Training Pre-Season 2026 chat

[Scorpio]

I think he needs to do more than bounce back to get a spot. He needs to become a player he's never actually been before.

1.6 goals a game (sounds pretty good on paper) but SFA else won't guarantee him a spot anymore, and that's if he can even do that - which he couldn't in '25.

He needs a Stevie-J style '06 off-season mindset shift and to actually adopt the team first ethos, and while I too am hopeful, I can't say I'm expecting it.

You’d like to think his end of season review would’ve contained a few hard truths. Some players never get the hint though

 

[Catman]

Do we think the guy in photo #5 may be able to slot into the midfield?

Would finally give the "Geelong are too old" trolls some decent ammo!

 

[Mr Meow]

Polkinghorne is effectively competing with Martin and Ollie Henry for a spot, Molier only with Neale. If Molier has a big pre season and Neale starts ‘26 slowly then he could easily get an opportunity. Going to be more difficult for Polkinghorne unless we drop Close for him which isn’t like for like.

None of us liked his finals series, but there isn't a world where Neale gets dropped next season.

 

[year of the cat]

None of us liked his finals series, but there isn't a world where Neale gets dropped next season.

Unlikely I agree. But I would not say impossible.

 

[Mr Meow]

Unlikely I agree. But I would not say impossible.

Maybe a world in one of the far-distant universes.

 

[Kobe Gryant]

Maybe a world in one of the far-distant universes.

Very true. We've already seen him work through a patch of poor form and reap the rewards, and the coaches will know that backing him in works until proven otherwise.

Quite literally went from one of the worst performed key forwards in the league for the first 8 weeks, to one of the best for the final 15 weeks statistically.

It would take something like 15 rounds of awful football to dump him I reckon, in conjunction with Molier smashing it in the VFL.

In other words, it won't happen.

 

[bombersboy]

The big step up Shannon needs to take this year is to lift his performance against the good key backs - guys like Andrews, Taylor, Weedering, Pierce.

 

[cats_09]

 

[The rabbi]

Agree he is still only a kid and still growing into his body. I just think we need to temper expectations and admit he is probably still 1-3 years away from AFL. On exposed form with both having a full pre season I think Molier is the more likely of the two to debut.

Molier first to debut, maybe yes. But become a permanent ruck?
As for the future ruck position, I will stick with Edwards.
As for those currently on the list, I see Molier as the most likely to be a KPF working along with Shannon Neale in the future.

 

[The rabbi]

Do we think the guy in photo #5 may be able to slot into the midfield?

Would finally give the "Geelong are too old" trolls some decent ammo!

It is probably worth looking at the age of our midfielders.

Patrick Dangerfield 36
Baily Smith 25
Tanner Bruhn 24
Max Holmes 23
Mitch Knevitt 23
Jack Bowes 28
Jhye Clark 21.5
George Stevens 21
Oliver Dempsey 23
Tom Atkins 30
James Worpel 27

That works out to an age average of 25.5

And that does not include our recent young draftees who are mids.
So the age of the midfield looks pretty good, especially if we consider that the old bloke at the top, who is nearly as old as I am, will retire in the near future, or drop into the forward line.

 

[Jumping Jack]

Any Conway sightings out on the track or is he heading straight to the doctors office to complete his normal pre season.

I get that the club has taken a very cautious approach with him and rightly so, but it would be an under statement to say that we need him to put together an extended run of games next season to actually get a decent look at him at AFL level - and to help the team. From all reports, the surgery was a success and he was expected to join in pre season this side of Christmas.

Interested to know if he's been spotted. I'm guessing he still fits into the first to fourth year category amongst those players that returned this week. At this stage I'd be buoyed by any reports confirming that he's able to stand on his own two feet unassisted.

 

[Willo_]

Any Conway sightings out on the track or is he heading straight to the doctors office to complete his normal pre season.

I get that the club has taken a very cautious approach with him and rightly so, but it would be an under statement to say that we need him to put together an extended run of games next season to actually get a decent look at him at AFL level - and to help the team. From all reports, the surgery was a success and he was expected to join in pre season this side of Christmas.

Interested to know if he's been spotted. I'm guessing he still fits into the first to fourth year category amongst those players that returned this week. At this stage I'd be buoyed by any reports confirming that he's able to stand on his own two feet unassisted.

There was a photo of him day 1 walking into the club with a backpack, yet to see or hear anything of him since so there is every chance the 25m walk with a back pack caused a stress reaction in his back and his will not be seen again until May

 

[cats_09]

Any Conway sightings out on the track or is he heading straight to the doctors office to complete his normal pre season.

I get that the club has taken a very cautious approach with him and rightly so, but it would be an under statement to say that we need him to put together an extended run of games next season to actually get a decent look at him at AFL level - and to help the team. From all reports, the surgery was a success and he was expected to join in pre season this side of Christmas.

Interested to know if he's been spotted. I'm guessing he still fits into the first to fourth year category amongst those players that returned this week. At this stage I'd be buoyed by any reports confirming that he's able to stand on his own two feet unassisted.

Considering he'd be barely 2 months post surgery, I'd be surprised if he was doing any serious training this side of Xmas

 

[Gazza Greatness]

Any Conway sightings out on the track or is he heading straight to the doctors office to complete his normal pre season.

I get that the club has taken a very cautious approach with him and rightly so, but it would be an under statement to say that we need him to put together an extended run of games next season to actually get a decent look at him at AFL level - and to help the team. From all reports, the surgery was a success and he was expected to join in pre season this side of Christmas.

Interested to know if he's been spotted. I'm guessing he still fits into the first to fourth year category amongst those players that returned this week. At this stage I'd be buoyed by any reports confirming that he's able to stand on his own two feet unassisted.

JJ: Toby's body still hasn't reached full maturity but the issue we've got, is with him having these unfortunate ongoing injuries while his body is still maturing, that there isn't any ongoing chronic or underlining issues that prevents him from reaching his full potential. And yeah, we won't know that for certain until he gets on the park and has a full crack at it but also to why the frustration and concern from fans because it just seems like forever when it comes to him getting on the park to show us what encouraging talents his possesses.

For me JJ:, it's even more-so because I've pretty much said from the get-go that he'll be a top 3 ruckman in the AFL when his body fully matures and certainly a generational Geelong ruckman which is why the club has been so cautious and patience with him, because guys like him are rare..... but yeah, the clock is ticking, so here's hoping.

 

[cats_09]

 

[bombersboy]

Any Conway sightings out on the track or is he heading straight to the doctors office to complete his normal pre season.

I get that the club has taken a very cautious approach with him and rightly so, but it would be an under statement to say that we need him to put together an extended run of games next season to actually get a decent look at him at AFL level - and to help the team. From all reports, the surgery was a success and he was expected to join in pre season this side of Christmas.

Interested to know if he's been spotted. I'm guessing he still fits into the first to fourth year category amongst those players that returned this week. At this stage I'd be buoyed by any reports confirming that he's able to stand on his own two feet unassisted.

Am I right in assuming that if he returns this side of Christmas that reports of how series the injury was and the extent of the surgery were incorrect?

 

[Willo_]

Just had to go to the Cats shop for some Santa duties, saw Tall Toby leaving, can confirm he is very tall. Also walking unassisted which is always a bonus. I did spot a young bloke in a knee brace moving very very slow and awkwardly.. I THINK it was Bourke but had no real idea and didn't want to be obvious staring to work it out.

It was either Bourke or one of the other random no names we drafted last year that will be gone in 12 months

 

[cats_09]

Photos from week one of training:

• photo#3, Toby Conway - but he doesn't appear to be wearing the same taking training gear as the others, so maybe observing rather than participating
• photos #8 & 9, Cillian Burke - there's some taping under his right knee, but he would appear to be involved in training

 

[Willo_]

Photos from week one of training:

• photo#3, Toby Conway - but he doesn't appear to be wearing the same taking training gear as the others, so maybe observing rather than participating
• photos #8 & 9, Cillian Burke - there's some taping under his right knee, but he would appear to be involved in training

Doesn't mean those photos were today... Could also be really fresh, could also be super precautionary, I've looked at the profiles though and he's as close as it looked to who I saw

Or was just a coincidence that a random bloke with a back pack came out from the same area as Toby via the Cafe

 

[Pure_Ownage]

Unlikely I agree. But I would not say impossible.

It's unlikely given stanley is cooked Conway is injured and Edwards isnt ready. Neales ability to second ruck alone will keep him in.

 

[Pure_Ownage]

Photos from week one of training:

• photo#3, Toby Conway - but he doesn't appear to be wearing the same taking training gear as the others, so maybe observing rather than participating
• photos #8 & 9, Cillian Burke - there's some taping under his right knee, but he would appear to be involved in training

Worpel looks like hes in really good nick. Hopefully he gets back to his best. Hoffman too.

I want to see Clark do nothing but run this pre season.

 

[CatToTheFuture]

Just had to go to the Cats shop for some Santa duties, saw Tall Toby leaving, can confirm he is very tall. Also walking unassisted which is always a bonus. I did spot a young bloke in a knee brace moving very very slow and awkwardly.. I THINK it was Bourke but had no real idea and didn't want to be obvious staring to work it out.

It was either Bourke or one of the other random no names we drafted last year that will be gone in 12 months

If he had the osteoectomy or whatever it was we were surmising then he'd not long be out the moon boot so that' a plus

Burke is training in the photos so aint him

 

[CatToTheFuture]

Worpel looks like hes in really good nick. Hopefully he gets back to his best. Hoffman too.

I want to see Clark do nothing but run this pre season.

He can run and do weights. He needs both

 

[Schmuck]

Hoffman has put on a fair bit of size
Worpel looking fit

Very bullish on both of them

George and Stewy both looking pretty trim also

 

[CatToTheFuture]

Hoffman has put on a fair bit of size
Worpel looking fit

Very bullish on both of them

George and Stewy both looking pretty trim also

Reckon for uncapped players Hofmann looks closest to it