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

 

[Bender_]

Duursma looking to get his photo in the dictionary next to 'Rangy'. Those long arms are going to cause some trouble for the opposition in the air.

 

[WestIsBest96]

Hey im new here and a member(WCE) , unsure if its been mentioned but Matt Flynn in an interview today mentioned Hamish Davis being the biggest improver so far over the off season/ first sessions. If he can lift to make a wing spot his own and hopefully have a breakout season like Dan Curtin, that would be great..

 

[THE A5]

Duursma looking to get his photo in the dictionary next to 'Rangy'. Those long arms are going to cause some trouble for the opposition in the air.

Man gonna be unreal having a Bont type and Dusty type on the same midfield. Also Hewett would make an awesome third banana

 

[domad33]

Damn, I like the cut of this man's jib

 

[Spooky17]

I think Lindsay has a big future ahead of him and we’ve got a bargain at pick 19. His disposal and IQ are elite. I reckon he’ll line up round one.

 

[PremiershipNo4]

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.

That’s the thing about football forums, they’re there for people to post opinions, it doesn’t mean we have to like them.
Knock yourself out and put up a TK poster in your dunny if you want.
Personally I’d prefer if he wasn’t on the list at all and Banfield was.

 

[WCErevival]

Hey im new here and a member(WCE) , unsure if its been mentioned but Matt Flynn in an interview today mentioned Hamish Davis being the biggest improver so far over the off season/ first sessions. If he can lift to make a wing spot his own and hopefully have a breakout season like Dan Curtin, that would be great..

Interesting. I would have had Duursma and Allan on the wings. There's going to be some disappointed players come round one.

 

[garlic munchers]

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

Or TK actually becomes a decent close to goal small fwd.

Probably the change he needs.

 

[Truckosaurus]

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

Dad?!

Seriously though, I thought I was being unique when I came up with that for my father after my nephew was born

 

[JoshWoodenSpoon]

Damn, I like the cut of this man's jib rig

Hearing you loud and clear.

 

[Bender_]

Hearing you loud and clear.

Should see it through binoculars from the privacy of my red Jeep.

 

[GoEaglesGoSGIO]

I expect Josh Lindsay to be the face of the WCE Superstore for atleast the next 10 years. What a mug

 

[THE A5]

Or TK actually becomes a decent close to goal small fwd.

Probably the change he needs.

Rather see the current smalls play there than a 32 year old who has never played that role at AFL level.

If TK is going to put the work in to play midfield of HFF, we shouldn’t go out of the way just to fit him in.

I’ve spent years defending TK and that trade but over the last 18 months I’ve just grown tired of him.

 

[WCErevival]

Rather see the current smalls play there than a 32 year old who has never played that role at AFL level.

If TK is going to put the work in to play midfield of HFF, we shouldn’t go out of the way just to fit him in.

I’ve spent years defending TK and that trade but over the last 18 months I’ve just grown tired of him.

He was pretty decent in the final month of the year to be fair. Was terrible before that though.

 

[DorothyG]

heck what is being put in the chicken these days

 

[eagles rule]

Hey im new here and a member(WCE) , unsure if its been mentioned but Matt Flynn in an interview today mentioned Hamish Davis being the biggest improver so far over the off season/ first sessions. If he can lift to make a wing spot his own and hopefully have a breakout season like Dan Curtin, that would be great..

Davis looks to be have put some size on and he is a super runner no reason why he can`t make the wing his own .The competition for spots will be hot though as we have bought in a few ready made footballers in Tyler Young ,Starc ,Dev ,Macrae ,Duursma ,Lindsay and Shoenberg .

 

[Farmer Lister]

After last year's performance, rocking up dead last and then coming dead last in the MAS is not a great look. Is 17km/hr a decent time? Not getting much joy from Google

 

[WCEswift]

After last year's performance, rocking up dead last and then coming dead last in the MAS is not a great look. Is 17km/hr a decent time? Not getting much joy from Google

Its like being the least ******ed freo fan. you are least ******ed yes, but also still a freo fan

 

[Astro7]

That’s the thing about football forums, they’re there for people to post opinions, it doesn’t mean we have to like them.
Knock yourself out and put up a TK poster in your dunny if you want.
Personally I’d prefer if he wasn’t on the list at all and Banfield was.

That's right, I didn't agree with your opinion and said so. That's what a football forum is about. I'll pass on the dunny suggestion thanks, a wild presumption that I idolise him?
It's his first day back at training ffs. Clearly you don't like him full stop and I get that.
Who cares about Banfield, he's gone.

 

[TY24]

Hey im new here and a member(WCE) , unsure if its been mentioned but Matt Flynn in an interview today mentioned Hamish Davis being the biggest improver so far over the off season/ first sessions. If he can lift to make a wing spot his own and hopefully have a breakout season like Dan Curtin, that would be great..

Welcome, great info!

 

[archiemoses]

Pretty damning effort by TK. Have to assume his papers are stamped for 2026. WAFL depth only. Senior players need to be setting the standard as a minimum expectation

 

[wadistance]

DUURSMA ON DECK

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

Kids got big wings … and absolute buckets for hands

 

[Seadog]

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

You should be sent to that other dimension where Sharpy and GoRo hang out, oh wait you've already gone, stay safe.

 

[Cuzz09]

Lindsay is a cross of Maynard, Pendles and a Mo-less [PLAYERCARD]Tom Cole[/PLAYERCARD]

 

[flamingEMBERS]

Damn, I like the cut of this man's jib
View attachment 2485070

Don’t worry, he’ll be eagle’d soon with spaghetti arms