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

 

[THE A5]

first session and all but, Gee.

i can actually see Kelly finally being relegated to the wafl full time. The excuse to play him was the lack of senior bodies to help the young mids. We actually need at least one of the three ssp boys to really to do that. Think Dev’s will provide that senior body, especially inside where TK was useless

 

[WestCoast05]

Will be a glorious day when Ginbey sheds his weird locks

Don't Samson him Delilah

 

[Astro7]

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!

Yep, curious to see how all the newcomers fit in, who excels, any surprises or busts etc.
And how they impact or change the playing group as a whole.
There was a bit of chatter on the draft thread about how some inductees were just Wafl fodder and won't make a difference to our best 23.
Time will tell, feeling bullish.

 

[Yeahnahmate]

We now have two Harry's on the list with enormous melons.

And we got Big Tyts

 

[Byron_Clanger]

I'm dying they got the kids running around with their names stickered on their chests

 

[HoneyBadger35]

I'm dying they got the kids running around with their names stickered on their chests

Going to only refer to him as Fred Rodriguez now, in full every time, no exceptions, it’s what the name tag wants.

 

[juice568]

I'm dying they got the kids running around with their names stickered on their chests

This is amatuer

 

[HoneyBadger35]

This is amatuer

Surely not, it’s a pisser. Feel like it’s an instant free bit of team building, the world’s most minor rookie hazing. Good low stakes footy club fare.

 

[Astro7]

It’s not panic, just disgust at the length of contract he received. I wonder if he’s lost his love for game again? Cos I certainly lost my love for the contract he’s on.

Gawd, here we go, picking right up from last season, neverending, hasn't even started the season, first day back at training and the boots are in...some things never change.

 

[Astro7]

I'm dying they got the kids running around with their names stickered on their chests

Funny, like junior school...I guess it helps.

 

[Barrybran]

Going to only refer to him as Fred Rodriguez now, in full every time, no exceptions, it’s what the name tag wants.

Strong Rob Lowe in Parks and Rec vibes here

 

[GoEaglesGoSGIO]

Kelly should be sent to train by himself in reality if he is in the worst condition of the lot. Not sure why we need to baby him so much

 

[Wooshaaaa]

first session and all but, Gee.

Yep. WAFL come on down.

 

[WCErevival]

Kelly should be sent to train by himself in reality if he is in the worst condition of the lot. Not sure why we need to baby him so much

He'll just sit in the WAFL for the remainder of his time if he doesnt put in the effort. We have plenty of depth to cover him now.

 

[THE A5]

He'll just sit in the WAFL for the remainder of his time if he doesnt put in the effort. We have plenty of depth to cover him now.

Low key hope he gets annoyed by it and just retires

 

[Byron_Clanger]

DUURSMA ON DECK

"Yes Duurs, BANG!, that's why we got him"

 

[PepperTom32]

Strong Rob Lowe in Parks and Rec vibes here

I was literally thinking the same thing.

 

[juice568]

Kelly should be sent to train by himself in reality if he is in the worst condition of the lot. Not sure why we need to baby him so much

They both said tim kelly

 

[RustyShacklefordFalcon]

And we got Big Tyts

Absolutely this has gotta be his nickname

 

[RookiePick]

Josh Lindsay's head has a disturbing level of "Maynard-ness" about it.

Wouldn't complain if he has a bit of mongrel in him though!

 

[Keys]

Josh Lindsay's head has a disturbing level of "Maynard-ness" about it.

Wouldn't complain if he has a bit of mongrel in him though!

Sounds like he actually has something inside his though

Unlike Maynard

 

[DorothyG]

We have plenty of depth to cover him now.

 

[eaglevision]

Sounds like he actually has something inside his though

Unlike Maynard

To be fair to Maynard there would be a piece of Liam Ryan floating around in there somewhere.

 

[jdisc]

View attachment 2485055

he might actually be behind Dev

 

[Shuestar13]

Gawd, here we go, picking right up from last season, neverending, hasn't even started the season, first day back at training and the boots are in...some things never change.

I trust you are not in any way surprised
The obsession with him is a polite way to describe it.

However, big season ahead. If be wants to fulfil the full terms of his contract, will need to perform, especially now that there is more mature competition. Do see a bit more time in the WAFL - which in reality is as it should be, the young players need to start taking over. Still no reason to denigrate him