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

 

[Dark Sharks]

• Brockman still showing his ability to use the ball well but
• Kelly had another good session

I like how the former is cancelled out by the latter.

Clearly that's what you were going for.

 

[JoshWoodenSpoon]

But rich of the club to use Keys' footage in the third-last slide.

 

[Byron_Clanger]

Sorry if this is a re-post. Eliza Reilly covering Eagles training today including the 18 v 18 match sim from this article, lauding McCarthy through the middle as well as calling out CDT giving Sandy Brock the run around.

https://archive.md/jNwvZ

 

[plays tall 1]

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

Bit of an early crow here….maybe save your victory lap until CDT, Sharp and Robey have played at least 70 games.

 

[THE A5]

Sorry if this is a re-post. Eliza Reilly covering Eagles training today including the 18 v 18 match sim from this article, lauding McCarthy through the middle as well as calling out CDT giving Sandy Brock the run around.

https://archive.md/jNwvZ

Sandy brock might be stuck in the twos this season with young recruited and Ginbey being able to play tall.

 

[TheBudgies]

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

Also not sure the bloke has actually achieved anything yet to justify the pick.

 

[donpyke92]

THE A5 = AI

 

[TheBudgies]

Bit of an early crow here….maybe save your victory lap until CDT, Sharp and Robey have played at least 70 games.

I like the training reports on CDT. Really hope he's worth the price. Not convinced myself yet but I hope he is. It'll hurt when Sharp gets 25 and 10 clearances against us even if its a known delay for CDT.

 

[bzparkes]

THE A5 = AI

Correct. Actual Indian.

 

[Tyberious Funk]

The West Training Report

https://archive.md/GaEp1

Baker - Hamstring Awareness

Always thought that was such a weird term...

like... he didn't realise he had hamstrings? But now he does?

 

[THE A5]

Correct. Actual Indian.

As long as its the native variety or Caribbean

 

[TheBudgies]

Always thought that was such a weird term...

like... he didn't realise he had hamstrings? But now he does?

Its a great term. "I'm not in pain but something isnt quite right, I'm feeling restricted but it isnt hurting" in one word. "Awareness"

 

[Tyberious Funk]

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.

Archer Reid needs to learn how to kick goals. As for CDT? Jarrod Brander was pick 13 in 2017. He was the highest rated KPF, and seen as a great pickup. Picked ahead of Oscar Allen (and Starcevich for that matter). Recruiters make dud calls all the time. So I reckon I'll hold off on judgements about CDT's ceiling until after he's at least got through his first pre-season.

Most commentators were lauding Williams back in 2024, as a young, developing KPF. No-one was criticising his mobility back then. How quickly BigFooty falls in love with the new, shiny recruits, before they've done sweet ****-all.

 

[RanaNaved]

Bit of an early crow here….maybe save your victory lap until CDT, Sharp and Robey have played at least 70 games.

Difference between not wanting someone and preferring someone else

 

[RanaNaved]

Archer Reid needs to learn how to kick goals. As for CDT? Jarrod Brander was pick 13 in 2017. He was the highest rated KPF, and seen as a great pickup. Picked ahead of Oscar Allen (and Starcevich for that matter). Recruiters make dud calls all the time. So I reckon I'll hold off on judgements about CDT's ceiling until after he's at least got through his first pre-season.

Most commentators were lauding Williams back in 2024, as a young, developing KPF. No-one was criticising his mobility back then. How quickly BigFooty falls in love with the new, shiny recruits, before they've done sweet ****-all.

I'm sure there were plenty of people saying Williams isn't the most mobile of player's, it's pretty obvious and probably the main reason he was taken in the 50s

 

[Jeremy McLovin]

Jeez, I like Clay Hall and all but it's over. Someone needs to pull him aside and let him know he's gotta give it up and shave.

 

[We_The_West]

Before writing Jack Williams off, let's just remember how shit West Coast have been the past 3 years.

He's about to turn 22, played 42 games and averaged 1.2 goals a game last year.

His 66.1% shot on goal accuracy is rated Elite.

During his development, both Waterman and O.Allen were both injured for large parts of it so he's usually playing on a decent KPD.

Throw in the fact that West Coast (and especially the midfield) have been horrible the last few years so the supply has been not only limited but also poor quality.

He has a sound football IQ and is working on his fitness which has always appeared to be one of his weaknesses.

He's the Tom Hawkins

26

Tom Hawkins

Age

37

Ht

197cm

Wt

105kg

Pos.

Fwd

Career

Season

Last 5

D

12.2

3star

K

7.9

3star

HB

4.4

3star

M

5.5

5star

T

1.9

4star

G

2.1

5star

D

12.7

3star

K

8.6

3star

HB

4.1

3star

M

5.1

5star

T

2.1

3star

G

1.6

5star

D

7.8

2star

K

5.6

3star

HB

2.2

2star

M

4.2

4star

T

1.0

3star

G

2.2

5star

type FF who can clunk big marks and kick goals from 50m under pressure.

Between him and Jobe we have 2 long term KPFs with Waterman being the Gunston mobile 3rd tall and Archer/CDT rotating between ruck and resting forward.

It's a good position to be in.

 

[We_The_West]

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

I've always been a fan of Bazzo and hopeful he could put his injuries behind him and get a decent crack at it.

Really disappointed to read Edwards isn't training the house down. With McGovern out and Young coming in I was hoping he would of come back in the best nick of his life ready to put the doubters to rest.

26 yrs old next year and had plenty of time to develop under Barrass and McGovern and get his body right.

 

[Tyberious Funk]

Jeez, I like Clay Hall and all but it's over. Someone needs to pull him aside and let him know he's gotta give it up and shave.

Genetics are definitely working against him...

 

[We_The_West]

• Johnston looks to be enjoying himself as a forward that’s given him purpose. Will certainly be in R1

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

Really excited to see how Johnston goes this year in his new role.

The Richmond dynasty was built on the backs of hard working, skillful small forwards and half forwards who were fast and physical with an attacking mindset who loved a goal. They could all get back to D50 to defend, rotate up onto the wings and pinch hit on ball as well.

Blokes like Dan Butler, Daniel Rioli, Kane Lambert, Josh Caddy, Shane Edwards, Jack Graham, Jason Castagna, Jack Higgins, Liam Baker, Shai Bolton

This position/role is not one of West Coast's strengths unfortunately with Cripps close to retirement and Kelly entering the twilight of his career.

Brockman, Hewett, Hutchinson and Owies appear to be the next in line with Long, Johnston, Newton, Gross, T.Williams and Champion all developing.

I could see Sam Allen and even Hamish Davis being developed into this type of player depending how Mini sees the wing role. I'd also really like to see Dewar develop in this role as well given we have an abundance of half backs.

I definitely feel this is an area of need over the next few years.

 

[Dark Sharks]

Johnston always looked like a better forward than defender IMO.

Has the crafty skills/tricks to create space for himself and decent goal sense. No idea on his pressure acts or tackling though, which is clearly very important in that role.

All i know is that he's got his work cut out for him staying on our list if he remains as a defender and trending the way he has in the WAFL.


16D, 4M, and 2 tackles a game won't cut the mustard again in the WAFL in 2026.

 

[Keys]

Eagles to play their preseason match against Port the first day of March on a Sunday afternoon (3.10pm) at Lathlain

Will also play a scratchie against Freo some time in February at a time and place to be advised

 

[Happy Mastenator]

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

CDT is going to be a player. I'm happy he's in our team, despite being a massive Sharp fan.

He has still not addressed the concern many had though. Is he capable of being a number 1 ruck, and if not, would we have been better to trade down and take a player who can fill a more pressing need for us?

 

[bzparkes]

CDT is going to be a player. I'm happy he's in our team, despite being a massive Sharp fan.

He has still not addressed the concern many had though. Is he capable of being a number 1 ruck, and if not, would we have been better to trade down and take a player who can fill a more pressing need for us?

 

[Obeanie1]

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

These guys are ahead of Waterman?

And none are pure forwards.

IMO all things equal fitness wise Waterman and Shanahan are both picked first.