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

 

[bzparkes]

Anyway

https://archive.md/ipwdR

Nice to see a couple of new 'palyers' on the track...

 

[CountryLad]

Lindsay hitting targets left and right no doubt and who’s the ginger that’s pale as buggery in that photo?

 

[Elite Pete]

Lindsay hitting targets left and right no doubt and who’s the ginger that’s pale as buggery in that photo?

The WAFL top up player from Vic Archie Watt

 

[Bender_]

Lindsay hitting targets left and right no doubt and who’s the ginger that’s pale as buggery in that photo?

This is slowly becoming a board meme now.

 

[CountryLad]

The WAFL top up player from Vic.

He’s needs to get down to chemist warehouse and get himself a 1litre of SPF 50+.

 

[bzparkes]

This is slowly becoming a board meme now.

 

[Doashuey]

Anyway

https://archive.md/ipwdR

Nice to see a couple of new 'palyers' on the track...

 

[Cuzz09]

Will be a glorious day when Ginbey sheds his weird locks

 

[squashface]

Gross looking beefy.

Bodes well

 

[THE A5]

The difference in rhetoric between Harley and Duursma from the media couldn’t be more stark. Both Vic Country kids, but you haven’t heard a peep about Willem not wanting to be here, that the Eagles need to trade the pick etc.

Have the media learned their lesson? Or is the agenda just not that big to push for Duursma?

harley was seen as a generational talent in the same vein as JHF. Duursma is a gun but he never been seen in as that sorta of talent by the media

 

[THE A5]

View attachment 2484594

Nice pic of Keys

 

[ghostbat12]

The difference in rhetoric between Harley and Duursma from the media couldn’t be more stark. Both Vic Country kids, but you haven’t heard a peep about Willem not wanting to be here, that the Eagles need to trade the pick etc.

Have the media learned their lesson? Or is the agenda just not that big to push for Duursma?

one could argue the attack is working. These boys are shit scared of even hinting of going home....let alone actually making the decision to do so. You have to be ready to go through that gauntlet. Lets see who is Mr Tough Guy.

 

[SAweagle]

Boys Iam deadass
I saw Ryan Maric and Harry ****ing Barnett at the cricket

Harry’s now in a knee brace and limping around Optus.
How’s this bloke still on our list

While Banfield heads to the cesspool in St Kilda

 

[TY24]

I’m going to ban the first person who posts the “and so it begins” gif

 

[Keys]

The West report from splinters refers to a group of players limited to a lot of running that included Barnett without any mention of him being in a knee brace. Wasn’t wearing a brace in the photo of him walking into training either (unless it was under the trackies he was wearing)

So hopefully whatever the issue with his knee was, it doesn’t impact his preseason too much because he definitely needs a good one

 

[Keys]

The name my daughter bestowed on me for my grandkids to use is Grumps

You wanna find out why that name was chosen

 

[Keys]

Press conference with the draftees this afternoon

 

[RustyShacklefordFalcon]

Farken hell Dev is a solid unit. Schoenberg is looking really fit too which is great.

I know a lot of posters reckon Fin, Dev and Harry won't make a difference but I have to disagree with that sentiment. Having those extra big bodies in the center (at WAFL or senior level) is going to transform our midfield. Frees up Harley and Hewett to attack more and play their natural game.

I don't think it could be reasonably argued that it's taking development time away from the young mids either. Getting smashed from pillar to post every week and losing every game is no way to develop them anyway.

Pre-season optimism...soak it in!

 

[Happy Mastenator]

I’m going to ban the first person who posts the “and so it begins” gif

 

[GoEaglesGoSGIO]

Any news on Charlie Banfield and how he trained ?

 

[Keys]

Whether it’s just over preseason or a more permanent arrangement who knows but this is a good thing

 

[RanaNaved]

If I just saw Schoenbergs' head I'd assume he was obese

 

[KERRPOW]

The name my daughter bestowed on me for my grandkids to use is Grumps

You wanna find out why that name was chosen

Grumpa

 

[HoneyBadger35]

If I just saw Schoenbergs' head I'd assume he was obese

Remarkable isn’t it, like a sentient brick.

 

[KERRPOW]

I’m going to ban the first person who posts the “and so it begins” gif