Training 2026 Pre-Season Training - reports, pics etc

[Aphrodite]

AT97 & Tjblues thanks for taking the time to post training reports


Have copied both reports over to the Training Blog.

 

[sweethoney]

Watching the Ollie Florent Mic'd UP clip on the website I am now onboard with his recruitment. He ( and I think Hayward and Ainsworth are very similar) brings a level of enthusiasm our leadership group was lacking.

I seen a short video of someone asking Chad Warner about them and what we were getting. Sounded very positive what he said also said he didn’t want them to leave

 

[tarczonandjane]

At the risk of sounding 180 years old, why on earth is all that awful doof doof music happening during their training? All right… back to my tea and knitting.

 

[ferrisb]

a game plan is only as good as each individual player's dominance in being able to carry out their roles. None of them can share some of it out amongst the playing group. We win more contests, we win more games of football.

I could not disagree with this more.

Talent is the most important piece of the puzzle. But it is also only the starting point.

Good coaching and game plan uses players in roles that will maximise their talent, minimises their weaknesses, puts players in more space, gives them more times to dispose of the ball, puts the opposition under more pressure, has players knowing where they should position themselves, has players knowing where their team mates will be, makes players trust their team mates more, help them make better decisions, stops wasted running and fatigue and so on...

Good coaching is what helps your players win more contests.

 

[Stig O'Hara]

I could not disagree with this

Good coaching is what helps your players win more contests.

There’s no blueprint.

Players make coaches.

 

[chickendippas]

There was a drill in the forward line where players worked on blocking or creating paths for leading players, and bringing the ball to ground if there was no chance to mark. Harry, HOK and Kemp were all part of the same team. This was my favorite viewing of the session.

Thanks for taking the time to post. This bit in particular is music to my ears if they can get it right.

Has been such a point of frustration over the years. We just never seemed to block or create space for one another. It feels like we have to work so much harder than any other team in the comp to kick a goal.

 

[WalshistheGOAT]

There’s no blueprint.

Players make coaches.

Half and half.

Impossible to implement an effective game plan these days if you don't have the cattle to execute it. I'd hate to think what our team would look like trying to play Brisbanes surgical style with the ball butchers we've had littered across our best 23 the last few years.

But it's also seemingly impossible to get the best out of your players without the right coaching. To be honest I'm not even sure if they have to be tactically skilled, just need to have all the players on side and buying in (which mostly comes from them believing in the game plan).

 

[ferrisb]

There’s no blueprint.

Players make coaches.

This isn't the 70s and 80s.

It isn't kick down the line to a contest these days. It's not 1-on-1 footy any more.

The best teams have the best ball movement, spread, overlap, rebound, counter attack. They are the best drilled and best prepared.

Sure they have a lot of talent too. But that's not enough on its own.

 

[Bamboo Harvester]

I could not disagree with this more.

Talent is the most important piece of the puzzle. But it is also only the starting point.

Good coaching and game plan uses players in roles that will maximise their talent, minimises their weaknesses, puts players in more space, gives them more times to dispose of the ball, puts the opposition under more pressure, has players knowing where they should position themselves, has players knowing where their team mates will be, makes players trust their team mates more, help them make better decisions, stops wasted running and fatigue and so on...

Good coaching is what helps your players win more contests.

Totally agree

To more important matters, what happened to your pre-training reports?? I used to love them, especially when Bolton was coaching, and security would escort him off the ground thinking it was some stray kid who jumped the fence.

BRING BACK THE FERRISB PRE-TRAINING REPORTS

 

[ferrisb]

Totally agree

To more important matters, what happened to your pre-training reports?? I used to love them, especially when Bolton was coaching, and security would escort him off the ground thinking it was some stray kid who jumped the fence.

BRING BACK THE FERRISB PRE-TRAINING REPORTS

Omg, I'd forgotten about those!

I'll write one up next week when I don't go down to training...

 

[DirtyLeeds]

Not so Little Dirty and I paid particular attention to the ruckmen, and the mid sized forwards.

Reidy's grunt and run was a highlight, out there to snatch the 1st ruck job, and as Pitto will attest went very hard (by the way any news as to what happened to Marc? Looked like a forearm jolt to the throat), whilst Riley is one big unit he was easily pushed off it, looked like a baby giraffe compared to Reidy, who ran with the ball on more than one occasion, and is a very good kick on the run too! Pitto looked a lot more lean, held his own in the ruck, but we felt that Reidy may have already gone past him with his ability to get around the ground.

Didn't see HOK in any ruck duels, H seemed to do anything around goals. HOK's kicking needs plenty of work, actually doubt he's a walk up start in the early season, he may have to wait as Reidy looks ready.

Moir, Haywood and Lij all looked in great form, kicked goals, marked and were involved in the fast passages of play that dominated the session. Throw in Frankie (who was literally everywhere), Mots (jumping out of his boots) and the unseen Ainsworth and we have a multipronged attack to support H. Might finally see more of Williams on ball too.

Also feel that Kemp goes back this year, seems like the Achilles is well and truly healed he trained full on, his speed was out there for all to see, and confidently jumped for marks. Jagga reminded me of David Glascott, quick feet and hands, relentless running, great kick, bring on round one. Newy just did Newy things, long searching kicks, straight line running, he's back. Didn't see Cotters, Ainsworth, or Saad and Haynes just ran laps

Overall we were impressed with the session, reckon we have the ruck catered for in Reidy, the dynamic of the forward line has changed and we have the cattle to make it work. And Kemp replaces JSOS down back. Still a Key Defender down, but Phillips (??) went alright so that may be the second slot taken.
As a group as they ran a lap they were really noisy, everyone in that group was banging on, there was more noise coming from them than the doof doof!! That impressed us, they already look bonded...

 

[The Bighouse]

Not so Little Dirty and I paid particular attention to the ruckmen, and the mid sized forwards.
Reidy's grunt and run was a highlight, out there to snatch the 1st ruck job, and as Pitto will attest went very hard (by the way any news as to what happened to Marc? Looked like a forearm jolt to the throat), whilst Riley is one big unit he was easily pushed off it, looked like a baby giraffe compared to Reidy, who ran with the ball on more than one occasion, and is a very good kick on the run too! Pitto looked a lot more lean, held his own in the ruck, but we felt that Reidy may have already gone past him with his ability to get around the ground.
Didn't see HOK in any ruck duels, H seemed to do anything around goals. HOK's kicking needs plenty of work, actually doubt he's a walk up start in the early season, he may have to wait as Reidy looks ready.
Moir, Haywood and Lij all looked in great form, kicked goals, marked and were involved in the fast passages of play that dominated the session. Throw in Frankie (who was literally everywhere), Mots (jumping out of his boots) and the unseen Ainsworth and we have a multipronged attack to support H. Might finally see more of Williams on ball too.
Also feel that Kemp goes back this year, seems like the Achilles is well and truly healed he trained full on, his speed was out there for all to see, and confidently jumped for marks. Jagga reminded me of David Glascott, quick feet and hands, relentless running, great kick, bring on round one. Newy just did Newy things, long searching kicks, straight line running, he's back. Didn't see Cotters, Ainsworth, or Saad and Haynes just ran laps
Overall we were impressed with the session, reckon we have the ruck catered for in Reidy, the dynamic of the forward line has changed and we have the cattle to make it work. And Kemp replaces JSOS down back. Still a Key Defender down, but Phillips (??) went alright so that may be the second slot taken.
As a group as they ran a lap they were really noisy, everyone in that group was banging on, there was more noise coming from them than the doof doof!! That impressed us, they already look bonded...

Personally don’t want to see Kemp down back again.
Going by his story, hopefully settling up forward and to get regular games if fit & firing.

Refreshed and ready for change: Comeback Kemp's update

A big chat with Brodie Kemp about recovery, role and readiness for change in the latest Friday Feature.

www.carltonfc.com.au

 

[GoBlues!]

I could not disagree with this more.

Talent is the most important piece of the puzzle. But it is also only the starting point.

Good coaching and game plan uses players in roles that will maximise their talent, minimises their weaknesses, puts players in more space, gives them more times to dispose of the ball, puts the opposition under more pressure, has players knowing where they should position themselves, has players knowing where their team mates will be, makes players trust their team mates more, help them make better decisions, stops wasted running and fatigue and so on...

Good coaching is what helps your players win more contests.

No better example of this than our teams in the premiership winning window of 1979 to 1982.

The great Jezza captain/coached us to the 79 flag, and then left. Percy Jones takes over, we made the finals in 80 and then out in straight sets.

Then master coach Parkin takes over in 81, 82 and leads us to back to back flags.

We had the talent but you still need good coaching to finish the job when it matters.

 

[Walshy_The_Goat]

Bluebaggers Edge | Final Open Training: Highlights & Report

I went down and filmed the lads as they had their final open training session, putting in the hard yards in hot conditions to round out 2025 - and there was one particular player who stood out massively!

WATCH:


Spotify: https://shorturl.at/EF2fS
Apple Pods: https://shorturl.at/4v2Du

 

[Aphrodite]

 

[Aphrodite]

 

[Aphrodite]

Training gallery 12th December ...

Galleries | Carlton Football Club

All the latest photos from the Carlton Football Club.

www.carltonfc.com.au

 

[JuddgementDay]

I could not disagree with this more.

Talent is the most important piece of the puzzle. But it is also only the starting point.

Good coaching and game plan uses players in roles that will maximise their talent, minimises their weaknesses, puts players in more space, gives them more times to dispose of the ball, puts the opposition under more pressure, has players knowing where they should position themselves, has players knowing where their team mates will be, makes players trust their team mates more, help them make better decisions, stops wasted running and fatigue and so on...

Good coaching is what helps your players win more contests.

Agree - I hate to say it, but look no further than exhibit A - SMitchell.

He has got maximum value out of his team

I’m not too sure if many other current AFL coaches would have been able to get the same output out from this same team

 

[WalshistheGOAT]

Agree - I hate to say it, but look no further than exhibit A - SMitchell.

He has got maximum value out of his team

I’m not too sure if many other current AFL coaches would have been able to get the same output out from this same team

Then again, one of the best coaches of all time in Clarko has had North languishing down the bottom of the ladder for years now

 

[ferrisb]

Then again, one of the best coaches of all time in Clarko has had North languishing down the bottom of the ladder for years now

Then again, until this week North's captain was a midfielder that wasn't good enough to play in the midfield of the 16th placed team...

 

[Coona Blues]

Then again, one of the best coaches of all time in Clarko has had North languishing down the bottom of the ladder for years now

That is an interesting one. Hindsight says he had a spectacular group assistants available. Becomes a chicken and egg argument, did he “make” the assistants, or did the assistants make him?

 

[azlou]

Personally don’t want to see Kemp down back again.
Going by his story, hopefully settling up forward and to get regular games if fit & firing.

Refreshed and ready for change: Comeback Kemp's update

A big chat with Brodie Kemp about recovery, role and readiness for change in the latest Friday Feature.

www.carltonfc.com.au

He’s a natural forward he always was thats where he will play his best footy.
If he is right to go we could have devastatingly good forward line.
Kemp not Moir replaces Curnow

 

[ferrisb]

That is an interesting one. Hindsight says he had a spectacular group assistants available. Becomes a chicken and egg argument, did he “make” the assistants, or did the assistants make him?

I tend to think it's more likely a great coach spawned half a dozen great assistants rather than half a dozen great assistants managed to end up together and create a great coach.

 

[JustaBattler]

That is an interesting one. Hindsight says he had a spectacular group assistants available. Becomes a chicken and egg argument, did he “make” the assistants, or did the assistants make him?

(IMO) The PLAYERS made him simple as that and the PLAYERS made that team the team it was the coaches, assistants and all that stuff are very secondary always have been always will be - but times have changed- now a player like TDK can fetch 1.6M+ pa the whole dynamic of keeping a squad together is much harder because of the dollars involved.

 

[Tjblues]

Not so Little Dirty and I paid particular attention to the ruckmen, and the mid sized forwards.
Reidy's grunt and run was a highlight, out there to snatch the 1st ruck job, and as Pitto will attest went very hard (by the way any news as to what happened to Marc? Looked like a forearm jolt to the throat), whilst Riley is one big unit he was easily pushed off it, looked like a baby giraffe compared to Reidy, who ran with the ball on more than one occasion, and is a very good kick on the run too! Pitto looked a lot more lean, held his own in the ruck, but we felt that Reidy may have already gone past him with his ability to get around the ground.
Didn't see HOK in any ruck duels, H seemed to do anything around goals. HOK's kicking needs plenty of work, actually doubt he's a walk up start in the early season, he may have to wait as Reidy looks ready.

Must say that I didn’t see the same sorts of things from Reidy as you and yours.

Absolutely can’t deny the sheer size and willingness to throw his weight around.

His kicking for goal looks serviceable but his kicking around the ground and under pressure looked poor at best.

He’s a ruckman so we don’t need him to be Errol Gulden but I walked away seeing someone who is a competitor but several levels below Pitto as things stand.

Can see a role for him on the gorilla ruckmen of the comp but his skill and craft are a work in progress. Should have the body to monster the VFL though and give our young mids (BCampo most notably) first look more often than not