose and body fat% needs to come down. But I feel for the bloke after being injured for so long.
- Oscar Berry: super surprised with his skills . Given his bball background I expected less but his skills are probably already about average on our list which is great for a guy who hasn't even touched a footy the last few years.
- Kozzy Pickett: elite conditioning and he was the first to run to the drink station which was a good sign. But his disposal today was actually quite poor. He was busy but just sloppy by foot today.
- JVR: looks in amazing condition. A noticeable drop in weight.
- Latrelle Pickett: has what kids these days would call 'aura'. He's sure in his movements. His kicking is sound but it's his balance and agility that I'm excited to see. He was quiet in the match sim stuff but I just like the look of him.
- Xavier Lindsay: bulked up. Seems to be on a somewhat limited program. but nothing serious.
- Harvey Langford took on a tackler and hit his head and was in pain. Training looked at his jaw. He left the track early but looks to be okay.
- Gawn is in amazing shape as always. Hurt his hammy at one stage which took him from the track for a massage but did some laps afterwards so it isn't a strain or anything. I believe he left the track early but not concerned.
- Xavier Taylor: he's getting caught a bit in the match sim stuff which I actually think is a good thing. A super confident kid is now realising the level increase at afl I reckon. He'll apapt perfectly and I like his skills and size.
- Caleb Windsor was involved in a lot. His speed is noticeable. But I noticed him last pre-season and he had a poor year so I'll wait until the footy starts on him but he's looking fit and confident.
- Viney didn't train. But he took part in a fun reflexes game with Henderson, Turner and T.Matthews. It looked like a fun game and was a good way to include the guys that weren't doing the full training. Viney gave T.Matthews a joking punch in the guts so it's good to see the older and younger players connecting.
- I didn't notice Ed Langdon or Blake Howes there. Not sure what's going on there.
- Onley is a big boy. He trained hard. Disposals aren't a strength. He has penetration but seems to get the trajectory wrong sometimes. He pops them up a bit but who cares he's a 195cm mid
It'll be interesting to watch him at Casey and see what sort of impact he has. - Culley: had some really nice moments. a nice side step and goal which was one of the days highlights. Definitely would be making the coaches notice.
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