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

 

[Obeanie1]

I've got doubts about him, but he's not behind these 2 yet.

He was last season.

Reid was given the frw / ruck role.

 

[Obeanie1]

Kinda absurd how different and more grown up Harley looks now compared to the end of the season. The fresh faced kid is gawn.

That's Bo Allen

 

[Farang83150]

Open session tomorrow

 

[Keys]

That's Bo Allen

If you swipe across, there’s this picture of Harley which is what he’s referring to

 

[Schtinker]

A decent haircut also helps , looks a lot better and mature since he trimmed the greasy locks.

I don't think getting the exact same tattoo as Maric was a good idea though.

 

[eaglevision]

These guys are ahead of Waterman?

And none are pure forwards.

IMO all things equal fitness wise Waterman and Shanahan are both picked first.

The post has a chain that you need for context, they are ahead of BWill and Barnett, not Shanahan and Waterman.

I’d be surprised if anyone thinks our two starting tall forwards are not Shanahan and Waterman.

 

[LittleFires]

I've always been a fan of Bazzo and hopeful he could put his injuries behind him and get a decent crack at it.

Really disappointed to read Edwards isn't training the house down. With McGovern out and Young coming in I was hoping he would of come back in the best nick of his life ready to put the doubters to rest.

26 yrs old next year and had plenty of time to develop under Barrass and McGovern and get his body right.

I hear you but at the same time I’m not overly concerned if the aerobic fitness of our big key defender is weaker than others.

Harry has never been a strong runner, but neither was one of the blokes you mentioned in Jeremy McGovern. He trimmed up towards the end of his career, but he still produced 4 All-Australian seasons when his body looked more like one of an ammo’s footballer.

Harry has already ticked a few boxes in my eyes:

• Came back on day 1 of preseason when only 1st-4th years were required back
• Injury-free and hasn’t missed a session
• Participating fully in match sims as a key back

He’s tracking along nicely so fingers crossed he can get a good run into Round 1.

 

[Coasters7]

A decent haircut also helps , looks a lot better and mature since he trimmed the greasy locks.

Definitely the hair and ditching that headband

 

[bzparkes]

I hear you but at the same time I’m not overly concerned if the aerobic fitness of our big key defender is weaker than others.

Harry has never been a strong runner, but neither was one of the blokes you mentioned in Jeremy McGovern. He trimmed up towards the end of his career, but he still produced 4 All-Australian seasons when his body looked more like one of an ammo’s footballer.

Harry has already ticked a few boxes in my eyes:

• Came back on day 1 of preseason when only 1st-4th years were required back
• Injury-free and hasn’t missed a session
• Participating fully in match sims as a key back

He’s tracking along nicely so fingers crossed he can get a good run into Round 1.

Being injury free is the biggest thing.

After some bad games early in the season, it seemed to finally click for him when he came back into the seniors and suddenly went from being out of position, soft-dropping the ball, being a stepladder, etc to suddenly being prime McGovern. So much so that he ended the season as our only player rated inside Champion Data's top 100 for WCE.

 

[uncleoatmeal]

Johnston always looked like a better forward than defender IMO.

Has the crafty skills/tricks to create space for himself and decent goal sense. No idea on his pressure acts or tackling though, which is clearly very important in that role.

All i know is that he's got his work cut out for him staying on our list if he remains as a defender and trending the way he has in the WAFL.


16D, 4M, and 2 tackles a game won't cut the mustard again in the WAFL in 2026.

His tackling is bad, hopefully his improved frame gives him the confidence to stick them.

 

[Cuzz09]

Damn, was hoping we'd play Port or Adelaide here in SA

Also HJ a lock for rd1 as a small forward is a big call.. dunno

 

[bzparkes]

His tackling is bad, hopefully his improved frame gives him the confidence to stick them.

Had a busted arm this year, so couldn't really tackle to begin with but he was certainly undersized last year.

 

[flyinghi64]

I hear you but at the same time I’m not overly concerned if the aerobic fitness of our big key defender is weaker than others.

Harry has never been a strong runner, but neither was one of the blokes you mentioned in Jeremy McGovern. He trimmed up towards the end of his career, but he still produced 4 All-Australian seasons when his body looked more like one of an ammo’s footballer.

Harry has already ticked a few boxes in my eyes:

• Came back on day 1 of preseason when only 1st-4th years were required back
• Injury-free and hasn’t missed a session
• Participating fully in match sims as a key back

He’s tracking along nicely so fingers crossed he can get a good run into Round 1.

Anyone remember a few players in Darren Glass and Eric McKenzie.
There first few seasons were nothing to write home about but after a few pre-seasons they grew into the role and were more than a surprise packet.
Edwards has really had one season as the key back so deserves a little more time to ply his trade I would think.
As LF said he has done everything right so far this pre season so tracking on the right path.

 

[Doashuey]

CDT is going to be a player. I'm happy he's in our team, despite being a massive Sharp fan.

He has still not addressed the concern many had though. Is he capable of being a number 1 ruck, and if not, would we have been better to trade down and take a player who can fill a more pressing need for us?

Cant beleive he still hasnt addressed those concerns. Surely after 3 weeks of his first preseason on an AFL list he should have dispelled all concerns about his best position by now.

 

[Keys]

I liken Harry Edwards a bit to a taller version of Sam Collins who’s lack of pace/agility also held him back a bit before he blossomed into a borderline elite defender at the age of 25/26 onwards.

His breakout year at Gold Coast was 2020 - turned 26 in June of that year. Up until then he’d proven himself to be a (very) good state league player at Peel and Werribee without managing a consistent run at AFL level (23 games prior to 2020). He’s played 126 of a possible 132 games since and won the Suns’ B&F twice (2020 and 2024)

Harry Edwards turns 26 this year and after 7 years on our list for a total of 55 games. Was stuck behind McGovern, Barrass and Schofield early in his career but broke through for a career high 17 games in 2022 largely due to the unavailability of McGovern (played only 10 games)

Would have played more in 2023/24 but for his own injury issues that restricted him to just 2 games in 2023 and 9 in 2024

Struggled for form early this year and was actually dropped for the game against Hawthorn before returning to the side 2 weeks later to replace McGovern after his concussion vs Melbourne. Was a solid contributor thereafter as he took on the role of No.1 KPD before a late season foot injury saw him miss 4 of the last 5 games and a season tally of 16

So it’s been a slow burn for Harry, but if he can get his body right and stay healthy then there’s no reason why he can’t have the same sort of mid career emergence that Collins did

One thing you can be certain of with him, is that he won’t fail through lack of effort. He might have been struggling to keep up with those late sprints yesterday but at no point did he give it away

Could genuinely be a breakout year for him as he takes on the responsibility of being the key big man anchoring our back six

 

[Byron_Clanger]

 

[Happy Mastenator]

Cant beleive he still hasnt addressed those concerns. Surely after 3 weeks of his first preseason on an AFL list he should have dispelled all concerns about his best position by now.

I was responding to the poster who was saying that he's going to have a massive career based on a preseason training session.

I'm well aware it's way to early. to declare "victory" either way.

 

[RanaNaved]

I was responding to the poster who was saying that he's going to have a massive career based on a preseason training session.

I'm well aware it's way to early. to declare "victory" either way.

I was more having a light hearted dig at the collective intelligence of this board. Like if half this board didn't want him, I like his chances sort of thing

 

[garlic munchers]

I liken Harry Edwards a bit to a taller version of Sam Collins who’s lack of pace/agility also held him back a bit before he blossomed into a borderline elite defender at the age of 25/26 onwards.

His breakout year at Gold Coast was 2020 - turned 26 in June of that year. Up until then he’d proven himself to be a (very) good state league player at Peel and Werribee without managing a consistent run at AFL level (23 games prior to 2020). He’s played 126 of a possible 132 games since and won the Suns’ B&F twice (2020 and 2024)

Harry Edwards turns 26 this year and after 7 years on our list for a total of 55 games. Was stuck behind McGovern, Barrass and Schofield early in his career but broke through for a career high 17 games in 2022 largely due to the unavailability of McGovern (played only 10 games)

Would have played more in 2023/24 but for his own injury issues that restricted him to just 2 games in 2023 and 9 in 2024

Struggled for form early this year and was actually dropped for the game against Hawthorn before returning to the side 2 weeks later to replace McGovern after his concussion vs Melbourne. Was a solid contributor thereafter as he took on the role of No.1 KPD before a late season foot injury saw him miss 4 of the last 5 games and a season tally of 16

So it’s been a slow burn for Harry, but if he can get his body right and stay healthy then there’s no reason why he can’t have the same sort of mid career emergence that Collins did

One thing you can be certain of with him, is that he won’t fail through lack of effort. He might have been struggling to keep up with those late sprints yesterday but at no point did he give it away

Could genuinely be a breakout year for him as he takes on the responsibility of being the key big man anchoring our back six

New season certainties (every year):

1. Freo fans up and about before reality sets in; and
2. Claims Harry Edwards will turn 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26 next season and whilst its been a slow burn, next year will be the year!

 

[Happy Mastenator]

I was more having a light hearted dig at the collective intelligence of this board. Like if half this board didn't want him, I like his chances sort of thing

 

[Winky]

That's Bo Allen

Is it? Looks more like Davis.

 

[THE A5]

Being injury free is the biggest thing.

After some bad games early in the season, it seemed to finally click for him when he came back into the seniors and suddenly went from being out of position, soft-dropping the ball, being a stepladder, etc to suddenly being prime McGovern. So much so that he ended the season as our only player rated inside Champion Data's top 100 for WCE.

What he did well was that he went back and did the basics well. He totally put away his offensive game, didn’t go for intercept marks. Started gaining confidence and gradually started to go for them marks. It was actually great to watch cause he was so mature and disciplined.

 

[Avalor]

Is it? Looks more like Davis.

Agree, it's Davis.

 

[squashface]

That's Bo Allen

NOJAF

 

[Eastern Rangers]

He was last season.

Reid was given the frw / ruck role.

2025 is a non representative season for JW.