Training Preseason Training Thread - 2026

[Keys]

The below is the OG faux training report from nearly 9 years ago - often imitated but never surpassed

In the absence of Keys I went down for a trundle this morning to check them out on return. Just a few random notes I took down...

• A lot of running work again, clearly a focus even in the heat.
• Duggan looked on and was hitting targets left and right. Set for a huge 2017.
• Giles went up against Vardy in the ruck contests and I'd say that Giles has the inside running at the moment.
• Mitchell looked a class above the other midfielders bar Priddis. Just knew how to find the footy and wouldn't miss a target all session. Shuey was very quiet and seemed to be taking direction from Mitchell. Doesn't bode well for his captaincy credentials, maybe he doesn't want the gig?
• Won't say too much about it in case I was just reading too much into it, but Rioli looked as though he'd enjoyed the Christmas break a bit too much. A few of the coaches pulled him aside and they were having quite an animated conversation before Rioli was sent to do laps for the rest of the session. Good news for Le Cras, I suppose.
• Sheed kicked on his right foot for 80% of the session, I reckon. Nice to see players working on their non-preferred so readily.
• Petrie looked like he was doing a great job 'coaching' the younger forwards in between the drills. Darling in particular seemed to be following him around.
• Gee Venables has some skills. He mainly jogged laps before spending the last half hour or so on set shots - curled a few beauties from behind the boundary line at the end for a bit of fun. Hardly saw him miss a kick.
• What interested me the most was that McGovern split his time between the defenders and the forwards, could be seeing a swingman role in 2017. He was his usual dominant self down back in some match simulation drills before going head-to-head with Mackenzie in a forward role.
• Bayok is very fast - Cripps was in most of the drills with him and couldn't keep up.
• Nelson is pale as buggery and still doesn't really have the body shape you'd expect of an AFL player.
• There was a big bloke who pulled up next to me and I could have sworn it was Suma, but I'm sure I was wrong...
• Masto was the player picked to kick the goal at the end today and nailed it. Celebrations were huge.
• No sign of Cole, Parto or Hill. Couldn't tell you why.

Will upload pics later if I have time. Let me know if you have any questions!

You might wonder why I’ve put this up and stickied it

Because this is the standard all copies should be measured against and it’s a reminder of how high the bar was set

And to hopefully discourage sequels.

If you want to have a crack in my absence, go ahead but if it doesn’t equal the standard set (as judged by me), then expect

• A one week threadban for a first offence
• A two week threadban for a second offence
• A one year threadban for a third offence

Actual training reports, minus discussion, can become found here:

Training - Preseason Training Reports -2025/26

This thread has been setup for training reports only and won’t be open for replies Informative reports from the preseason thread will be copied into this thread so posters have access to the quality work from the likes of LittleFires without wading through pages of general posts

www.bigfooty.com

 

[RanaNaved]

No-one, except for this guy...



Plus, I'd argue that if you are putting a KPF coming into his fifth year, behind a draftee that's been training for literally a few weeks only, you are pretty much writing him off. Half the board didn't even want to draft CDT. Now he's displacing a 5th year player, based on hype alone.

BigFooty and massively overrating new draftees -- name a better match?

Half this board are stupid for not wanting CDT, it's basically a guarantee of a huge career.

I think J Williams can play, would've had a career in the 90s and perhaps 00s, but the game has changed and he doesn't suit it one bit unfortunately. We'll see, but I think he's either delisted or traded for a token pick at years end. I'd love to be wrong

 

[ziad]

Half this board are stupid for not wanting CDT, it's basically a guarantee of a huge career.

I think J Williams can play, would've had a career in the 90s and perhaps 00s, but the game has changed and he doesn't suit it one bit unfortunately. We'll see, but I think he's either delisted or traded for a token pick at years end. I'd love to be wrong

yep, we will see

 

[Elite Pete]

The West Training Report

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Baker - Hamstring Awareness

Sounds like the draftees are going well.

Allen increasing his pace and kicking, doesn’t sound like he will be out for all of 2026. (Lindsay mentions in training reports are down so let’s write him off)

Haven’t heard too much about the 3 mature players doing much in the match sims. Probably more focused on drills involving moving and stop the ball then winning out of a clearance.

 

[ghostbat12]

Half this board are stupid for not wanting CDT

as opposed to those who wait afterwards, to tell everyone who they should have taken.

 

[juice568]

No-one, except for this guy...



Plus, I'd argue that if you are putting a KPF coming into his fifth year, behind a draftee that's been training for literally a few weeks only, you are pretty much writing him off. Half the board didn't even want to draft CDT. Now he's displacing a 5th year player, based on hype alone.

BigFooty and massively overrating new draftees -- name a better match?

Ok. Hes behind waterman and shanahan and will be competing with reid and cdt for the 3rd tall/ruck spot. Both reid and cdt are more mobile and have a higher celing . Will be hard to see him getting consistent games.

 

[ghostbat12]

Sounds like the draftees are going well.

Allen increasing his pace and kicking, doesn’t sound like he will be out for all of 2026. (Lindsay mentions in training reports are down so let’s write him off)

Haven’t heard too much about the 3 mature players doing much in the match sims. Probably more focused on drills involving moving and stop the ball then winning out of a clearance.

they died from being in awe of Reid, duursma and CDT.

 

[RanaNaved]

as opposed to those who wait afterwards, to tell everyone who they should have taken.

Exactly

 

[Keys]

Another long session under the Perth sun with the temperature nudging 30 by the time they finished around 11.45

Missed the warm up, a-gain, and they were already in competitive drills when I arrived

Split into 3 groups with two in a competitive drill with one team transitioning the ball forward from a stoppage at half back/wing and another defending. A third group was working in a separate competitive handball drill. Teams would rotate such that each group had a couple of cracks at attacking and defending plus their stint as the third wheel group

They then were split into two larger groups for a full oval 18v18 match type sim with play starting at different locations across the ground. It was a contact drill albeit below match intensity and play stopped if a player was caught with the ball. That was the core exercise of the session and ran for over 30 minutes with occasional drink breaks

Players then broke into line groups and worked on their fitness by mimicking the type of running patterns they’d do in a game but without footballs involved

Some further skill work in groups followed by another 15 minutes of match sim, although a few players didn’t participate in this one and were replaced by coaching staff to make up the numbers

Session came to a close with a group of 17-18 players going repeat sprints at 60% pace and building up to 75%. It was pretty gruelling but good to see the likes of Kelly, Cole, Edwards, Flynn, A Reid, Long, Bazzo, Hall, Dewar, Hewett and Davis among others putting in the hard yards

A bit of skill work to end for some with Johnston, Davis and Graham the last to leave

Didn’t see Hough, Gross or Schoenberg, whilst Hutchinson I only spotted briefly on the exercise bike

Bailey Williams came up late and did a bit of work with the rucks at one point but wasn’t doing anything strenuous

Owies, Barnett and Allen continued their rehab work with the latter building up to some decent pace when he ran. Baker also joined this group for part of the session

The rest of the squad did some or all of the session - with everyone competing in the main match sim

• Duursma was good again
• Waterman warmed up separately, did the main match play only. Looks in decent nick but wasn’t overly involved
• Starcevich should settle in nicely to our backline - doing what he needs to atm without going full turbo
• Lindsay is getting a bit of the ball still but did get caught a couple of times. Good learning experience
• Yeo did Yeo things a bit in the first match sim but left soon after that finished. Is moving freely and I think he’s simply having his training loads down before ramping up closer to R1
• Ginbey warmed up with Waternan before joining in the main part of the session but then finished early
• Hewett seems to be getting the training minutes but has yet to standout much as yet. Not worried by that though as it’s good to just see him doing a proper preseason
• Reid just cruises through the middle of the ground in a promising sign he might be able to stay involved in games for longer. Laid one very strong tackle on Honey Badger
• Brockman still showing his ability to use the ball well but
• Kelly had another good session
• Long, a bit like Hewett, needs to focus on getting a full preseason into his legs
• Duggan and Cripps didn’t do the second match play but did do the first and reminded the younger players they won’t go quietly into the night. Duggan, in particular was lively out of defence
• Graham is just ticking over the way you’d expect from a seasoned campaigner
• McCarthy showing signs his run through the middle could help open things up
• Young also warned up separately but played the first match sim albeit with a do not touch cap on
• Duff-Tytler performed like that West article said. Took at least one nice contested mark and is looking at home
• Reid played ruck opposed to Flynn. More from a field positioning pov rather than competing in ruck contests as such as they didn’t really do those. Took one very good contested mark up forward and kicked accurately at goal. Is in pole position with Flynn to start as our 1-2 ruck combo
• Maric is providing a lot of back half rebounds and is looking pretty good
• Johnston looks to be enjoying himself as a forward that’s given him purpose. Will certainly be in R1
• Flynn is getting worked pretty hard by the fitness guys and is providing a presence around the ground
• Allan I didn’t notice much in match play and he was reduced to running laps in the back end of the session
• Cole was also pretty good off half back and is going to be valuable depth at worst
• Hall will be pressing for a full time mid role that’s becoming increasingly more competitive
• Bazzo is another who just needs to get a full preseason in which he is doing. Building himself a solid base to work from
• Jack Williams did most of the contact work but not all I don’t think. Wasn’t particularly noticeable
• Shanahan clunked a couple of nice marks
• Got my first look at Tylah Williams in a contact situation. Nimble with a nice kick and got involved in several passages as a HF
• Champion is coming along well as a small forward
• Davis still providing good run as a wing pushing back into defence. Did get caught in a rundown tackle from Robertson at one point though
• Rodriguez I didn’t notice much today
• Robertson is starting to warm into preseason. Made a really good tackle on Davis as well as a nice loose ball gather that brought praise from the coach. Was also wearing a do not touch hat
• Brock and Edwards both solid enough days without being overly noticeable
• Dewar had a good outing across half back. That backline is getting awfully competitive for spots
• Macrae did some of the contact stuff early before finishing the session doing rehab work on his own
• Newton was lively but less so than other sessions

One final note. I’m not sure who it was, but someone questioned whether McQualter was perhaps too nice to be a head coach. Today he let rip towards the end of the session for players not training at the correct intensity/dropping their concentration during one passage

He doesn’t bare his teeth often (first time I’d seen/ heard it tbh, but he made sure the players knew how he felt- that they need to train like it’s a match

Nice little reminder that they aren’t ****ing about and standards need to be maintained

 

[Obeanie1]

Jack Williams, Archer Reid and even Maric ahead of both of them as tall forwards.

Shanahan would be getting picked as a KP forward ahead of all three imo.

Shanahan is a pure tall forward who knows how to play forward with a very nice set shot technique.

A Reid needs to work on his set shots and may end up a ruck or defender.

Maric still finding his best position.

Jack a Fwd / ruck who needs to stake his claim.

 

[eaglevision]

Shanahan would be getting picked as a KP forward ahead of all three imo.

Shanahan is a pure tall forward who knows how to play forward with a very nice set shot technique.

A Reid needs to work on his set shots and may end up a ruck or defender.

Maric still finding his best position.

Jack a Fwd / ruck who needs to stake his claim.

That post was in reference to those three being ahead of BWilliams and Barnett, not Shanahan.

 

[Byron_Clanger]

 

[LittleFires]

Another big session to start the week as the training load continues to ramp up prior to the Christmas break, lasting over 2 and a half hours. The players were often split into their line groups in today's session doing ball movement drills specific to their position, but there were also two rounds of 18v18 match sim, with running and set shots in between.

The players came out just after 9am and got into their warm up, before moving onto some skill work and ball movement drills. At 10 the first period of match sim took place, with the group going through various scenarios - rebounding off a turnover, moving the ball out of defence, throw ins, etc.

The following hour consisted of running and ball movement drills in their line groups - the forwards practised pressuring the oppo in their back 50 on one occasion, the mids and backs practised attacking/defending ball movement out of defence among other drills.

At 11:15 there was another round of match sim work, after which about half of the squad was made to do run throughs through the middle of the ground. Most players went inside after this, with the last to leave finishing up just before 12.

Details on who did/didn't train:

• No sign of Hough or Schoenberg today
• Hutchinson came out around 10am and then spent about an hour on the exercise bike
• Gross and Bailey Williams did some work on the grandstand stairs before doing a 30 minute shift on the exercise bikes. Gross went inside after this but Williams continued doing various light ruck exercises until the end of the session
• Baker had a light session away from the main group, doing medium-pace run throughs and light skill work with the rehab group for about half an hour, finishing up before 10am
• Allen also trained away from the main group for the whole session, doing run throughs, light skill work and light agility work for about an hour. Did some time on the exercise bike towards the end of the session
• For the first time this preseason, Barnett did part of the session with the main group - albeit it was only the first 15 minutes of the warm up. After this he split off to do some run throughs, light agility work and skill work with the rehab group for about 45 minutes. Finished with some time on the exercise bike and did some light ruck work, sometimes with coach Naitanui, for the rest of the session
• Owies did the first half hour of the session with the main group before splitting off to do run throughs, skill work and change-of-direction running in the rehab group.
• Waterman, Ginbey and Young (wore a green cap in match sim to indicate non-contact) did the first 30 minutes of the session with the main group before splitting off for a bit to do some sprints and agility work. They joined in for the first round of match sim and did most of the following hour of training, but didn't participate in the second round of match sim.
• Yeo and Brockman trained fully for the first 90 minutes of the session but went inside around an hour early. Didn't see any indication that they were injured so hopefully just load management.
• Allan did the first hour or so with the main group but spent the rest of the session in and out of main training, running along the boundary when he sat out of a drill.
• Duggan and Cripps did the first two hours of the session but sat out the second round of match sim, wrapping up about half an hour early.
• Jack Williams did the majority of the session but was taken away at one stage to do some fast run throughs alongside Young. Did some work with the rucks instead of participating in the second match sim and finished slightly early.
• The draftees (minus Allen) continue to be managed through the early preseason, sitting out a few drills to instead do some stationary handballing. Dewar had a similar training load to them and often joined them for the handball work they did
• Robertson did most of the session but wore a green cap in the match sim, and continues to have his right shoulder strapped up
• Macrae sat out the second round of match sim, running laps by himself instead. Otherwise trained fully.
• Newton, Champion and Hewett trained fully after being managed last week

Some other general notes:

• Graham, Johnston and Davis stayed out after the rest of the group had gone inside to get some more kicking work in, while Flynn and Brock were also among the last to leave, practising contested marking and body work together.
• Overheard Allen telling a fan that he was targeting a return to play "midway through next year" but also said he was just taking it week by week.
• McQualter gave the players a bit of a spray in the second round of match sim after a play didn't go to his liking, shouting something along the lines of "you wouldn't do that in a game, don't be ****ing lazy".
• Yeo spent some time as the deepest forward in the first match sim but also played in defence a little bit as we ease him into full training
• Archer Reid took a nice pack mark in the first match sim
• Continuing to be impressed by Johnston early in the preseason. Smooth mover and skilful, set up a couple of nice plays in the match sim work with good hands. As a general observation he's often one of the most vocal players out there
• Bazzo is looking fit and kept up well in the final runs through the middle of the ground. Edwards was struggling but the players were giving him plenty of encouragement
• Spotted another couple of AFLW girls doing their running sessions this morning - Sarah Lakay was running laps with Daisy Pearce at the start of the session, and Charlotte Riggs came out a bit later to run some laps by herself.

 

[Byron_Clanger]

One final note. I’m not sure who it was, but someone questioned whether McQualter was perhaps too nice to be a head coach. Today he let rip towards the end of the session for players not training at the correct intensity/dropping their concentration during one passage

He doesn’t bare his teeth often (first time I’d seen/ heard it tbh, but he made sure the players knew how he felt- that they need to train like it’s a match

Nice little reminder that they aren’t ****ing about and standards need to be maintained

The Sleepy Simmo era may finally be over

 

[Eastern Rangers]

Half this board are stupid for not wanting CDT, it's basically a guarantee of a huge career.

I think J Williams can play, would've had a career in the 90s and perhaps 00s, but the game has changed and he doesn't suit it one bit unfortunately. We'll see, but I think he's either delisted or traded for a token pick at years end. I'd love to be wrong

I've had my doubts about Williams, but they aren't related to athleticism any-longer.

You're as likely to have a strong AFL career by doing a few things really well as you are by being a generalist. Far from athleticism being Williams' biggest weakness, his inability to tie down a single position to the exclusion of all others and then demand to be picked there ahead of other players.

CDT is a complete unknown at this stage and probably has the same weakness as JW. He's a generalist ruck/forward/ KPP and not holding a dedicated position down early in his career.

 

[LittleFires]

The West Training Report

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archive.md

Baker - Hamstring Awareness

Also this tidbit:

Meanwhile, ruckman Bailey Williams (groin awareness) and Tom Gross (tight quad) were both again not part of the main session.

Explains why neither has done any on-ground training in the last couple of weeks.

 

[Keys]

It was time for some 18v18 match simulation at West Coast training on Monday morning with the bulk of the Eagles’ squad in action.

Who shone, who sat out and who is eyeing a round one debut?

Here’s what we saw.

KEEPING TABS ON TOM

Mid-season No. 1 draft pick Tom McCarthy made a significant impact in his first few months as an Eagle.

And now in the midst of his first full AFL pre-season, it wouldn’t be a surprise to see the 25-year-old emerge as one of West Coast’s most important players in 2026.

After starting his career at half-back, the Eagles flirted with McCarthy in the midfield towards the back end of the season.

And that experiment looks set to continue next year, with McCarthy’s fitness and physicality standing out at training on Monday morning.

In one drill, the Richmond VFL product arched his back and streamed through the middle of Mineral Resources Park, dodging several teammates on his way inside 50.

Then, a few minutes later, he drew praise from Elliot Yeo

6

Elliot Yeo

Age

32

Ht

191cm

Wt

91kg

Pos.

Mid

Career

Season

Last 5

D

19.5

5star

K

11.7

4star

HB

7.8

5star

M

4.6

4star

T

4.5

5star

CL

3.0

4star

D

18.9

4star

K

10.9

4star

HB

8.0

4star

M

2.1

2star

T

5.8

5star

CL

5.5

5star

D

16.6

4star

K

9.4

4star

HB

7.2

5star

M

3.6

4star

T

0.6

3star

CL

1.4

4star

for his repeat efforts around the ball, forcing a stoppage when the other team was looking to clear.

After missing the entirety of 2025 with a serious knee/ankle issue, it wouldn’t be a surprise to see Yeo and McCarthy rotating between half-back and the midfield.

The pair are two of West Coast’s most powerful movers and the Eagles sorely missed Yeo’s experience and support of Harley Reid in the midfield. However, the 32-year-old has been training in the backline.

It’s a significant boost for the Eagles to have Yeo in full training this early in pre-season and late in the session. He proved he hadn’t lost any of his speed with a searching arc-to-arc sprint in between drills.

NEW KIDS ON THE BLOCK

It’s obvious to see why the Eagles rate Cooper Duff-Tytler so highly.

The No. 4 draft pick has made an immediate impact since being drafted to West Coast last month as he eyes an early debut.

Stationed in attack as a key forward, Duff-Tytler easily outpointed the more experienced Sandy Brock in a neat one-on-one contest.

And in 18v18 match simulation, Duff-Tytler presented strongly and was always an option thanks to his athleticism. In general drills, his kicking stood out.

There’s plenty of competition for spots in attack with Jobe Shanahan, Jack Williams and Archer Reid also all in the mix, while Jake Waterman

2

Jake Waterman

Age

27

Ht

192cm

Wt

92kg

Pos.

Fwd

Career

Season

Last 5

D

11.3

3star

K

7.9

3star

HB

3.4

3star

M

5.2

5star

T

1.2

3star

G

1.0

4star

D

9.8

2star

K

7.8

3star

HB

2.0

1star

M

5.8

5star

T

0.3

1star

G

1.5

5star

D

12.2

3star

K

7.6

3star

HB

4.6

4star

M

4.6

5star

T

1.6

4star

G

0.8

4star

is back in full training after a season-ending shoulder injury.

No. 1 pick Willem Duursma launched for a spectacular mark during match simulation, but couldn’t quite hold onto it. And after spilling an easy mark on the wing, he quickly recovered and launched an off-balance bullet pass to the top of the square.

While Josh Lindsay had a few nice moments during match simulation.

INJURY WATCH

Club champion Liam Baker

3

Liam Baker

Age

27

Ht

173cm

Wt

72kg

Pos.

M/F

Career

Season

Last 5

D

15.7

4star

K

7.8

3star

HB

7.9

5star

M

3.2

3star

T

2.6

4star

CL

0.7

3star

D

14.6

4star

K

6.8

3star

HB

7.9

4star

M

3.8

4star

T

1.8

3star

CL

0.5

3star

D

14.4

4star

K

6.2

3star

HB

8.2

5star

M

1.6

2star

T

1.8

4star

CL

1.2

4star

has been a noticeable absentee for the past couple of sessions due to hamstring awareness.

Bailey Williams (groin) and Tom Gross (quad) were putting in the hard yards up in the grandstand, climbing the stairs over and over before switching to exercise bikes on the sidelines.

Harry Barnett is on a modified program with a knee issue, while Waterman spent a few minutes in the hands of trainers with what looked to be a minor ankle tweak.

Bo Allan wrapped up early to run laps while draftee Sam Allen continues to recover from an ACL injury, but was able to kick the footy with teammates in promising signs.

McCarthy, CDT and Duursma turning Eliza Reilly’s head.

She has the same info on Williams and Gross as splinters so obviously the club briefed them both this morning

 

[DorothyG]

Can someone at social media buy a tripod! These fixed came, sounds of the track are great, but the slight shaking is making my eye twitch

 

[RanaNaved]

I've had my doubts about Williams, but they aren't related to athleticism any-longer.

You're as likely to have a strong AFL career by doing a few things really well as you are by being a generalist. Far from athleticism being Williams' biggest weakness, his inability to tie down a single position to the exclusion of all others and then demand to be picked there ahead of other players.

CDT is a complete unknown at this stage and probably has the same weakness as JW. He's a generalist ruck/forward/ KPP and not holding a dedicated position down early in his career.

J Williams can't tie down a spot because he moves like a truck....imo.

To the eye, he's easily one of the slowest moving player's getting around. The ruck from Adelaide and Witts would be similar, but they have the height to be career ruckmen.

 

[Byron_Clanger]

Kinda absurd how different and more grown up Harley looks now compared to the end of the season. The fresh faced kid is gawn.

 

[ghostbat12]

Kinda absurd how different and more grown up Harley looks now compared to the end of the season. The fresh faced kid is gawn.

I don't think thats Harley...

 

[RookiePick]

Clay Hall's spirit meme.

 

[ghostbat12]

• McQualter gave the players a bit of a spray in the second round of match sim after a play didn't go to his liking, shouting something along the lines of "you wouldn't do that in a game, don't be ****ing lazy".

"Lazy? But I have credits."

 

[KERRPOW]

• Brockman still showing his ability to use the ball well but

 

[jesterwester]

The Sleepy Simmo era may finally be over

It’s really interesting - I’d heard some noise on Simmo towards the end he had changed & was getting particularly grouchy. Not necessarily surprising (or, unwarranted) given his level of stress and the performance of the team but I think it has to be balanced - players don’t respond to sprays the same way they might have done 15-20 years ago.

I think Mini is very considered in his approach but it’s still sometimes a good lever to pull when you need it.

 

[wirra44]

Kinda absurd how different and more grown up Harley looks now compared to the end of the season. The fresh faced kid is gawn.

A decent haircut also helps , looks a lot better and mature since he trimmed the greasy locks.