Training 2026 Preseason

[freo_leo29]

It's not a bounce of Darcy, Serong, Brayshaw, O'Meara that I'd expect to see him in, it's the one where he is lining up with one or two of Erasmus, Johnson, Reid or O'Driscoll

How many bounces do we expect to not have one of Brayshaw, serong, young or Jackson next year?

Excluding injury (which could be JOM's path in)

 

[Taylor]

How many bounces do we expect to not have one of Brayshaw, serong, young or Jackson next year?

Excluding injury (which could be JOM's path in)

Johnson has played more midfield games than Luke Jackson though, Jackson is in the inexperienced group for mids and I don't think having Serong or Young or Brayshaw will be enough to keep structures and plans going.

Serong gets bullied by a big body tagger, Young has played one year in the middle.

I do prefer every player is a captain, every line has a captain etc but the clear head of a senior player will make an impact.

If he is too slow or too rubbish then that's different, we start having Mundy's last season where the weaknesses are exploited by opposition.

 

[Nodgey]

O'Meara hasn't played 100 games for anyone yet but seems to me like the sort of dad who would turn Julian into a father son weapon with amazing habits and elite kicking.

It's a long term list management choice to play him until he gets to 100 games for Fremantle.

43 to go.

Yikes. That's more than likely 3 seasons though.

 

[CapitalA]

If he is actually best 23, no complaints from me.

It sounds like that bitter sweet taste of finals this year (1st final he has played??) has fired O'Meara up from what the training reports have been saying

 

[FreoRicci]

If Freo's midfield is:
Darcy, Jackson, Serong, Brayshaw, Young, O'Meara, Johnson, Erasmus, Bolton, Reid, O'Driscoll

Then that list in order of games played experience:

O'Meara 200
Brayshaw 170
Bolton 158
Serong 127
Darcy 127
Jackson 119
Young 89
Johnson 55
Erasmus 39
O'Driscoll 38
Reid 24

That would be the reason O'Meara is in the picture.

Great. Let’s progress as a group.
JOM should be nowhere near this group. 8 disposals in a final for his age and experience is trash.

Promote Erasmus and Johnson, aim for top 4.

JOM should then take Brodie’s role at Peel. Why Brodie never got a chance yet JOM is persisted is beyond me

 

[FreoRicci]

I'm on the side of the discussion that doesn't want O'Meara as a locked in senior player.

The temperament of the coach makes me think he will include O'Meara at almost every opportunity.

Either way, I don't think it will impact the season. It's a nil-all draw.

And leave out youth development? Play Johnson and Erasmus. Full stop.
Time for Murphy Reid to take JOM’s spot and develop

 

[Taylor]

Promote Erasmus and Johnson, aim for top 4.

Two guys who have barely played fifty games and suddenly we are top four? The likelihood is not high.

If they step up to become B to A grade AFL players in 2026 then we will all enjoy that.

A few results go our way and we could be top four in 2025 so not entirely out of the question - but I don't think high expectations on junior players is the path to a happy season in 2026.

We need Bolton running freer, Sean Darcy and Moose fit all year.

 

[anchor man]

To me, with the recruits we have taken in the last couple of years and especially this year, there will be more running through the middle than before.We have recruited a lot of forward mids.Players that can kick goals.
More rotations.Botyh Sweid and Murray are forwrds that can play mid and kick goals.
Though not a totally new game plan, but I think we will see a lot more runing as mids and swapping forward this year.

 

[lint]

To me, with the recruits we have taken in the last couple of years and especially this year, there will be more running through the middle than before.We have recruited a lot of forward mids.Players that can kick goals.
More rotations.Botyh Sweid and Murray are forwrds that can play mid and kick goals.
Though not a totally new game plan, but I think we will see a lot more runing as mids and swapping forward this year.

There is a clear particular focus in this year's recruitment, regardless of position, and that is speed.

Murray, Kickett, Scerri, Sweid.

We've lacked explosion from stoppage. We have been accused of being pretty one-paced through the midfield in particular. As much vaunted as Serong, Brayshaw and Young (add Jackson, O'meara, Erasmus and Johnson) have been, it's rare you seem them coming away from the front of stoppage, burning off the opposition, causing flow on mismatches.

By adding some genuine speed to the side, hopefully we can swing more game breakers through the midfield, and add the missing explosive ingredient from stoppage we've clearly lacked.

 

[Piggy Smalls]

Correct form is imperative

I lift and can't afford injury and at a professional sport level they need to minimize training injuries. The club definitely needs to make sure they have good technique.

Back straight, chest out and pin those shoulder blades back if you're pressing. You'd hope the boys are getting taught this.

 

[Duz97]

Any update how tobyn murray looks he’s the recruit I’m most high on but no updates here so unsure if that’s a good sign or not

 

[Eski3]

Any update how tobyn murray looks he’s the recruit I’m most high on but no updates here so unsure if that’s a good sign or not

 

[Spirit Level]

If Freo's midfield is:
Darcy, Jackson, Serong, Brayshaw, Young, O'Meara, Johnson, Erasmus, Bolton, Reid, O'Driscoll

Then that list in order of games played experience:

O'Meara 200
Brayshaw 170
Bolton 158
Serong 127
Darcy 127
Jackson 119
Young 89
Johnson 55
Erasmus 39
O'Driscoll 38
Reid 24

That would be the reason O'Meara is in the picture.

Has AB really already played 170 games?

Goddamn that makes me feel old

 

[Taylor]

Has AB really already played 170 games?

Goddamn that makes me feel old

Yes, Andrew Brayshaw has missed seven possible games his entire career so far, with five of the seven in that first year from the Gaff punch.

His durability thus far has been outstanding.

It's really just our lack of finals that has him not clearly out front of his draft class on games played.

 

[Piggy Smalls]

It's not a bounce of Darcy, Serong, Brayshaw, O'Meara that I'd expect to see him in, it's the one where he is lining up with one or two of Erasmus, Johnson, Reid or O'Driscoll

Personally, I don't want O'Driscoll attending centre bounces.

 

[pK75]

Personally, I don't want O'Driscoll attending centre bounces.

Really? He’s way better inside than he is on a wing, reckon he’ll be inside mid at Peel most of the year with Carr/Whan/Murray/Banners on the wing.

 

[Piggy Smalls]

Really? He’s way better inside than he is on a wing, reckon he’ll be inside mid a Peel most of the year with Carr/Whan/Murray/Banners on the wing.

Is he clean enough below his knees to be an AFL inside mid? That's my main concern.

 

[Quay Club]

Could Goosage look any less interested....

 

[bruzaar62]

Some thoughts and observations from today’s training .
Started before 8 and still doing sprint work after 10:30.
Lots of match sims and contested type drills.
Simpson,Walker and Chappy standouts down back.
Darcy looking fit
Sharp looking much more composed and using ball well.
Voss loud and energetic-might go up a cog this year.
Pearce,Young and Sebba did all drills and match sims.
Johno was strong in the contest,tackled well and kicked a nice goal from 50.
Not sighted-JOM,Amiss,Tracey but may have been there earlier.
Laps-Kickett,Freddie,Slim,Bradshaw,BB,Cox x2,Ryan.
Also Draper looked great in the match sims

 

[JunglistPosse]

A bit of noise on Chris Scerri impressing at training.

Any of our esteemed VFL watchers on here. Any insights?

 

[GingerDocker]

Some thoughts and observations from today’s training .
Started before 8 and still doing sprint work after 10:30.
Lots of match sims and contested type drills.
Simpson,Walker and Chappy standouts down back.
Darcy looking fit
Sharp looking much more composed and using ball well.
Voss loud and energetic-might go up a cog this year.
Pearce,Young and Sebba did all drills and match sims.
Johno was strong in the contest,tackled well and kicked a nice goal from 50.
Not sighted-JOM,Amiss,Tracey but may have been there earlier.
Laps-Kickett,Freddie,Slim,Bradshaw,BB,Cox x2,Ryan.
Also Draper looked great in the match sims

I know us, the fans, salivate at each preseason due to it being the time that anything is possible and any player under 25 "could" be the next big thing. I get that.

But **** me dead, this list could be anything.

We have so many players who could easily develop into B to A+ players and form a list that is definitely capable of winning a flag.

Btw, I have a micro brewery at home brewing my own Kool aid, if anyone would like to re-fill their growler before Xmas?

 

[Paracleet]

I know us, the fans, salivate at each preseason due to it being the time that anything is possible and any player under 25 "could" be the next big thing. I get that.

But **** me dead, this list could be anything.

We have so many players who could easily develop into B to A+ players and form a list that is definitely capable of winning a flag.

Btw, I have a micro brewery at home brewing my own Kool aid, if anyone would like to re-fill their growler before Xmas?

 

[greatgatsby]

Some thoughts and observations from today’s training .
Started before 8 and still doing sprint work after 10:30.
Lots of match sims and contested type drills.
Simpson,Walker and Chappy standouts down back.
Darcy looking fit
Sharp looking much more composed and using ball well.
Voss loud and energetic-might go up a cog this year.
Pearce,Young and Sebba did all drills and match sims.
Johno was strong in the contest,tackled well and kicked a nice goal from 50.
Not sighted-JOM,Amiss,Tracey but may have been there earlier.
Laps-Kickett,Freddie,Slim,Bradshaw,BB,Cox x2,Ryan.
Also Draper looked great in the match sims

Pleased to see this. I was concerned about his introversion last season.

 

[pK75]

Pleased to see this. I was concerned about his introversion last season.

Im looking forward to Voss starting at FF and Amiss running around with the 3rd best KPD.

 

[E Shed]

Also Draper looked great in the match sims

That was one of my strongest impressions from Wednesday at Freo Oval too.
Moving beautiful and so clean and composed with good skills.
I know he feel in a hole after a bright start but I think he has immense potential long term.

He really is MJ reincarnation. If only someone could clone Rodger Hayden now!