Preview 2025 Goodbye (To 2026) New; Preseason Discussion

[Schulzenfest]

Im not sure there is any player that has ever been on our AFL, SNAFL or AFLW lists that Ive cared about less than Ivan Soldo. Let him stay in Melbourne.

Maybe he can play via Skype. Wouldn't be any less use to us.

 

[Sewer de Lance]

Our fitness standards were abysmal last year, the complacency & rot was impossible to ignore.

JHF & Luko are a worry, looks like they will both enter the season underdone.

Corey Durdin looks the fittest out of all our small forward brigade. Not sure that’s a glowing endorsement of our previous conditioning program.

 

[Scodges]

Do we still get injury reports, or only during season ?

 

[GoPorts]

From your post it sounds like this extra work was inspired by there caption and has nothing too do with the coaching staff.
While down at Alberton it’s all making jewelry and hanging out.
This has nothing to do with Hinkley it’s all about the players and the captain happily plodding alone.
As said before the Hinkley hysteria has taken over this forum in plague proportion.

Meh, until we see how they go in season the only thing we can say is the crows players have done a bit more work building beach muscles in the off season. If they turn out to be a team of Hamish Hartletts with nice tricep and traps definition but never really living up to potential at least their elderly lady supporters will get a little thrill when they get the club calendar at Christmas.
As much as or fitness was down last year our players problems for the last 10 years has been mental.
I'd rather Instagram posts of Port players doing mindset reframing and visualizing what it looks like to win a premiership over tricep extensions

 

[1954]

Im not sure there is any player that has ever been on our AFL, SNAFL or AFLW lists that Ive cared about less than Ivan Soldo. Let him stay in Melbourne.

Agreed re Soldo, this is a fairly small sample but of the Port supporters I have contact with (plus friends of theirs I don't know) it appears not many (if any) have much time for him, or his Melbourne BS.

One bloke, who has long been of the opinion Nathan Lonie was the worst mature recruit in the club's AFL history is now reassessing that opinion!

 

[JimmyBC]

From your post it sounds like this extra work was inspired by there caption and has nothing too do with the coaching staff.
While down at Alberton it’s all making jewelry and hanging out.
This has nothing to do with Hinkley it’s all about the players and the captain happily plodding alone.
As said before the Hinkley hysteria has taken over this forum in plague proportion.

Do you start blowing bubbles after you repeat this crap for the umpteenth time?

 

[backtozero]

I don't rate fitness being the biggest problem last year.
Yeah, there were a lot of injuries but players being unable to run out games wasn't what I saw.
I saw a group utterly devoid of motivation or confidence, and a game plan that had them guarding grass more often than not after 3/4 time.
Go watch the last Q of the Essendon game again and tell me that was lost because of fitness and not because of players guarding space 15m off their opponent.

 

[PatientMental]

I don't rate fitness being the biggest problem last year.
Yeah, there were a lot of injuries but players being unable to run out games wasn't what I saw.
I saw a group utterly devoid of motivation or confidence, and a game plan that had them guarding grass more often than not after 3/4 time.
Go watch the last Q of the Essendon game again and tell me that was lost because of fitness and not because of players guarding space 15m off their opponent.

Probably guarding space because they were gassed.

 

[BEEG]

PAFC Practice Friday 12th Dec 2025.
Hot 35C
First time for years I managed to get there.

Todd still running laps and sprints for two hours+. Todd later had defense practice. Still brilliant skills by foot.

Pep and Xavier Walsh also only running, with Paul Stewart alongside who is very fit.

JHF exercised separately as well, slight limp?

Lukosius arrived late, left arm in sling.

Choco type kick to kick line with players in a line close together. Embarrassing if you miss.

Teaching kicking skills.

Game simulation: red, yellow, no colour top groups, had to pick out team mates in traffic, like three simultaneous games on the one oval. Quite a bit of game simulation during the morning, where all were moving all the time.

Screen on building used for info and count down.

Logan Evans seemed to have mojo and skills back, mostly.
Mani Liddy good skills, looked good.
Berry better, more agile through traffic, nice boot.
Stephenson and other train-ons keeping up.
Butters did almost all of the simulations, then walked around the oval.
Soldo seemed quite fit, can jump high, but a slow conveyance.
Wehr still building fitness? I'm no expert.
BZT is a good kick.
Cochrane a bit slow.
Durdin kept up with the others - strong body.
Durdin and Stephens both forward in simulations.

Morning was well organised by staff, no breaks nor standing around chatting! Solid efforts by all.

Forward entry practice good to see.

Finished with 4 sprints at least up and down the oval. At the end of 2.5 hours in the heat they were exhausted.

I had built up a good appetite by then so I had a lamb shank - salty but very nice.

Anything on Brodie?

 

[PeacefulWarrior]

I have no love for him and it’s clear he doesn’t want to fight it out for a spot but to say he hasn’t been at training all week is just wrong.

For me it’s just the optics of it all

Anyone here would be first to the club and doing extra sessions

Oh well you reap what you sow

 

[powermacs]

For me it’s just the optics of it all

Anyone here would be first to the club and doing extra sessions

Oh well you reap what you sow

Oh I agree. Just to say he hasn’t t trained all week is a lie. He hasn’t missed a session.
It’s a shame he’s our third best ruckman and there’s a chance he gets a game next season. Otherwise they would happily **** him off.

 

[Willsy10]

Our poor fitness and concerns around that have been regular talking points over the last couple-few preseasons. Whilst I dont remember direct comparisons, it wouldnt surprise me.

I can’t really recall much about it prior to this year. Maybe about our size being on the smaller side of the ledger but never really about our ability to run games out. That only become an issue this year.

As for the crows, they were arse prior to this year. If they were fitter and stronger then it wasn’t helping them.

 

[portly]

Anything on Brodie?

I had trouble picking out some of the players, especially the newbies.

I can affirm that Vis and Moss are specimens, and Moss seems to have some ability around the goals.

Stephenson stood out, thin guy. Played from the square in simulations.

 

[Freak Dodgeball Accident]

PAFC Practice Friday 12th Dec 2025.
Hot 35C
First time for years I managed to get there.

Todd still running laps and sprints for two hours+. Todd later had defense practice. Still brilliant skills by foot.

Pep and Xavier Walsh also only running, with Paul Stewart alongside who is very fit.

JHF exercised separately as well, slight limp?

Lukosius arrived late, left arm in sling.

Choco type kick to kick line with players in a line close together. Embarrassing if you miss.

Teaching kicking skills.

Game simulation: red, yellow, no colour top groups, had to pick out team mates in traffic, like three simultaneous games on the one oval. Quite a bit of game simulation during the morning, where all were moving all the time.

Screen on building used for info and count down.

Logan Evans seemed to have mojo and skills back, mostly.
Mani Liddy good skills, looked good.
Berry better, more agile through traffic, nice boot.
Stephenson and other train-ons keeping up.
Butters did almost all of the simulations, then walked around the oval.
Soldo seemed quite fit, can jump high, but a slow conveyance.
Wehr still building fitness? I'm no expert.
BZT is a good kick.
Cochrane a bit slow.
Durdin kept up with the others - strong body.
Durdin and Stephens both forward in simulations.

Morning was well organised by staff, no breaks nor standing around chatting! Solid efforts by all.

Forward entry practice good to see.

Finished with 4 sprints at least up and down the oval. At the end of 2.5 hours in the heat they were exhausted.

I had built up a good appetite by then so I had a lamb shank - salty but very nice.

This could all be fake news. Haven't seen a report from BigDog yet so I doubt there was even a training session to begin with

 

[DaTBird187]

Anything on Brodie?

He's heading to Bells Beach. 50 year storm.

 

[Doctor Feel]

Luko has been durable till he came here. Rotten luck.

 

[Duck Farmer]

From your post it sounds like this extra work was inspired by there caption and has nothing too do with the coaching staff.

 

[portforever]

View attachment 2495446

I would like the coaching staff to watch the navy seals bud/s movie which depicts the naval training program that teaches elite fitness but with team orientated emphasis. Maximum effort where endurance is framed to be mentally strong with team dedication to the task. How to build a strong, fit and courageous team.

 

[Rexie J]

I would like the coaching staff to watch the navy seals bud/s movie which depicts the naval training program that teaches elite fitness but with team orientated emphasis. Maximum effort where endurance is framed to be mentally strong with team dedication to the task. How to build a strong, fit and courageous team.

In a similar vein.

 

[PeacefulWarrior]

I can’t really recall much about it prior to this year. Maybe about our size being on the smaller side of the ledger but never really about our ability to run games out. That only become an issue this year.

As for the crows, they were arse prior to this year. If they were fitter and stronger then it wasn’t helping them.

That stupid forward pres didn’t help our ability to run our games I can tell you that

 

[Scodges]

He's heading to Bells Beach. 50 year storm.

Vaya con dios

 

[Scodges]

Do we know what happened to Luko ?

 

[PeacefulWarrior]

Do we know what happened to Luko ?

Went through a wood chipper

Funeral Monday.

Soldo to miss it.

 

[Scodges]

Went through a wood chipper

Funeral Monday.

Soldo to miss it.

Yeah, good chat

 

[Doctor Feel]

Yeah, good chat

He isn't lying. I'd love to say he is taking the piss but he isn't.