Training 2026 Bulldogs Pre-Season

[Mojorisin]

Can't let to much footage get out or the opposition will realise we're rolling out the same, all out attack, gamelan we've used for the last 5+ years and figure out how to get us on the rebound

From the breif match sim I seen this week it looks like we're trying to play more offensively if thats possible. Players were being urged to move on play off half back/wing and take the aggressive option early rather then holding. Looked good when it worked.

 

[Norm De Guerre]

Do they show the full vision anywhere? Watching two minutes of ruck contests and McNeil chest marks isn’t the content level i’m really looking for.

If you're looking for insight into pre-season training.

Either

a.) find time to go to training

or

b.) join WOOF they're the best for training analysis and reports.

What you shouldn't do is rely on the clubs context free video grabs.

 

[Dougs Wing]

First contest was Darcy (in the forward pocket it looked like), then Emmett (looked to have good follow up & then Croft.

Don’t think Smith played, probably why Emmett spent time in ruck.

As I understand it Darcy took the first ruck contest against Tim and Emmett and then much later Croft helped out against Tim.
The reports I read complimented Emmett for his efforts around the ground but maybe his kicking got picked off a bit.
Smith has been rehabbing for 3 weeks plus.

 

[House_of_Dahl]

From the breif match sim I seen this week it looks like we're trying to play more offensively if thats possible. Players were being urged to move on play off half back/wing and take the aggressive option early rather then holding. Looked good when it worked.

Not like Bevo to double down

 

[TiAn_]

From the breif match sim I seen this week it looks like we're trying to play more offensively if thats possible. Players were being urged to move on play off half back/wing and take the aggressive option early rather then holding. Looked good when it worked.

This is terrifying.

 

[TedDougChris]

Not like Bevo to double down

This is terrifying.

 

[Graeme Cook]

As I understand it Darcy took the first ruck contest against Tim and Emmett and then much later Croft helped out against Tim.
The reports I read complimented Emmett for his efforts around the ground but maybe his kicking got picked off a bit.
Smith has been rehabbing for 3 weeks plus.

Thanks Dougs wing I thought it was Emmett been to training and he moves well he has lots of time on that left leg.

 

[dergert]

Offence is defence

 

[scratchie]

Nothing wrong with going fast as long as there players covering the turnover

 

[X_box_X]

I don't like it. It won't ****ing work.

Geelong had success with a dynamic forward line in 2022 featuring Cameron, Hawkins & Rohan. We have the cattle to match or even better than attack. The difference is, because they were so well coached, they knew when to go fast play and when to go slow play. Slow play allows you to be patient and focus more on defence. If we implement something similar, we'll be dangerous.

 

[Martyn_30_]

Nothing wrong with going fast as long as there players covering the turnover

That's been a consistent issue under Beveridge, the obsession with pressing high at all costs and lacking any balance behind the ball. It's been especially an issue when there hasn't been a Boyd or Duryea down there to direct traffic.

 

[Dannnnnnnnnn]

I would probably not draw too many conclusions about our 2026 playing style from a one line impression of a pre-xmas training drill

 

[Dougs Wing]

I don't like it. It won't ****ing work.

Geelong had success with a dynamic forward line in 2022 featuring Cameron, Hawkins & Rohan. We have the cattle to match or even better than attack. The difference is, because they were so well coached, they knew when to go fast play and when to go slow play. Slow play allows you to be patient and focus more on defence. If we implement something similar, we'll be dangerous.

It's a balancing act. When we move the ball slowly from one end of the ground our forward line isn't nearly as competitive.
We can be patient in defense and clearing the ball out of the back line, and the training drills refer to it as "defensive stones", but we did need to transition the ball quickly to the forwards otherwise Naughton and Darcy have more than just their opponent to compete against. The coaches might need to decide on if they want to save a goal or kick a goal on match days. If you look at Freo they are super defensive and patient when they clear the footy but we kicked 500 points more than them for the season and only conceded 5 points more than them.
We have the balance nearly right but some decision making from the defenders and even the mids is what we need to tighten up on. These aren't massive adjustments. We might need to prefer Freijah over Liberatore and Garcia over Treloar at times.

I'm on a Bulldogs chat group and we have been discussing this.

 

[Norm De Guerre]

I would probably not draw too many conclusions about our 2026 playing style from a one line impression of a pre-xmas training drill

You must be new here.

 

[TedDougChris]

I would probably not draw too many conclusions about our 2026 playing style from a one line impression of a pre-xmas training drill

 

[House_of_Dahl]

I think if it is to work (all out attack) we also need the whole team to be be able to flick to hard defence as soon as we lose the ball. Need people willing and able to run a LOT to achieve that. Five man bench will help that strategy. Maybe Bevo's ahead of the game.

 

[MrChristo]

These aren't massive adjustments. We might need to prefer Freijah over Liberatore and Garcia over Treloar at times.

It's funny you say that...

As much as we all love Libba for his competitiveness, his body work and his tackling, over his career he has been one of the biggest 'offenders' of speeding up when we need to slow down.

His natural instinct is to dive into a pack and feed the ball out, which on so many occasions is brilliant, but there are times to hang back, keep the ball in tight and force a stoppage. The great man's one flaw...

 

[Dougs Wing]

It's funny you say that...

As much as we all love Libba for his competitiveness, his body work and his tackling, over his career he has been one of the biggest 'offenders' of speeding up when we need to slow down.

His natural instinct is to dive into a pack and feed the ball out, which on so many occasions is brilliant, but there are times to hang back, keep the ball in tight and force a stoppage. The great man's one flaw...

He has to get the footy moving quickly or it highlights he's not as quick around the ground as he once was.
Even at training he gets the footy moving quickly and I guess it's a lot to do with how aware he is of which players are around him.
We all remember his rundown of Hill but he's typically not that quick pushing back as he once was.
I'm hoping we can see a more defensive side from Freijah, Garcia and Hynes and they can push back a bit harder than Liberatore and Treloar do.

 

[Mofra]

That's been a consistent issue under Beveridge, the obsession with pressing high at all costs and lacking any balance behind the ball.

Huh?
In 2024 we had the lowest points against during the H&A season.

Bevo has his faults, but this board really does bend over backwards to invest new ones that don't exist.

 

[Dougs Wing]

Huh?
In 2024 we had the lowest points against during the H&A season.

Bevo has his faults, but this board really does bend over backwards to invest new ones that don't exist.

And Daniel Pratt won the assistant coach award as well didn't he?
It's all about getting the balance right and I think the tweaks required is about getting a bit more defensively from the midfielders.

 

[Mofra]

And Daniel Pratt won the assistant coach award as well didn't he?
It's all about getting the balance right and I think the tweaks required is about getting a bit more defensively from the midfielders.

Agree, but I don't want to keep banging the same drum of when we concede clearance, we concede clean clearance and it kills us.

 

[Mojorisin]

Agree, but I don't want to keep banging the same drum of when we concede clearance, we concede clean clearance and it kills us.

I think this is what it all boils down to. It is a game style that relies on 100% team defence and for players to be switched on every second of the game. When it goes well we look great, as soon as one head drops or a short 45 degree kick misses it's target then the whole field is carved open.

 

[Bulldogs85]

For anyone that lives in QLD

Elite AFL teams lock in Coast training plans

Some of the biggest names in Aussie rules will once again visit the Sunshine Coast this summer, with four clubs to hold pre-season camps at Maroochydore Multi Sports Complex. The first team will arrive this weekend, with the North Melbourne Kangaroos hosting an open training session from 9.30am...

www.sunshinecoastnews.com.au

The Western Bulldogs will head to the Coast for their training camp from January 30 to February 5.

 

[MaxiBont]

I think this is what it all boils down to. It is a game style that relies on 100% team defence and for players to be switched on every second of the game. When it goes well we look great, as soon as one head drops or a short 45 degree kick misses it's target then the whole field is carved open.

I think it’s also a style which requires a defender who you can trust on the oppositions best key forward.

I’m not sure we have that. Lobb and JoD to me are both better interceptors.

Buss is not that at the moment.

Freo got a hold of us having 2 strong marking forwards.

 

[Libbaaaa]

Huh?
In 2024 we had the lowest points against during the H&A season.

Bevo has his faults, but this board really does bend over backwards to invest new ones that don't exist.

Can be a bit deceiving the points against, Crows were similar I believe this year and just got absolutely smashed in two finals. Even in 2024 we would leak runs of goals, coast to coast, red time etc…