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

 

[Keys]

Don’t sleep on Jack Williams just yet.

He’s doing a power of work to get himself in shape

Going to be good competition for spots among the big blokes

Flynn, Reid, Jilliams, Waterman, Shanahan and CDT all competing for 4 spots with Bailey Williams to join them once he gets through the rehab on his knee

Probably wishful thinking that Barnett can also elevate himself to join that competition. Rehabbing from his own knee issue hasn’t helped

 

[RanaNaved]

Nah, I've definitely given up on J Williams. He can do all the running he likes, his legs and footwork are just too slow for modern footy. He's a truck

 

[Wild Kelly]

Have many or any teams had guy's looking like Cuz, he was known for his physique and drug use

Yep, that's all!

 

[eaglevision]

Don’t sleep on Jack Williams just yet.

He’s doing a power of work to get himself in shape

Going to be good competition for spots among the big blokes

Flynn, Reid, Jilliams, Waterman, Shanahan and CDT all competing for 4 spots with Bailey Williams to join them once he gets through the rehab on his knee

Probably wishful thinking that Barnett can also elevate himself to join that competition. Rehabbing from his own knee issue hasn’t helped

Barnett has a PCL strain which isn’t a great injury for a ruckman. Shanahan and Waterman have the KPF spots sewn up for the foreseeable future. Barnett and Bailey should be interchangeably used in the ruck and at CHB. They are the only positions either realistically have a future at the club.

 

[FKASC]

Are people seriously writing off Jack Williams after a number of years in the squad

 

[Farang83150]

Are people seriously writing off Jack Williams after a number of years in the squad

Not surprised, plenty on here write people off before they've even fired a shot!

 

[TheBudgies]

Nah, I've definitely given up on J Williams. He can do all the running he likes, his legs and footwork are just too slow for modern footy. He's a truck

The post is literally that he is working on the issue you have... also think his footy smarts might carry him through ahead of Bailey/Barnett.

 

[WCE777]

The post is literally that he is working on the issue you have... also think his footy smarts might carry him through ahead of Bailey/Barnett.

JW is considerably ahead of BW and Barnett and there are many more players to get off this list befor JW.
If he gets his fitness base up he is at worst a KPF depth, he seems to have been told to improve his athletic ability and by reports he is working hard on that area.
He has enough talent, footy IQ and ruck craft to be a decent player.

 

[eaglespremiers]

Still have absolutely zero proof this Archie Watt bloke exists, convinced the board is trying to meme a life into existence.

Just for you:

 

[Ilkka Sinisalo]

Barnett has a PCL strain which isn’t a great injury for a ruckman. Shanahan and Waterman have the KPF spots sewn up for the foreseeable future. Barnett and Bailey should be interchangeably used in the ruck and at CHB. They are the only positions either realistically have a future at the club.

Shanahan has played one season and Waterman has missed more than half of the season in two of the last three years. I don’t think we are anywhere near the point where we need to be pushing guys away from the tall forward role because we are just too loaded there.

 

[Ilkka Sinisalo]

Just for you:
View attachment 2491704
View attachment 2491705
View attachment 2491706
View attachment 2491708

Oh dear.

This bloke is going to have to train from 1am to 4am during the summer.

 

[bzparkes]

Just for you:
View attachment 2491704
View attachment 2491705
View attachment 2491706
View attachment 2491708

Mate, it's not nice to bullshit a fellow poster.

HoneyBadger35 I got you mate. A pic of Archie below.

I'm sure it's just like looking into a mirror for you.

 

[jdisc]

Just for you:
View attachment 2491704
View attachment 2491705
View attachment 2491706
View attachment 2491708

who is this red head

 

[Avalor]

Just for you:
View attachment 2491704
View attachment 2491705
View attachment 2491706
View attachment 2491708

Pale as buggery!

 

[Eastern Rangers]

Pale as buggery!

 

[Truckosaurus]

Do albinos come under Cat B?

 

[LittleFires]

howd it look in the sim?

Archer wasn't necessarily prolific in the match sim but he competed well in the ruck against Flynn. It definitely helps that he looks to have bulked up significantly over the off-season

Excellent write up as always.

From your opinion how is Hewett tracking? A couple of years ago he was the great white hope but since Harley has joined has really taken a back seat (injury had a big role) and with Willem kind of taking his robbin role kind of makes you wonder how he's going. If he doesn't come on the way we hope that could be a big blow.

He's been tracking nicely without being a standout just yet. The main positive is that he looks to be injury-free - has had a lighter training load this week but I suspect that's more load management than anything.

I'm also really excited by his potential so hopefully he can start building a bit of momentum through this preseason and really step up in 2026 as a reliable midfielder.

 

[eaglevision]

Shanahan has played one season and Waterman has missed more than half of the season in two of the last three years. I don’t think we are anywhere near the point where we need to be pushing guys away from the tall forward role because we are just too loaded there.

Jack Williams, Archer Reid and even Maric ahead of both of them as tall forwards.

 

[Dark Sharks]

https://archive.md/DT9JL

"This is set to benefit athletic, high-leaping ruckmen such as Duff-Tytler, who no longer must grapple with bigger, stronger men......."

 

[FKASC]

"This is set to benefit athletic, high-leaping ruckmen such as Duff-Tytler, who no longer must grapple with bigger, stronger men......."


View attachment 2491788



View attachment 2491790
View attachment 2491791

Zeke Uwland already taken over from Witts as GC ruckman

 

[Weshi]

Lot's of writing people off 4 months before the season even starts.
As I see it everyone with a contract is in with a shot, up to them to earn it!
I get a sense of a lot more competition for spots this season so players will have to earn it.
The 5 on the bench opens up more flexibility where teams can switch between a small fast forward line then to a taller one, it may create some havoc to some backlines that can't adapt!
As for CDT playing next season, I don't think he fits the traditional ruck mould of either too skinny or too cumbersome he seems to be agile and quick, he may not ruck much but he could find a spot in the team!

 

[bzparkes]

Zeke Uwland already taken over from Witts as GC ruckman

I also look forward to Sam Allen picking up ruck duties for WCE when he returns from his ACL.

 

[GoEaglesGoSGIO]

I also look forward to Sam Allen picking up ruck duties for WCE when he returns from his ACL.

Still dont get why we dont just ruck like this

 

[garlic munchers]

Not surprised, plenty on here write people off before they've even fired a shot!

So, too early to go on Brockman?

 

[THE A5]

Just for you:
View attachment 2491704
View attachment 2491705
View attachment 2491706
View attachment 2491708

Did badge give you his consent to take and post these pics?