Training 2026 Preseason

[DragoDelph]

While the club is of course keen to grow the membership base, one of the aims of this strategy is to better strengthen the links between the club and existing fans.

 

[DragoDelph]

While not a public whinger, the club is very vocal behind the scenes around umpiring, rules, and equity in fixture and travel.

Very happy with the Greg Swann appointment. Very common sense and aiming to simplify the rules, especially so it’s easier to umpire.

There will always be discrepancies and issues, and we’ll raise them. At them same time, we just need to get on with the job on field. Be good enough to have it not matter.

 

[DragoDelph]

Bruce expects to play a similar role as this year, with longer stints on the middle.

Impressed by Sweid

 

[Paracleet]

Working on more fan engagement and inner sanctum opportunities.

Cheer squad is a HUGE focus for 26.

Tried to negotiate with Optus for physical cards, would not budge for security and financial reasons.

Ticketmaster integration into the club app won’t log you out every 5 minutes. Should be 6 months.
Been very vocal on getting the afl up to international standards with Ticketmaster. (They were miles behind).

Why do Optus allow WACA membership cards then I wonder?

 

[Paracleet]

AFL has reduced the allowed number of themed jumpers for the year.
Anzac Day and indigenous are locked in. Club can can then choose 2 more.

(We’ve had the option of 3-4 in the past).

Have decide what to drop out of stealth, starlight or retro.

The round/theme still exists, just the jumper goes.

Why did they do that? I mean what's it to them how many theme jumpers people have? Wierd.

 

[DragoDelph]

Why did they do that? I mean what's it to them how many theme jumpers people have? Wierd.

Yeah, that was odd.

I was hoping for more. Would love a purple hands version, like the kids wear in Broome / Kimberley 9s

 

[DragoDelph]

Why do Optus allow WACA membership cards then I wonder?

Maybe the waca have agreed to pay the cost of issuing new cards if there’s a breach?

Be interesting to see if it continues. Optus is moving to those dynamic barcodes next year so screenshots will mo longer work

 

[Spirit Level]

Maybe the waca have agreed to pay the cost of issuing new cards if there’s a breach?

Be interesting to see if it continues. Optus is moving to those dynamic barcodes next year so screenshots will mo longer work

That is so dumb, i should be able to screenshot my barcode to someone if i want, it's my ****en barcode

 

[The Feeder Club]

Oh good, we now have a secret weapon. That's reassuring
Is it one of theos ones that he'd love to tell us what it is, but if he did he'd have to kill us?

 

[democritus]

Sorry to interrupt with a training report.

I only managed to catch the last hour or so after an appt so I won’t really be able to comment too much on who was absent.

We have resumed Wednesday training at freo oval, which personally I love. None of the grumpy old man brigade at Cockburn who seem intent to see the negatives and loudly state them in front of players.

I arrived just before 10 and as I was walking in saw a bunch of players including Pearce and Sweid heading into the Spring Into Fitness Gym presumably to do some cross training/boxing.

Sweid is a nugget and with a few pre seasons will be a unit.

Players had broken into various line drills by the time I arrived. I took the opportunity to watch the defenders given the recent commentary on our change of ball movement and debate about our make up down there. Interestingly Wagner was positioned in the backline group, I was hoping he would play wing this season but it could just be more positional flexibility as he was a mr fix it this year. I was also hoping to see Chapman possibly trialled further up the ground, but he’s firmly entrenched as a defender it seems. Also in the group was worner, Simpson, Mcvee, Clark, Ryan, O Mac and Ollie Murphy

The backline drills were emphasising transition. The first drill involved being corralled and nailing a kick. Simpson had the best side step of the group, with most players being pushed wide and making relatively safe/predictable passes. I really hope cooper makes it into our team given the extended bench, not only is he evasive and quick but he was the only player who nailed every pass; flat and bullet like.

The kicking skills were pretty scratchy on the whole, punctuated with a few really nice corridor kicks that came off. Clearly the intent is to play more aggressive out of D 50, now is the time to make errors and get comfy doing so.

Drills were broken up by group shuttle runs and goal kicking practice.

Got to see a lot more of the squad in the runs. I’ll comment that Dudley looks more defined and has taken his off season seriously. Others have mentioned this by Amiss does look trimmer, hoping that this reflects a change in how we have been using him in our forward line.

I won’t comment much on the goal kicking, from far away it’s hard to make much sense of, however Voss does celebrate hard in training so expect more prancing pony moments next season.

Some players stayed back to practice some skills. What caught my eye was Serong practing his kicking into the forward 50 to Amiss, trying to honour the lead with his kicks. Nice to see Caleb recognising an area to improve on, particularly as he has a high volume of inside 50 kicks. Likewise, working with Jye who with his more streamlined body looks less intent on wrestling and leading into space Ala Jack Gunston

19

Jack Gunston

Age

34

Ht

193cm

Wt

86kg

Pos.

Fwd

Career

Season

Last 5

D

15.5

4star

K

10.5

4star

HB

5.0

4star

M

5.7

5star

T

2.2

4star

G

1.9

5star

D

10.6

3star

K

8.0

3star

HB

2.6

2star

M

4.3

4star

T

1.7

3star

G

1.6

5star

D

11.2

3star

K

7.0

3star

HB

4.2

4star

M

3.2

4star

T

2.6

4star

G

0.6

3star

or Jeremy Cameron

5

Jeremy Cameron

Age

32

Ht

196cm

Wt

94kg

Pos.

Fwd

Career

Season

Last 5

D

12.5

3star

K

9.0

3star

HB

3.4

3star

M

5.4

5star

T

1.6

4star

G

2.6

5star

D

10.0

3star

K

7.1

3star

HB

2.9

2star

M

4.6

4star

T

2.0

3star

G

1.9

5star

D

8.2

2star

K

5.0

2star

HB

3.2

3star

M

4.6

5star

T

2.4

4star

G

2.0

5star

style.

A few players also practicing on the marking bags including Voss, Chapman and Kickett. Kickett can fly but his timing was a bit off. Definitely see the athletic traits that can really translate to AFL, I get the sense that his selection will go down as another Walls special. Also saw Young working hard on his centre clearance work with a trainer; cannot understate how important young completing a full pre season is to our team.

Can’t comment too much on the midfield make up as was stationed with the defenders. What I will say based on the groups today it seems like our wings are likely to come from NOD, sharp, Johnson and O’Meara. Doesn’t seem like we are trialling any significant positional changes at all.

 

[Sully90]

Why did they do that? I mean what's it to them how many theme jumpers people have? Wierd.

AFL hate creativity in their own merch. Always have done.

 

[malpaso]

What I will say based on the groups today it seems like our wings are likely to come from NOD, sharp, Johnson and O’Meara. Doesn’t seem like we are trialling any significant positional changes at all.

Hoping that Sharp is over his shin splints issue. As a pure winger, we'd be significantly boosted by having him at 100% then only need to patch up one side.

 

[Eski3]

Noone should take anything at all from anything that any club says at any AGM about how they plan to win a premiership. Club statements are literally just marketing

It's funny when the media talk about when a club has a "5 year plan" or whatever. Who gives a ****? Spoiler alert - literally every single club in the league is trying to win a premiership in the next 5 years

 

[2012]

Why doesn't even one just agree to disagree...



... and then get down to training tomorrow and give us all I nice long debrief.

I think "relief" is the word you are after.

 

[Taylor]

Just keep it hidden under your jacket please.

 

[Eski3]

Sorry to interrupt with a training report.

I only managed to catch the last hour or so after an appt so I won’t really be able to comment too much on who was absent.

We have resumed Wednesday training at freo oval, which personally I love. None of the grumpy old man brigade at Cockburn who seem intent to see the negatives and loudly state them in front of players.

I arrived just before 10 and as I was walking in saw a bunch of players including Pearce and Sweid heading into the Spring Into Fitness Gym presumably to do some cross training/boxing.

Sweid is a nugget and with a few pre seasons will be a unit.

Players had broken into various line drills by the time I arrived. I took the opportunity to watch the defenders given the recent commentary on our change of ball movement and debate about our make up down there. Interestingly Wagner was positioned in the backline group, I was hoping he would play wing this season but it could just be more positional flexibility as he was a mr fix it this year. I was also hoping to see Chapman possibly trialled further up the ground, but he’s firmly entrenched as a defender it seems. Also in the group was worner, Simpson, Mcvee, Clark, Ryan, O Mac and Ollie Murphy

The backline drills were emphasising transition. The first drill involved being corralled and nailing a kick. Simpson had the best side step of the group, with most players being pushed wide and making relatively safe/predictable passes. I really hope cooper makes it into our team given the extended bench, not only is he evasive and quick but he was the only player who nailed every pass; flat and bullet like.

The kicking skills were pretty scratchy on the whole, punctuated with a few really nice corridor kicks that came off. Clearly the intent is to play more aggressive out of D 50, now is the time to make errors and get comfy doing so.

Drills were broken up by group shuttle runs and goal kicking practice.

Got to see a lot more of the squad in the runs. I’ll comment that Dudley looks more defined and has taken his off season seriously. Others have mentioned this by Amiss does look trimmer, hoping that this reflects a change in how we have been using him in our forward line.

I won’t comment much on the goal kicking, from far away it’s hard to make much sense of, however Voss does celebrate hard in training so expect more prancing pony moments next season.

Some players stayed back to practice some skills. What caught my eye was Serong practing his kicking into the forward 50 to Amiss, trying to honour the lead with his kicks. Nice to see Caleb recognising an area to improve on, particularly as he has a high volume of inside 50 kicks. Likewise, working with Jye who with his more streamlined body looks less intent on wrestling and leading into space Ala Jack Gunston or Jeremy Cameron style.

A few players also practicing on the marking bags including Voss, Chapman and Kickett. Kickett can fly but his timing was a bit off. Definitely see the athletic traits that can really translate to AFL, I get the sense that his selection will go down as another Walls special. Also saw Young working hard on his centre clearance work with a trainer; cannot understate how important young completing a full pre season is to our team.

Can’t comment too much on the midfield make up as was stationed with the defenders. What I will say based on the groups today it seems like our wings are likely to come from NOD, sharp, Johnson and O’Meara. Doesn’t seem like we are trialling any significant positional changes at all.

God I missed these

 

[Schauermann]

It was so much fun when some time Carlton announced how many premierships they plan to win over the next years.

Never understood why we did repeat that mistake and look like idiots now as well...

Now we have to win the next 17 in a row to make a statement and rid us of that stain.

 

[pK75]

Sorry to interrupt with a training report.

I only managed to catch the last hour or so after an appt so I won’t really be able to comment too much on who was absent.

We have resumed Wednesday training at freo oval, which personally I love. None of the grumpy old man brigade at Cockburn who seem intent to see the negatives and loudly state them in front of players.

I arrived just before 10 and as I was walking in saw a bunch of players including Pearce and Sweid heading into the Spring Into Fitness Gym presumably to do some cross training/boxing.

Sweid is a nugget and with a few pre seasons will be a unit.

Players had broken into various line drills by the time I arrived. I took the opportunity to watch the defenders given the recent commentary on our change of ball movement and debate about our make up down there. Interestingly Wagner was positioned in the backline group, I was hoping he would play wing this season but it could just be more positional flexibility as he was a mr fix it this year. I was also hoping to see Chapman possibly trialled further up the ground, but he’s firmly entrenched as a defender it seems. Also in the group was worner, Simpson, Mcvee, Clark, Ryan, O Mac and Ollie Murphy

The backline drills were emphasising transition. The first drill involved being corralled and nailing a kick. Simpson had the best side step of the group, with most players being pushed wide and making relatively safe/predictable passes. I really hope cooper makes it into our team given the extended bench, not only is he evasive and quick but he was the only player who nailed every pass; flat and bullet like.

The kicking skills were pretty scratchy on the whole, punctuated with a few really nice corridor kicks that came off. Clearly the intent is to play more aggressive out of D 50, now is the time to make errors and get comfy doing so.

Drills were broken up by group shuttle runs and goal kicking practice.

Got to see a lot more of the squad in the runs. I’ll comment that Dudley looks more defined and has taken his off season seriously. Others have mentioned this by Amiss does look trimmer, hoping that this reflects a change in how we have been using him in our forward line.

I won’t comment much on the goal kicking, from far away it’s hard to make much sense of, however Voss does celebrate hard in training so expect more prancing pony moments next season.

Some players stayed back to practice some skills. What caught my eye was Serong practing his kicking into the forward 50 to Amiss, trying to honour the lead with his kicks. Nice to see Caleb recognising an area to improve on, particularly as he has a high volume of inside 50 kicks. Likewise, working with Jye who with his more streamlined body looks less intent on wrestling and leading into space Ala Jack Gunston or Jeremy Cameron style.

A few players also practicing on the marking bags including Voss, Chapman and Kickett. Kickett can fly but his timing was a bit off. Definitely see the athletic traits that can really translate to AFL, I get the sense that his selection will go down as another Walls special. Also saw Young working hard on his centre clearance work with a trainer; cannot understate how important young completing a full pre season is to our team.

Can’t comment too much on the midfield make up as was stationed with the defenders. What I will say based on the groups today it seems like our wings are likely to come from NOD, sharp, Johnson and O’Meara. Doesn’t seem like we are trialling any significant positional changes at all.

More of this please a less debate on 5 year plans.
Must admit I’m a little disappointed they aren’t trialling some fresh faces on the wing, guess we’ll see more of that later when we are doing the full field match sims

 

[FreoRicci]

AFL has reduced the allowed number of themed jumpers for the year.
Anzac Day and indigenous are locked in. Club can can then choose 2 more.

(We’ve had the option of 3-4 in the past).

Have decide what to drop out of stealth, starlight or retro.

The round/theme still exists, just the jumper goes.

Stealth out please
Just give us a white away purple anchor guernsey. Then don’t do any more retro.

 

[DQ 4EVER]

Stealth out please
Just give us a white away purple anchor guernsey. Then don’t do any more retro.

Love the stealth
Currently thinking Starlight jumper could go. Of course, I love our Starlight association & long may it continue, but from just the look of the jumper, I'm all for stealth & no to the starlight one.
But, if it is really important to the Starlight round, I am open to having my opinion changed

 

[E Shed]

More of this please a less debate on 5 year plans.
Must admit I’m a little disappointed they aren’t trialling some fresh faces on the wing, guess we’ll see more of that later when we are doing the full field match sims

Agree.
I was mentally running it today. I have various combinations of Brayshaw, Serong, Young, Jackson, Reid, Bolton, Erasmus, Johnson, Wagner rotating through CBA's and playing attacking side wing with Sharp running all day on the other.

However I also have Frederick playing wing to allow Sweid, Murray, Kickett or some version of that to have a swing through early.

And I also want Whan trialed early as a wing although that seems less likely.

So yeah, no idea how thats all going to work but I do expect Wagner to be around the ball a lot and one Reid has a few CBA's he's going to do what he did in the forward line (make himself indispensable).

I have no room for O'Meara, just can't see that he can offer more than any of the above and sadly I've gone very cold on NOD also. Unless he can find the form he had early in the piece, pinging goals from the boundary on the run and playing with assurance.

 

[s_wd6]

The ANZAC jumper wasn’t even a thing until this year. That one can go imo.

 

[BigRang]

Love the stealth
Currently thinking Starlight jumper could go. Of course, I love our Starlight association & long may it continue, but from just the look of the jumper, I'm all for stealth & no to the starlight one.
But, if it is really important to the Starlight round, I am open to having my opinion changed

There is absolutely no way known that they’ll drop the starlight jumper. Far too good an opportunity for the club to gain a heap of positive media/PR for it to go away. The stealth jumper will be dropped.

 

[freo_leo29]

Retro might be given a rest, we have cycled through most of them now anyway

Although they probably sell a lot of jackets etc to go with it

 

[DragoDelph]

The ANZAC jumper wasn’t even a thing until this year. That one can go imo.

Not a club choice either way. :/