Training Training updates 2026.

[Chunky Steak]

Bit of Nick about how smooth his action is

You know what, I read what you said and thought yeah nah, can't be.

But there it is. The way he moved away and stabbed at the footy with the arm positioned the way it was did make me think of Nick.

Does that mean he's Nick 2.0, obviously not. But it's a neat observation. Nice!

 

[Jen2310]

Here is another one of Jai, first vid. Eyes on the ball, first instinct to spoil

 

[manicpie]

Here is another one of Jai, first vid. Eyes on the ball, first instinct to spoil

Sexy Sax looks really good

 

[Jen2310]

Sexy Sax looks really good

He's got some skill. You can see why they would have liked him on the list.

 

[Chunky Steak]

Please, please, please let this be Reef's year.

 

[Jen2310]

Training - December 3.

Players on track -

• Lippa
• JDG
• IQ
• Maynard
• Elliott
• Schultz
• Pendles
• McStay
• Perryman
• DeMattia
• DC
• Parker
• Allan
• Frampton
• Prindable
• TJ
• Smit
• Steene
• Sidey
• Ryan
• Crisp
• Reef
• Cochran
• Membrey
• West
• Moore
• Swadling
• Sullivan
• Buller
• Nick D
• Harrison
• McCarthy
• Howe
• Hayes
• Howes
• Anderson
• Saxena
• Long
• Steele

+ There was focus on transtition - Whether that was from F50 or D50, even stoppage. Quick handballs was also a focus in today's session, through transition as they moved up the course of the ground.

+ It was nice to see Reef participating more in drills, rather than just running. He's now at the back end to his ACL recovery. Into month 9 post ACL.

+ Out of the draftees today, Saxena was the one that caught the eye. His skills, vision, skills and movement. He has a nice kick on him too, field kick and not just kicking for goal.
He's so smooth with the way he moves. You can understand why they wanted him on the list.

+ Moore continued to do some running as he recovers from his own injury.
Other rehabbers;
Houston

Hill briefly came outside and did a walk around the track before going inside
Josh, must have something; saw him made a appearance, as he was seen leaving toward the carpark with maybe a medico or trainer.
Beau stepped out as well, in a smaller version (just covering his ankle now) of a moon boot, but he's clearly a little while away before participating in any training. Maybe post xmas.

 

[granniewolf]

Hill briefly came outside and did a walk around the track before going inside

Does Bobby Hill have an injury?

 

[BillyElliott]

 

[BillyElliott]

 

[Harry O]

Does Bobby Hill have an injury?

Very worrying if not

 

[Copeland]

This kid kicks the ball really well too for a small forward

Is he training in the back line or was that just a drill?

 

[jmac70]

Very worrying if not

Ease up champ.

 

[magpiewarrior]

Ease up champ.

Is it time to panic yet.

 

[WanderingDude]

What really worries me is Hills state of mind. Imagine playing, signing, and stating he wants to play for Collingwood. Just how do you begin to deal with that level of stupidity.

 

[domus]

Are we nearly there yet? How many more sleeps?

 

[watt price tully]

Wow that is so good from Q.

This just dropped on FB from Annabele Gee.


Conditions – training commenced around 9.45 under an unblemished brilliant ultra-blue sky with the arena bathed in sunshine with the building heat tempered by a slight breeze. It was certainly warmer on the pavilion side which was almost totally roped off due to the preparations for Hall of Fame festivities tonight. Some fans attired in black and white Magpie gear remained there possibly trying to assess how crush worthy the newbies are.



Who was in the infirmary? Houston, Moore and Howes. They all did quite a lot of running and some agility walk. Later Hill was walking laps with a trainer. Houston is recovering from hip surgery, Moore from a shoulder clean-up, and he also carried a broken finger issue for most of last year. These players are expected to eschew physical contact during the pre-Christmas phase. Nick and McStay later in the session moved to the rehab area to continue their training.



Who was missing? Beau who is not likely to be in full training until well after the festive season. Josh D. didn’t make an appearance either. Track watchers discussed his impending nuptials but it’s more likely tied to some minor niggle. He may well have been going through his paces inside.



What were the players engaged in? It was a customary Wednesday focus on skills through a variety of drills – lots of stations work wherein players were segregated into rotating groups with close-in handball, evasive work, breaking tackles and laying off to others prominent. There was also so marking of high balls kicked without some of the usual duelling between pairs. After the sporadic kicking which was part of the initial warm-up, there was quite a bit of work involved being evasive between cones while running at high speed.



There were some general whole ball movement drills which allowed onlookers to monitor the skills, pace and cohesion of the group. One suggests that ostensibly the game plan is in its inchoate stage but more will be revealed when the fitness base becomes more established and consolidated with all players on board. Maybe we will see a tweak here and there but there wasn’t the usual ingrained pattern of play evident that emerges later in pre-season and is repeated in sessions throughout the season proper.



The fitness test for the five year plus players was held with IQ who looked in sensational shape emerging as the winner ahead of Long and Harvey Harrison.



Observations of players on their return to ‘school’ or on first sighting in the flesh:



Prindable – on first viewing he looks to have a mature body and he demonstrated some speed and nifty movements while evading players during drills. Depending on the state of the seasoned personnel injury wise etc. he surely is a chance to debut.



Hayes – has discernibly built up in the upper body without sacrificing pace based on how he was moving in both the drills and the whole ground movement phase.



Swaddling – another with a reasonably mature looking body who looks to have an appetite for finding the ball. Is tipped to perhaps start up forward before rotating into the middle depending on availability of others.



Anderson – wearing the number of Checkers it struck one that he looks as big from afar and he’s a mid. Being an older addition to the list he is probably expected to make a debut and he looks a likely type moving with alacrity and looking strong in contests.



Reef – looks very fit and sound at this juncture (touch wood) and is physique bears the hallmarks of many gym sessions. He may vie with Howe for the third tall if form and fitness warrant.



Smit – looks like a young beast and strength should not be an issue for him going forward with the only concern being that he doesn’t become elephantine with his beefed up frame given that being nimble is not one of his attributes.

Steene – he also looked lean and keen and moved well in drills and ground movement stages.



Harrison – good to see him also looking in fine fettle and handling the ball with confidence and he doesn’t appear to have lost any of his zip judging from his movements today. Of course his performance in the fitness test is suggestive of a promising tank which might put him in midfield consideration if the other required traits are evident.

Saxena – looks to have a lot of toe and his kicking skills were on display. Might be a late developer in terms of being ready to graduate to the highest level but looks to have something to work with. Would be a great story if he made the grade.



Pendles – was wearing Houston’s number, is sporting a considerable tan and is moving one suspects better than most guys about to turn thirty-eight and this mobility is matched by training with the enthusiasm of the young pups just learning their trade.



McCarthy – has a lot of growing into his body to do and it’s apodictic that we won’t see him this year in the seniors. I believe he even concedes this acknowledging that he’s a work in progress.



Cochran – looks to have that wiry frame which has now put on some meat but presents as someone who could be a possibility for the third defensive tall or even as a stringy wingman.



Tew – after his late season injuries it was heartening to see him moving strongly which matched a frame slowly filling out.



Next Wednesday I will further monitor the above and add some more to the list.



Apropos the discussion today concerning who might make way for any of the neophytes, one I’d be considering is Crisp if his form tails off. He appeared to lose some kicking depth last year and maybe some of his nippiness in general terms. He rarely was the catalyst for some of our great surges and maybe slightly on the wane. Thus, Fly has to make him accountable form wise.

Membrey would certainly be another as he always struck the fans as someone recruited for the short-term.



The likes of Howe, Sidey and Pendles may even be afforded some rests during the season to preserve their bodies.



As is usual at the beginning of pre-season most look in tip-top shape and we will undoubtedly observe that some of the bulk gained in the gym will disappear when players undertake some of the gruelling running which characterises this time of the year.

Yes I too thought it was apodictic re McCarthy. ( means beyond dispute, clearly established) acc to the dictionary.

 

[Juan Ide]

Are we nearly there yet? How many more sleeps?

Yes, almost there, sweetheart. Why don't you just shut your eyes and have a little nap, and daddy will wake you up when we get there...

 

[Kappa]

In last week’s first to fourth years edition, 2025 mid-season draftee Roan Steele took out the test, while today’s pack was headlined by last pre-season’s champion Isaac Quaynor.

Going up by 0.5km/h every 30 seconds, the assigned squad ramped up their cadence and subsequent breathing rate as the minutes begin to stack up, with players eventually dropping out to reveal a final five of Harry Perryman, Quaynor, Long, Sidebottom and Harrison.

Harrison saw off Perryman and Sidebottom, before succumbing to the demands of the test shortly after himself, leaving only Long and Quaynor to battle it out.

Despite digging deep, Long can’t quite hold on as reigning champion Quaynor took out the title again, surviving until the 23km/h stage.

Remarkable effort by Sidey to still be in the final mix of the test. I eagerly await HHH (Harrisons) return to senior football, he's a real talent and should allow McCreery to continue to build midfield minutes as HHH resumes a half forward role.

I would like to read more on the forgotten man, #28,2022 Draftee Jaykob Ryan. His contract runs out this year, so surely, he's going to be banging down the door to reclaim a starting senior spot. I'd love to see him trialled on the wing.

How long has Jiath been injured for? is it the same injury that kept him out of the VFL?

 

[Harry O]

One watch on Prindable is he chronically left sided like HDM. Hard to make it if you are

 

[Anzacday]

One watch on Prindable is he chronically left sided like HDM. Hard to make it if you are

Seriously?
There are many players in a similar boat.
Prindles learning from Pendles will be a thing of beauty.
PS: At least let him play a game before you pot him too much.

 

[Dead Eye Didak]

One watch on Prindable is he chronically left sided like HDM. Hard to make it if you are

Prindable will be a good player. Just looks a natural footballer. As long as he can hit targets with that left foot, who cares what he does with right peg...

 

[Dtennent94]

Would an SOO game count towards AFL “games played”?

 

[Vankri]

One watch on Prindable is he chronically left sided like HDM. Hard to make it if you are

When’s the last time you’ve seen Maynard kick the ball properly on his right?

 

[neilk]

Please, please, please let this be Reef's year.

I think this has been said almost every year.

 

[WanderingDude]

I think this has been said almost every year.

So this is the year.