Training 2026 Training - reports, pics etc

[teddy-hopkins]

I don't actually think Ollie is a bad kick, certainly better than many on here make him out to be. However, he does telegraph far too early and for too long where he is going to kick. At AFL you simply cannot give the opposition an even break.

It's essentially the same outcome so why split hairs?

He's one of the main culprits when you talk about players missing targets in basic kicking drills under no pressure. I did see Walsh get absolutely exasperated with him at one stage and say something... not that Walsh is 100% by foot himself.

 

[Love the Drake]

Can’t help but love the intent of Talor Byrne.

Classic country kid. Tough. Loves being involved. Footy smarts. Pure footballer.

Will be a fan favourite...

 

[RAPPA]

It's essentially the same outcome so why split hairs?

He's one of the main culprits when you talk about players missing targets in basic kicking drills under no pressure. I did see Walsh get absolutely exasperated with him at one stage and say something... not that Walsh is 100% by foot himself.

it makes the move for him to half back frustrating all the more frustrating. His one wood is his engine. Off half back we need players with good foot skills and the ability to nail the riskier kicks more often than not. I like his endeavour and perseverance but if he is a liability by foot and the competition grows for the HB role, then his place in the side could be in jeopardy particularly if the wing roles are sorted with Chesser coming in

 

[Canyouhearthedrums]

The only way Cripps forward works is if he is dominant in the air and we’re resting one of McKay/Kemp. Otherwise there’s huge potential for attacking half-backs to expose Cripps for pace.

Agree - but the issue here though is that he's then playing on a KPD, which nullifies his size advantage (although he would kill them when the ball was on the ground).

I think it can work if he's playing as a third tall as it allows him to use his size advantage a bit more. But as you say, his lack of pace could expose him if he's down there for long periods. It's why I think the Danger comparison is a misleading. I think Bont might be a bit more analogous but even his success has been when he's rotating through there for short periods rather than it becoming a 'regular' part of his game.

 

[haveago]

Can’t help but love the intent of Talor Byrne.

Classic country kid. Tough. Loves being involved. Footy smarts. Pure footballer.

Will be a fan favourite...

Wouldn't it be amazing if he could be our Wizard/Cody Weightman.

A small forward that can take a mark........ GOLD!

Going to be very interesting in the early practice matches to see how he goes.
Jesse going down sadly may give him a look in?

 

[Sweet Seventeen]

Wouldn't it be amazing if he could be our Wizard/Cody Weightman.

A small forward that can take a mark........ GOLD!

Going to be very interesting in the early practice matches to see how he goes.
Jesse going down sadly may give him a look in?

Talor is the type that Vossy will absolutely love. I see him as a kid who could easily take Fogs spot in the team. Has real

pace, tackles like a man possessed and is a terrific mark, for a man of his diminutive size. He would make our forward half

better and he is exactly the type who could balance the mix when Crippa goes forward.

Byrne will be one of my favorite players going forward, at 174 he is about the same height as myself. Hopefully he will be

acknowledged as one of our new mosquito fleet up forward. Making us a far more difficult team to beat.

 

[Juddernaut08]

Positions questions

Has Ollie been training as a wing or back?

Ditto Florent?

 

[Sector 7G]

Going from the training reports , Jagga seems to be mimicking Walsh's second preseason where he looked like the best on the list.

 

[JimmyRabbit49]

Going from the training reports , Jagga seems to be mimicking Walsh's second preseason where he looked like the best on the list.

If Walsh can mimick his second pre-season (which he does appear to be moving a lot better in the vision) as well our midfield looks vastly different.

I am a lot more bullish about our season than others on here largely because I think a lot of the issues we had in 2025 are solved by players that were already on our list - just hit with injury or needing another pre-season. Throw in some savvy recruiting and the fact I don't think a lot of our losses hurt that much and I could see it being a better than expected year.

 

[haveago]

If Walsh can mimick his second pre-season (which he does appear to be moving a lot better in the vision) as well our midfield looks vastly different.

I am a lot more bullish about our season than others on here largely because I think a lot of the issues we had in 2025 are solved by players that were already on our list - just hit with injury or needing another pre-season. Throw in some savvy recruiting and the fact I don't think a lot of our losses hurt that much and I could see it being a better than expected year.

I too am quite bullish.

I feel a big chunk of our improvement will come from established players led by Sam Walsh.
If his back is right, then we instantly add one A grader ( even a top ten in the comp player that he was )

Harry in a good state of mind could get back to his Coleman best or even better
with the whole 50 to himself now....... Reckon he is going to kill it.

Crippa was not right also last year (came down from an attempted speckie heavily on his hip early in year and was not right after) but as the inspirational leader he is, he pushed through.
Back to his 2024 best would be huge.

Newy back.

Premature I know but a committed and fit Lijah is like a new recruit ditto Kemp.

Obviously Jagga is the wild card and fingers crossed he has the impact his pre-season is indicating.

Add all the new recruits who we really don't know how they will go yet but I feel we should be very optimistic.

Many are writing us off but that is fine........TOP 8 IMO and possibly better.

 

[JimmyRabbit49]

I too am quite bullish.

I feel a big chunk of our improvement will come from established players led by Sam Walsh.
If his back is right, then we instantly add one A grader ( even a top ten in the comp player that he was )

Harry in a good state of mind could get back to his Coleman best or even better
with the whole 50 to himself now....... Reckon he is going to kill it.

Crippa was not right also last year (came down from an attempted speckie heavily on his hip early in year and was not right after) but as the inspirational leader he is, he pushed through.
Back to his 2024 best would be huge.

Newy back.

Premature I know but a committed and fit Lijah is like a new recruit ditto Kemp.

Obviously Jagga is the wild card and fingers crossed he has the impact his pre-season is indicating.

Add all the new recruits who we really don't know how they will go yet but I feel we should be very optimistic.

Many are writing us off but that is fine........TOP 8 IMO and possibly better.

That hand landing at Marvel certainly impacted Cripps - the change in his form after was like night and day.

I would have Harry play higher - more an old fashioned CHF - where he can get 15-20 touches a game, be think link between the halves and still push forward and hit the scoreboard.

Kemp seems really suited to playing out of the square - really good on the lead ad seems to know how to find space - I think his potential impact in 2026 is being under rated.

But getting that outside run is going to be the big mover - Smith & Walsh (possibly Chesser on the wing) through the middle - Florent off half back set up with some precision kicking from Newman - we look a lot faster.

 

[Crippa#9]

I too am quite bullish.

I feel a big chunk of our improvement will come from established players led by Sam Walsh.
If his back is right, then we instantly add one A grader ( even a top ten in the comp player that he was )

Harry in a good state of mind could get back to his Coleman best or even better
with the whole 50 to himself now....... Reckon he is going to kill it.

Crippa was not right also last year (came down from an attempted speckie heavily on his hip early in year and was not right after) but as the inspirational leader he is, he pushed through.
Back to his 2024 best would be huge.

Newy back.

Premature I know but a committed and fit Lijah is like a new recruit ditto Kemp.

Obviously Jagga is the wild card and fingers crossed he has the impact his pre-season is indicating.

Add all the new recruits who we really don't know how they will go yet but I feel we should be very optimistic.

Many are writing us off but that is fine........TOP 8 IMO and possibly better.

Tend to agree. I think we'll miss the TDK the most - will make us less dynamic around stoppage but we have reason to be optimistic. Whilst I would have preferred to have retained the big three that departed, ultimately the additions (new players and those returning from the side-lines) I think hold us in a better 'net' position:

Newman - Jagga - Hayward - Ainsworth - Kemp - Florent - Cripps (unhindered) - Dean - Elijah - Walsh (with a full pre season under his belt) - Cottrell + a pre season for HOK developing his forward craft...

I'm liking the media & experts trashing us but I believe the club & supporters' expectation is that 5-8 range which I don't think is unreasonable.

 

[JimmyRabbit49]

Tend to agree. I think we'll miss the TDK the most - will make us less dynamic around stoppage but we have reason to be optimistic. Whilst I would have preferred to have retained the big three that departed, ultimately the additions (new players and those returning from the side-lines) I think hold us in a better 'net' position:

Newman - Jagga - Hayward - Ainsworth - Kemp - Florent - Cripps (unhindered) - Dean - Elijah - Walsh (with a full pre season under his belt) - Cottrell + a pre season for HOK developing his forward craft...

I'm liking the media & experts trashing us but I believe the club & supporters' expectation is that 5-8 range which I don't think is unreasonable.

TDK was dynamic around the stoppage but what did we really get from that - he went at 65% DE and averaged 3 turnovers a game but just 4.7 score involvements. Most of his possessions were just blind kicks forward that were jut a lottery - and while he took some great contested marks - he only averaged 3 marks a game!!

The thing i think will hurt most is that the rule changes for 2026 will help TDK so he will add more to the Saints than we lost.

Pitto/Reidy and HOK only have to be serviceable and we won't lose too much.

 

[RAPPA]

Wouldn't it be amazing if he could be our Wizard/Cody Weightman.

A small forward that can take a mark........ GOLD!

Going to be very interesting in the early practice matches to see how he goes.
Jesse going down sadly may give him a look in?

I’d take that comparison, minus the equivalent flopping

 

[SurreyBlue]

TDK was dynamic around the stoppage but what did we really get from that - he went at 65% DE and averaged 3 turnovers a game but just 4.7 score involvements. Most of his possessions were just blind kicks forward that were jut a lottery - and while he took some great contested marks - he only averaged 3 marks a game!!

The thing i think will hurt most is that the rule changes for 2026 will help TDK so he will add more to the Saints than we lost.

Pitto/Reidy and HOK only have to be serviceable and we won't lose too much.

The rule changes affect all 3 of these. We needed to find or move in another athletic ruckman with mobility and once again I feel we have fallen behind in the future direction of the game. Hopefully the VFL ruckman (who shall remain nameless) is still with us.

 

[Tommy Alvin]

Personally, I think we could use Cripps as a FF, in a similar way that Geelong use Dangerfield.

You wouldn't put in on a HFF, that would be really stupid.

TA

 

[Treesloth]

If Walsh can mimick his second pre-season (which he does appear to be moving a lot better in the vision) as well our midfield looks vastly different.

I am a lot more bullish about our season than others on here largely because I think a lot of the issues we had in 2025 are solved by players that were already on our list - just hit with injury or needing another pre-season. Throw in some savvy recruiting and the fact I don't think a lot of our losses hurt that much and I could see it being a better than expected year.

Agreed, and also can’t understate the value of moving on players who didn’t want to be here any more. We lost some talent but I think the talent - last year in particular - was more than offset by attitude and disinterest.

There seems to be a better feeling among the group right now. Like a genuine freshness. Maybe some added hunger from the younger guys too.

It’s the vibes.

 

[lopezz]

The rule changes affect all 3 of these. We needed to find or move in another athletic ruckman with mobility and once again I feel we have fallen behind in the future direction of the game. Hopefully the VFL ruckman (who shall remain nameless) is still with us.

Like the cats for the last 15 years with rucks? I think you'll find that the ruck rules effect each team equally and suit a certain few players like Jackson and TDK in the centre, but i don't see it negatively impacting a Xerri around the ground. How many clubs knee jerked and changed rucks to match the new rules this off season?

 

[gbatman]

Like the cats for the last 15 years with rucks? I think you'll find that the ruck rules effect each team equally and suit a certain few players like Jackson and TDK in the centre, but i don't see it negatively impacting a Xerri around the ground. How many clubs knee jerked and changed rucks to match the new rules this off season?

Brisbane have done well with a dominant ruckman and you can see how it works. The thing is he is also quite athletic and is a good footballer as well.

I can see us wanting a ruck who is a little more dominant but you are right. He will need to be athletic and have good footy skills. I think the days of the tap only ruck is well gone anyway so requirements will be a little less. The definite skill they will need to have is the ability to handle the out kick a lot better.

 

[JimmyRabbit49]

Agreed, and also can’t understate the value of moving on players who didn’t want to be here any more. We lost some talent but I think the talent - last year in particular - was more than offset by attitude and disinterest.

There seems to be a better feeling among the group right now. Like a genuine freshness. Maybe some added hunger from the younger guys too.

It’s the vibes.

Hayward & Florent have come in with a high standard of professionalism by all accounts too

 

[ctwenty1]

Agreed, and also can’t understate the value of moving on players who didn’t want to be here any more. We lost some talent but I think the talent - last year in particular - was more than offset by attitude and disinterest.

There seems to be a better feeling among the group right now. Like a genuine freshness. Maybe some added hunger from the younger guys too.

It’s the vibes.

having people around who dont want to be there is extremely detrimental. Doesnt necessarily create a toxic environemnt, but does produce a poor performing one

 

[JimmyRabbit49]

Brisbane have done well with a dominant ruckman and you can see how it works. The thing is he is also quite athletic and is a good footballer as well.

I can see us wanting a ruck who is a little more dominant but you are right. He will need to be athletic and have good footy skills. I think the days of the tap only ruck is well gone anyway so requirements will be a little less. The definite skill they will need to have is the ability to handle the out kick a lot better.

With he 6-6-6 rule a dominant centre square tap ruckman is worth a lot

 

[Juddernaut08]

having people around who dont want to be there is extremely detrimental. Doesnt necessarily create a toxic environemnt, but does produce a poor performing one

especially when it's your superstars and line leaders. (TDK, Curnow)

Merrett and the * will be an interesting watch in 2026.

 

[SurreyBlue]

Like the cats for the last 15 years with rucks? I think you'll find that the ruck rules effect each team equally and suit a certain few players like Jackson and TDK in the centre, but i don't see it negatively impacting a Xerri around the ground. How many clubs knee jerked and changed rucks to match the new rules this off season?

Geelong has 2 athletic ruckman - age is against them but still kills that part of your argument.
No knee jerk reaction required, just sensible future proofing and smart, logical thinking.
Like I said, the new rules will affect nonathletic ruckman, who cannot add much around the ground.

 

[Aphrodite]

Back on topic TRAINING …

"Put the cameras down!": Simpson's plea to Blues faithful

“Blues supporters, put the cameras down! Let them train!”

www.sen.com.au