Training 2026 Training Reports

[Gasometer]

Don’t mock it until you go, elite weather, amazing locals, some of the best restaurants I’ve ever been to, great coffee, world class gyms, easy to get around either on your own scooter or about a dollar to anywhere on the back of a gojek. I go a few times a year.

I’m going off our resident Travel Guide all the same

 

[Rod Stroker]

Finnnnally got a bit of a chance to inform you all of some tidbits of player info I got prior to Christmas...

CCJ - Injury free.

LOL! So in a status report about every senior player on our list, the positive about CCJ is that... he's breathing

 

[spicerFanClub]

That completely aligns with my perspective too. I don’t think he brings much, if anything, strategically and he can get outcoached on gameday

It's a rubbish notion that he has to do everything himself. Great leaders bring out the best in those around them and great strategists don't necessarily make great leaders.

We're talking about a guy that led a team that changed the AFL strategic landscape multiple times over a decade and delivered 4 premierships. If you think he was just a passenger you're kidding yourselves.

 

[Its a Process]

Finnnnally got a bit of a chance to inform you all of some tidbits of player info I got prior to Christmas...

Dovaston - Brings attitude and energy to the group. Has found his feet and voice and the club and is participating in full training (and impressing). Ground level work is a standout.

O'Sullivan - The pre-Christmas standout (along with a few others), has been training both in the mids and the backline. Workrate and game sense is just off the charts. Strength and physical maturity come on faster than expected.

Sheezel - Class as always. The ultimate professional. Said that he is really happy to retain his VC status that Captaincy might be a bit premature when he still working on many facets of his game and his own leadership.

Corr - Limited pre-season so far as he is carry a couple of niggles. Not expected to be in full training for another month. Don't know details of said niggles.

Daniel - Doing what's expected of him. New defensive strategy should benefit him. Has spent some time up the ground (wing) this pre season as well.

Wardlaw - Didn't miss a session prior to Christmas, noticeably leaner,/more defined. Endurance base still the focus.

Duursma - Seems happy, focused and more comfortable this pre-season. Has been told that his development focus will be the forward line with only smaller stints through the midfield. Duursma very happy with that as that's where he sees himself having the most impact. Limited pre-season leading up to Christmas but should be back into full training now.

Scott - Not much to say.

LDU - Told to improve his running capacity, noticeably leaner. Set new PB's in the 2km and some of the repeat sprint testing earlier in the pre-season.

Kerch - One of the other standouts of the pre-season. Breaking tackles at all, not going to ground, generally stronger and more physically mature through the hips and shoulders. Expect big things this year.

McDonald - Desperate to be apart of our push up the ladder. Done a mini pre-season prior to pre-season with Luke Parker. Noticeably leaner and stronger. In his own words 'best I've felt in 4-5 years'. Shoulder giving him no issues at all.

Simpkin - Come back and focused on gaining back the trust of the playing group. Still the ultimate professional when it comes to his conditioning. Expect to see him play a lot of wing/half forward this year.

Spargo - Don't expect to play early, still on a modified program and still a long way off peak conditioning.

Urqs - Noticeably bigger and leaner. Looking to play purely as an inside mid this season. Game sense and transition running the two biggest focuses.

Stephens - Professional. Continues to be a stand out in the all the running/transition drills which is to be expected.

Fisher - Modified program, managing a few niggles including a hip/hamstring issue. Probably the most disappointing considering his career is on the line.

Hardeman - Club seriously impressed with condition he came back in post the end of the year. Noticeably stronger and leaner. Broke PB's in 2ker and repeat running tests. Has spent a bit of time training up the ground and has impressed with particularly with his long kicking.

Dawson - Bigger, stronger, more mature. Will be settling in the backline. Decision making with ball in hand and timing his intercept marking the key focus. Long term they want him to take the gorilla and taller key forwards (Darcy's/Kings), to free up Comben to play more of an intercepting role. Trying to balance his physical growth while also building his tank.

Logue - Stand out. Fed both barrels at the end of the season, but come back in ripping shape. Moving far better and seems to have got his agility back.

Larkey - Into full training now. Will be one of those types who will go to another level as captain.

CCJ - Injury free.

Goad - More physically mature. Actually able to compete with X now in the wrestling matches instead of getting rag dolled.

Threadgold - Mature beyond his years. The kid is a 'sponge' and just has a real desire to learn and be the best he can be. Has had to be held back at times to protect him from himself.

Powell - Flown under the radar but has had a fantastic pre-season. Told to get leaner/lose weight to improve his running capacity, which he did so. Been training all across the park, midfield, wing, half forward and half back. Looking at as a genuine utility.

Curtis - Has been managing a few niggles prior to Christmas.

Parker - Class & Leadership. His first full pre-season in 3 years. Feeling fresh.

Darling - see above. Has really taken Whitlock and Trembath under his wing.

Mikunda - Post draft was only seeing limited training due managing a few minor niggles. Expect to be in full training now. Will get exposure with training as half back, winger and half forward. Kicking in training and real feature.

Comben - Came back from pre-season carrying a few extra kg. Has since dropped the weight and is looking good.

Goater - Modified training prior to Christmas, still heavily managing his loads and repeat testing his soft tissue strength parameters. Significant focus on improving his overall body balance, as that imbalance was what was leading to soft tissue injuries (not uncommon for post achilles). Balancing act with getting him stronger while also trying to improve his conditioning.

Pink - Noticeably leaner and stronger.

George - Still being heavily managed, but club is super happy with where he is at. Training both as a forward and through the wings. Tank still the biggest concern, but expect a big block of conditioning for him and a few others once they get back into the thick of pre-season.

Archer - Managed prior to Christmas, but he is in ripping nick. Likely to be on a modified program until later in the year. Still participating in 80% of training.

Whitlock - Balancing the physique build while maintaining his running conditioning. Training forward.

Stevens - bigger and stronger but still a long way to go.

Harvey - Half back! Settled. Focus is lock down defence and defensive craft. Want to utilise his skills and vision across half back. Came back in the best condition of his career and set running PB's. Maybe everything has finally clicked with him?

Xerri - Smashing the GPS numbers during training. Couple of kg's lighter to deal with the new ruck rules.

Konstanty - Surprise candidate as one of the pre-Christmas standouts. Blowing his running numbers and just all round in good condition. As part of his development, been training both forward and back.

Zurhaar - Come along quicker than expected from his ankle injury participating in full training now and looking good.

Banch - Up there with FOS/Kerch and co for the pre-Christmas standout. Running numbers are ridiculous and is leaving no stone unturned in his development. Another who is a sponge for learning and super professional.

Hansen Jnr - really solid pre-season. Really involed with game sense drills with his kicking and class a stand out. Might end up being a sneaky one who surprises a few earlier in the season.

Trembath - Up there with the top tier of pre-season. Mature as they come and so driven to get the best out of himself. Learning and improving every session. Another who is noticeably leaner, and who has set Pb's in both running and the gym

Finnnnally got a bit of a chance to inform you all of some tidbits of player info I got prior to Christmas...

Dovaston - Brings attitude and energy to the group. Has found his feet and voice and the club and is participating in full training (and impressing). Ground level work is a standout.

O'Sullivan - The pre-Christmas standout (along with a few others), has been training both in the mids and the backline. Workrate and game sense is just off the charts. Strength and physical maturity come on faster than expected.

Sheezel - Class as always. The ultimate professional. Said that he is really happy to retain his VC status that Captaincy might be a bit premature when he still working on many facets of his game and his own leadership.

Corr - Limited pre-season so far as he is carry a couple of niggles. Not expected to be in full training for another month. Don't know details of said niggles.

Daniel - Doing what's expected of him. New defensive strategy should benefit him. Has spent some time up the ground (wing) this pre season as well.

Wardlaw - Didn't miss a session prior to Christmas, noticeably leaner,/more defined. Endurance base still the focus.

Duursma - Seems happy, focused and more comfortable this pre-season. Has been told that his development focus will be the forward line with only smaller stints through the midfield. Duursma very happy with that as that's where he sees himself having the most impact. Limited pre-season leading up to Christmas but should be back into full training now.

Scott - Not much to say.

LDU - Told to improve his running capacity, noticeably leaner. Set new PB's in the 2km and some of the repeat sprint testing earlier in the pre-season.

Kerch - One of the other standouts of the pre-season. Breaking tackles at all, not going to ground, generally stronger and more physically mature through the hips and shoulders. Expect big things this year.

McDonald - Desperate to be apart of our push up the ladder. Done a mini pre-season prior to pre-season with Luke Parker. Noticeably leaner and stronger. In his own words 'best I've felt in 4-5 years'. Shoulder giving him no issues at all.

Simpkin - Come back and focused on gaining back the trust of the playing group. Still the ultimate professional when it comes to his conditioning. Expect to see him play a lot of wing/half forward this year.

Spargo - Don't expect to play early, still on a modified program and still a long way off peak conditioning.

Urqs - Noticeably bigger and leaner. Looking to play purely as an inside mid this season. Game sense and transition running the two biggest focuses.

Stephens - Professional. Continues to be a stand out in the all the running/transition drills which is to be expected.

Fisher - Modified program, managing a few niggles including a hip/hamstring issue. Probably the most disappointing considering his career is on the line.

Hardeman - Club seriously impressed with condition he came back in post the end of the year. Noticeably stronger and leaner. Broke PB's in 2ker and repeat running tests. Has spent a bit of time training up the ground and has impressed with particularly with his long kicking.

Dawson - Bigger, stronger, more mature. Will be settling in the backline. Decision making with ball in hand and timing his intercept marking the key focus. Long term they want him to take the gorilla and taller key forwards (Darcy's/Kings), to free up Comben to play more of an intercepting role. Trying to balance his physical growth while also building his tank.

Logue - Stand out. Fed both barrels at the end of the season, but come back in ripping shape. Moving far better and seems to have got his agility back.

Larkey - Into full training now. Will be one of those types who will go to another level as captain.

CCJ - Injury free.

Goad - More physically mature. Actually able to compete with X now in the wrestling matches instead of getting rag dolled.

Threadgold - Mature beyond his years. The kid is a 'sponge' and just has a real desire to learn and be the best he can be. Has had to be held back at times to protect him from himself.

Powell - Flown under the radar but has had a fantastic pre-season. Told to get leaner/lose weight to improve his running capacity, which he did so. Been training all across the park, midfield, wing, half forward and half back. Looking at as a genuine utility.

Curtis - Has been managing a few niggles prior to Christmas.

Parker - Class & Leadership. His first full pre-season in 3 years. Feeling fresh.

Darling - see above. Has really taken Whitlock and Trembath under his wing.

Mikunda - Post draft was only seeing limited training due managing a few minor niggles. Expect to be in full training now. Will get exposure with training as half back, winger and half forward. Kicking in training and real feature.

Comben - Came back from pre-season carrying a few extra kg. Has since dropped the weight and is looking good.

Goater - Modified training prior to Christmas, still heavily managing his loads and repeat testing his soft tissue strength parameters. Significant focus on improving his overall body balance, as that imbalance was what was leading to soft tissue injuries (not uncommon for post achilles). Balancing act with getting him stronger while also trying to improve his conditioning.

Pink - Noticeably leaner and stronger.

George - Still being heavily managed, but club is super happy with where he is at. Training both as a forward and through the wings. Tank still the biggest concern, but expect a big block of conditioning for him and a few others once they get back into the thick of pre-season.

Archer - Managed prior to Christmas, but he is in ripping nick. Likely to be on a modified program until later in the year. Still participating in 80% of training.

Whitlock - Balancing the physique build while maintaining his running conditioning. Training forward.

Stevens - bigger and stronger but still a long way to go.

Harvey - Half back! Settled. Focus is lock down defence and defensive craft. Want to utilise his skills and vision across half back. Came back in the best condition of his career and set running PB's. Maybe everything has finally clicked with him?

Xerri - Smashing the GPS numbers during training. Couple of kg's lighter to deal with the new ruck rules.

Konstanty - Surprise candidate as one of the pre-Christmas standouts. Blowing his running numbers and just all round in good condition. As part of his development, been training both forward and back.

Zurhaar - Come along quicker than expected from his ankle injury participating in full training now and looking good.

Banch - Up there with FOS/Kerch and co for the pre-Christmas standout. Running numbers are ridiculous and is leaving no stone unturned in his development. Another who is a sponge for learning and super professional.

Hansen Jnr - really solid pre-season. Really involed with game sense drills with his kicking and class a stand out. Might end up being a sneaky one who surprises a few earlier in the season.

Trembath - Up there with the top tier of pre-season. Mature as they come and so driven to get the best out of himself. Learning and improving every session. Another who is noticeably leaner, and who has set Pb's in both running and the gym.

Incredible intel and it was a delightful read.

I went a bit cross eyed trying to figure out how Colby and Fos move into our midfield unless they play wing/inside roles and maybe that's what will happen.

A simpler backline setup coupled with great pre-seasons from Logue, Hardeman, Archer and a few others is an exciting prospsect, maybe we can turn a negative into a positive.

Please keep the reports coming in, it's great to hear and maybe, just maybe 2026 is the year that it starts to turn.

 

[kanga kanga kanga]

**** I love these posts, super summary RF.

Best time of the year when we start to get reports like this, thanks roos_fanatic08.

 

[Ruckle]

LOL! So in a status report about every senior player on our list, the positive about CCJ is that... he's breathing

Haha I thought the same. I guess its a positive for CCJ.

 

[kanga kanga kanga]

Don’t tell me spargoat is catching strays in this thread.

 

[Lomas]

LOL! So in a status report about every senior player on our list, the positive about CCJ is that... he's breathing

It’s an improvement, exciting times.

 

[DaveyBoy123]

I drove past Arden Street this morning around 10am and it looked to me as if the squad may have been training.

 

[Passmore]

LOL! So in a status report about every senior player on our list, the positive about CCJ is that... he's breathing

How about Scott!!!..."ummmm... got nothing"

 

[roos_fanatic08]

LOL! So in a status report about every senior player on our list, the positive about CCJ is that... he's breathing

To be fair I didn’t get much detail on a few of the senior players like Larkey, CCJ, Pink, Darling etc.

 

[Gasometer]

I drove past Arden Street this morning around 10am and it looked to me as if the squad may have been training.

This is good news

 

[King Corey]

Don’t mock it until you go, elite weather, amazing locals, some of the best restaurants I’ve ever been to, great coffee, world class gyms, easy to get around either on your own scooter or about a dollar to anywhere on the back of a gojek. I go a few times a year.

When did you first get interested in prostitution?

 

[Shinboner1]

Really? He must be pretty bloody good.

From reports man on man set ups worries me. Its reactive type defensive structures. Dont like it

maybe he's just playing with what we currently have.
I reckon they've pencilled him in for a senior coaching job in 2-3 years once clarko is done.

 

[DuckYeah]

Don’t mock it until you go, elite weather, amazing locals, some of the best restaurants I’ve ever been to, great coffee, world class gyms, easy to get around either on your own scooter or about a dollar to anywhere on the back of a gojek. I go a few times a year.

its a shit hole, its just cheap.

 

[Chip Scab1]

Good to see the boys back, it’s an exciting time of year. We haven’t settled on a player to sponsor at this stage so I’ll be interested in likely candidates.

We still have a way to go to hit our target, so if you are yet to commit to the player sponsorship head on over to the thread and pledge away!

Player Sponsorship - 2026 Player Sponsorship - Paul Curtis

In for $100.

www.bigfooty.com

Can we sponsor Hugo?

 

[Chip Scab1]

Big enough for our AFL side

So are you!

 

[andana]

Don’t mock it until you go, elite weather, amazing locals, some of the best restaurants I’ve ever been to, great coffee, world class gyms, easy to get around either on your own scooter or about a dollar to anywhere on the back of a gojek. I go a few times a year.

 

[Chip Scab1]

its a shit hole, its just cheap.

This is all of Asia tbh.

Japan for Skiing, Philippines for some beach action on a white Sandy island aside. Don't mind Sri Lanka either for the above.

They can keep the rest.

 

[Harvey Manfrenjensenden]

When did you first get interested in prostitution?

About 3 months after my wife got pregnant.

 

[hilly]

This is all of Asia tbh.

Japan for Skiing, Philippines for some beach action on a white Sandy island aside. Don't mind Sri Lanka either for the above.

They can keep the rest.

I'll take Malaysia and Singapore with my rookie draft picks.

 

[hilly]

I drove past Arden Street this morning around 10am and it looked to me as if the squad may have been training.

Preferred RF08's report but given you were driving fair enough.

 

[Sphynx]

View attachment 2507805

Australia

 

[DuckYeah]

This is all of Asia tbh.

Japan for Skiing, Philippines for some beach action on a white Sandy island aside. Don't mind Sri Lanka either for the above.

They can keep the rest.

Japan is ELITE!

 

[DuckYeah]

Australia

The difference is that would be cleaned up.