Training 2026 Pre-Season Training - reports, pics etc

[The Blue Weirdo]

Cheers!

Ison up forward or can we see him on a wing to get selection?

Interesting re: Acres - VFL on the cards if his kicking remains the same? Coaches/MC need to hold firm on the selection criteria if we’ve got turnover merchants.

Didn’t hear on the results of BA vs Chesser & Lucas vs OH wing matchups.

Chesser was described as very vocal on the field, which I thought was encouraging for a new kid.
Blacres, Ollie and the Campo's were placed in the same 'poor' disposal category.

 

[V23]

O. Hollands back to the wing. Common sense prevails.

 

[Blue By Blood]

O. Hollands back to the wing. Common sense prevails.

Let's hope his time off half back has helped him learn more positional craft to find the footy. Always looks lost on the wing to me. He's a great runner that's undisputed but he really doesn't play like a wing or half back but he also doesn't have the body to be primarily inside. He's a big watch for me this season. Hopefully he can take his game up a level as he has the talent.

 

[C4[2]Yo`DooR]

Nothing earth shattering but a few high level notes from the ground:

Elijah is absolutely flying and exceeding expectations. He originally had poor skinfolds, which they’re putting down as a byproduct of the removal of certain vices.

Ben Ainsworth

9

Ben Ainsworth

Age

27

Ht

178cm

Wt

77kg

Pos.

Fwd

Career

Season

Last 5

D

14.1

4star

K

8.1

3star

HB

6.1

4star

M

3.5

4star

T

2.7

4star

G

0.7

4star

D

12.8

3star

K

8.3

3star

HB

4.5

3star

M

4.0

4star

T

2.3

3star

G

1.0

4star

D

13.6

4star

K

6.8

3star

HB

6.8

5star

M

3.8

4star

T

3.4

5star

G

0.6

3star

is starring on the track.

The team already feels tighter and more cohesive now post players moving on.

Ison/Dean have hit the ground running due to their prior involvement with the club via NGA

Will likely have a recently delisted player from another club joining our train on group in the next week or so.

 

[The Bighouse]

Nothing earth shattering but a few high level notes from the ground:

Elijah is absolutely flying and exceeding expectations. He originally had poor skinfolds, which they’re putting down as a byproduct of the removal of certain vices.

Ben Ainsworth is starring on the track.

The team already feels tighter and more cohesive now post players moving on.

Ison/Dean have hit the ground running due to their prior involvement with the club via NGA

Will likely have a recently delisted player from another club joining our train on group in the next week or so.

Welcome back Will Setterfield…!?

 

[carlton_99]

Nothing earth shattering but a few high level notes from the ground:

Elijah is absolutely flying and exceeding expectations. He originally had poor skinfolds, which they’re putting down as a byproduct of the removal of certain vices.

Ben Ainsworth is starring on the track.

The team already feels tighter and more cohesive now post players moving on.

Ison/Dean have hit the ground running due to their prior involvement with the club via NGA

Will likely have a recently delisted player from another club joining our train on group in the next week or so.

Thanks for the update mate. Does that mean they will be trying out for the VFL? Thought we could only have the two train-on players with our one open list spot.

 

[C4[2]Yo`DooR]

Thanks for the update mate. Does that mean they will be trying out for the VFL? Thought we could only have the two train-on players with our one open list spot.

This I don’t know sorry.

 

[The Bighouse]

This I don’t know sorry.

Not A.Davey Jnr?

 

[WalshistheGOAT]

Cheers!

Ison up forward or can we see him on a wing to get selection?

Interesting re: Acres - VFL on the cards if his kicking remains the same? Coaches/MC need to hold firm on the selection criteria if we’ve got turnover merchants.

Didn’t hear on the results of BA vs Chesser & Lucas vs OH wing matchups.

I would think Ison will play predominately half forward, wouldn't expect him to spend a heap of time playing wing as he's not renowned for any sort of elite tank + a plethora of options there for our list already. With a potential to move on ball the more appealing plan for the future I'd expect him to play a similar role to Moir early days and hopefully build his endurance and stoppage craft to a level where he can play majority mid resting forward.

 

[The Bighouse]

I would think Ison will play predominately half forward, wouldn't expect him to spend a heap of time playing wing as he's not renowned for any sort of elite tank + a plethora of options there for our list already. With a potential to move on ball the more appealing plan for the future I'd expect him to play a similar role to Moir early days and hopefully build his endurance and stoppage craft to a level where he can play majority mid resting forward.

Fair enough but when you have 3 out of 4 wings bemoaned for poor ball use (BA, LC, OH) then perhaps that’s opening to put a good ball user in that position, opposite Chesser (who hopefully offers more than voice).

See how quick we can work his endurance from his midfield time end of season.

 

[C4[2]Yo`DooR]

I don’t know if I’m mentally ready for a kicking skills battle on the wing between Blake Acres

13

Blake Acres

Age

30

Ht

193cm

Wt

92kg

Pos.

Mid

Career

Season

Last 5

D

17.5

4star

K

8.9

3star

HB

8.6

5star

M

3.7

4star

T

3.2

5star

CL

1.9

4star

D

12.7

3star

K

5.0

2star

HB

7.7

4star

M

4.0

4star

T

2.7

4star

CL

1.0

3star

D

8.2

2star

K

3.8

2star

HB

4.4

4star

M

1.2

2star

T

2.4

4star

CL

1.8

4star

and Campbell Chesser.

 

[WalshistheGOAT]

This I don’t know sorry.

Jacob Blight?

 

[WalshistheGOAT]

I don’t know if I’m mentally ready for a kicking skills battle on the wing between Blake Acres and Campbell Chesser.

Chesser has footskills. It's the Lucas Campo + Acres combo that really frightens me... Of course with spurts of Cooper Lord out there for some reason because Voss is still trying to figure out how to fit 8 inside mids into the side.

 

[Lukeblueboy]

Acres becomes a back up now for mine.
I feel like now is the time we can and need to move past his lack of speed and kicking skills imo

 

[Blue By Blood]

Chesser has footskills. It's the Lucas Campo + Acres combo that really frightens me... Of course with spurts of Cooper Lord out there for some reason because Voss is still trying to figure out how to fit 8 inside mids into the side.

Yep, foot skills are one of his main strengths. The knock on him so far has largely been around his contested game and durability. Think he gets first crack on one of the wings with some half forward time. Of all our wing options he's the one who can actually provide some attack. Acres, Ollie, and Lucas need to improve their ball use a lot. We have large numbers who can play wing just not many damaging ones. Would think we probably look to address this next off-season if those guys don't come on. Seems Florent is set for a half back role but I'd prefer him on one wing and Chesser on the other. Get that better ball use higher up the ground to deliver to our forwards.

 

[JustOneTime]

Let's hope his time off half back has helped him learn more positional craft to find the footy. Always looks lost on the wing to me. He's a great runner that's undisputed but he really doesn't play like a wing or half back but he also doesn't have the body to be primarily inside. He's a big watch for me this season. Hopefully he can take his game up a level as he has the talent.

Let's see him this year. I'm thinking with Blacres playing on the opposite wing in Ollie's first/second year, Ollie was 'more' tasked with the defensive side wing role while Blaces was given free licence. Some of Acres best plays are veering off early from his opponent defensively to then create. We now see a couple of years on he definitely gambles a lot.

Carlton have poor transition and Ollie got to so many good positions but was overlooked by the mids when he got down to the wing position from half back. Carlton need to use him more....well more than Cripps going inside 50, a player who burned Ollie when he was free and in a better position.

 

[Blue By Blood]

Let's see him this year. I'm thinking with Blacres playing on the opposite wing in Ollie's first/second year, Ollie was 'more' tasked with the defensive side wing role while Blaces was given free licence. Some of Acres best plays are veering off early from his opponent defensively to then create. We now see a couple of years on he definitely gambles a lot.

Carlton have poor transition and Ollie got to so many good positions but was overlooked by the mids when he got down to the wing position from half back. Carlton need to use him more....well more than Cripps going inside 50, a player who burned Ollie when he was free and in a better position.

You make valid points. Will be an interesting watch- I really hope he succeeds and he locks down one of those wing positions. I have my doubts but I hope he proves me wrong as he definitely has the talent to make it. Feel like he is one of the bigger watches this year and could become a big talking point as if he doesn't nail that wing position he will find himself in no man's land. The game is definitely becoming more about damaging ball use on the wings and at this stage he doesn't have that, nor does he have the body for an inside role. Needs to take a step up this year.

You have to wonder why he was often overlooked though when he made good position. A sign we are a selfish team and were playing selfish, self preserving footy when things went badly or possibly the players have a lack of trust in him to use the ball effectively (hypocritical given they butchered it themselves). I'm not sure which, probably the former more than the latter.

 

[AT97]

Nothing earth shattering but a few high level notes from the ground:

Elijah is absolutely flying and exceeding expectations. He originally had poor skinfolds, which they’re putting down as a byproduct of the removal of certain vices.

Ben Ainsworth is starring on the track.

The team already feels tighter and more cohesive now post players moving on.

Ison/Dean have hit the ground running due to their prior involvement with the club via NGA

Will likely have a recently delisted player from another club joining our train on group in the next week or so.

Certainly concur about Ainsworth from what I saw in Lorne. Very energetic trainer, and I didn’t realise he was such a beautiful kick short and over distance.

Thought Elijah created a second list spot opening when he absolutely crunched Ainsworth in a tackle. Needed help from a physio to get moving again (shoulder). Eventually got back into it and didn’t miss a beat.

 

[GoBlues!]

Let's see him this year. I'm thinking with Blacres playing on the opposite wing in Ollie's first/second year, Ollie was 'more' tasked with the defensive side wing role while Blaces was given free licence. Some of Acres best plays are veering off early from his opponent defensively to then create. We now see a couple of years on he definitely gambles a lot.

Playing a defensive role probably highlighted Ollie Hollands weaknesses - not a strong tackler and outmuscled by stronger opponents.

Will be interesting to see where and how’s he played with better half back options available.

 

[agro]

Let's hope his time off half back has helped him learn more positional craft to find the footy. Always looks lost on the wing to me. He's a great runner that's undisputed but he really doesn't play like a wing or half back but he also doesn't have the body to be primarily inside. He's a big watch for me this season. Hopefully he can take his game up a level as he has the talent.

If he can build up his core strength in order to be able to work his way through traffic he’ll take his game to another level.

 

[WalshistheGOAT]

Playing a defensive role probably highlighted Ollie Hollands weaknesses - not a strong tackler and outmuscled by stronger opponents.

Will be interesting to see where and how’s he played with better half back options available.

To be fair to Ollie it was his first two years and he came into the AFL with a fairly slight frame as it was.

Personally I can't recall too many occasions during last season that I thought Ollie was defensively a liability, he'd improved his core strength and tackling power a fair bit too. With an extra few kgs of muscle this off season hopefully that continues to improve until it's no longer any worry at all.

Keen to see him on the Wing again, just hoping its not the fat side wing where he was largely wasted with the way we moved the ball.

 

[The Bighouse]

To be fair to Ollie it was his first two years and he came into the AFL with a fairly slight frame as it was.

Personally I can't recall too many occasions during last season that I thought Ollie was defensively a liability, he'd improved his core strength and tackling power a fair bit too. With an extra few kgs of muscle this off season hopefully that continues to improve until it's no longer any worry at all.

Keen to see him on the Wing again, just hoping its not the fat side wing where he was largely wasted with the way we moved the ball.

Not sure shoulder surgery is going to do any favours for the required bulk up.

OH did some great defensive jobs from HB last season. It’s the ball use/turnovers that’s letting the team down.

 

[Dramoth]

Moir Jagga Ison Chesser Ainsworth Byrne around HF, pushing up ground and through middle is exciting

Completely different look and skill set

Creates some very big holes in the oppositions defence that Harry can lead into. He's not into wrestling with his opposition given the chance and is good on a long lead.

 

[teddy-hopkins]

Let's see him this year. I'm thinking with Blacres playing on the opposite wing in Ollie's first/second year, Ollie was 'more' tasked with the defensive side wing role while Blaces was given free licence. Some of Acres best plays are veering off early from his opponent defensively to then create. We now see a couple of years on he definitely gambles a lot.

Carlton have poor transition and Ollie got to so many good positions but was overlooked by the mids when he got down to the wing position from half back. Carlton need to use him more....well more than Cripps going inside 50, a player who burned Ollie when he was free and in a better position.

In fairness - Ollie burns the ball as much as anyone so can't really be surprised if teammates ignore him. I like him - good young player but he's got a lot of work to do on his kicking. Probably should be doing it from the VFL until he sorts it out.

 

[BluStreak]

Tell me, to improve skill level, going to a lower level competition does that or is training the time to sort that out.