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

 

[Proeagle]

So you're saying definitely put a pineapple on us winning the premiership?

As long as its against VIC teams for sure. Definitely why we stormed over the top of the pies in 2018.

 

[Proeagle]

Other way around.

It's quite easy for 2nd year players to have the tank to run up and down the ground all game but it's a bigger issue when they don't have the size to compete for a full game at stoppage.

It's basically what made Harley so unique in that regard.

They also see him long term as a midfielder anyway, so better to get him up the ground earlier on, especially since Chesser's gone.

He could realistically player that Courtney Demspey role. He's already a very good runner but he's also very athletically gifted as well.

Agreed. And I would definitely rather see Bo running up and down the wing chasing Darcy Jones, than what we saw of Duggan lagging behind him in that GWS game. Even with an ACL, he would out sprint Duggan.

We have been desperate for fast paced wingers. Now we might have Allen, Bo and def starter the ginger Davis.

 

[FKASC]

Chin up, there’s always Uber Eats

 

[CountryLad]

Very interesting take on preseason training.
Would you prefer a Clint Eastwood style or maybe a more Putin style?
Maybe if we just shoot whoever comes last in the 2km time trial after Xmas, just to set an example?

No don’t shoot Harley we need him.

This guy was there today, no idea who he is though:

View attachment 2490259


Is that the new midfield coach we got from Melbourne?

Ben Stokes? Think he’s in Brisbane though.

Edit: i mean HoneyBadger35

 

[wadistance]

Fair point, most people are up jogging and cycling etc from daybreak to before the heat turns on.
Also why light sessions and no shows on Wednesday...is it go hard on Monday and Friday?
Is Wednesday a physio, podiatrist and psychiatrist day? ((;

Most people do this because they have jobs to go to.

Sleep is also recovery, and the players would be making sure they get a long sleep and wake up at a fairly normal time.

Heat training > altitude training, the fitness adaptations you get from it are incredible.

The club also want the media there for the most part for PR… makes it more likely that more turn up.

 

[Happy Mastenator]

Flynn and Williams would lose in the ruck against a hat stand.

Can we get this hat stand as a Cat B rookie?

 

[AsterixTheGaul]

The club also want the media there for the most part for PR… makes it more likely that more turn up.

Not sure how much the club have ever cared about the media. Let’s face facts, communications to fans for West Coast is not a high priority unless it involves and income stream.

 

[Astro7]

Most people do this because they have jobs to go to.

Sleep is also recovery, and the players would be making sure they get a long sleep and wake up at a fairly normal time.

Heat training > altitude training, the fitness adaptations you get from it are incredible.

The club also want the media there for the most part for PR… makes it more likely that more turn up.

Ok, but generally I think most people exercise early in the morning job or no job.

 

[TwoStriders]

Can we get this hat stand as a Cat B rookie?

Unfortunately the hat-stand's Dad forgot to open the NGA-nomination email.

 

[Farang83150]

Didn't notice but was Dev on the track yesterday?

 

[Doashuey]

If somebody posts something witty i am totally fine laughing at it even if it is at my expense. But that was such a bad attempt at being cutting and witty it is hard to fathom. Nor is it accurate since i have never called for Clarke or Pyke to be sacked so that adds further to how lacking in wit it was.

I don't know if anybody has told you this before but you are not very bright. It is obvious from your posts that you are a very angry person, very immature, have a very thin skin and are a real low altitude flyer. You have an IQ lower than that of the average Deliveroo driver. You should stay well away from future attempts at humour.

Thin-skinned you say?

Interesting.

 

[Wooshaaaa]

Any of the sport science nerds in here able to answer why we seem to start training at around 9/9:30 in the off season?

You don't see many people out running/cycling at that time of day

Days like Monday are going to happen pretty often in Perth where is pushing mid 30s by 10am.

Is there a physiological reason why the seen to start so late? 7-9 would make more sense to me, or even night training, like 7pm onwards?

Just a random thought that's been on my mind

Sleep. The most important for recovery.

Heat. Physiological adaptation to heat training quite similar to altitude training.

 

[Elite Pete]

Didn't notice but was Dev on the track yesterday?

Club put a photo of him up. Arms looking big.

 

[Bender_]

Can we get this hat stand as a Cat B rookie?

His full name is Robert Bullwinkle.

 

[Goroyals22]

First sell out

 

[flyinghi64]

So is Gross recovering from some injury or surgery?
Just seems to spend every training session on a bike or running.
Has he been asked to go bulk up and now are they just concentrating on his fitness, speed and endurance?

Just seems weird he hasn't been involved in any of the actual skills and ball work, so far as I can tell of the much appreciated training reports.

 

[Truly Lazuli]

First sell out

The Harley Duuuurrsma realisation

 

[The Gtrain]

The Harley Duuuurrsma realisation

Or that it only holds about 9k people

 

[Dark Sharks]

Are people seriously writing off Bo Allan already???

 

[PRANKSTER666]

Are people seriously writing off Bo Allan already???

Who?

 

[Big_Birdy]

Are people seriously writing off Bo Allan already???

 

[Happy Mastenator]

Or that it only holds about 9k people

Excuse me, it holds 15,000. Should have played North there. Might not have sold it out.

 

[Chris_6678]

So is Gross recovering from some injury or surgery?
Just seems to spend every training session on a bike or running.
Has he been asked to go bulk up and now are they just concentrating on his fitness, speed and endurance?

Just seems weird he hasn't been involved in any of the actual skills and ball work, so far as I can tell of the much appreciated training reports.

Was thinking the same as he was doing a power of running over 2 weeks. Maybe he has had to pull pack?

 

[Dark Sharks]

What an odd photo. The more you look the odder it gets.

CDT looks like a custom Player in AFL25 you've changed the stats on. Schlong is a midget.

 

[Jeremy McLovin]

What an odd photo. The more you look the odder it gets.

CDT looks like a custom Player in AFL25 you've changed the stats on. Schlong is a midget.

View attachment 2490859

CDT growth spurt? Looks like there's a lot more than 10cm difference between him and Snake.