2026 Pre-Season Thread

[martinson]

Very unusual situation in 2026 where we will have 3 players in the team in Neale , Zorko and Allen who have Captained an AFL club for an extended period but won't be part of the formal leadership group as far as I'm aware.

Has this ever happened before ?

 

[3KZ is Football]

Very unusual situation in 2026 where we will have 3 players in the team in Neale , Zorko and Allen who have Captained an AFL club for an extended period but won't be part of the formal leadership group as far as I'm aware.

Has this ever happened before ?

Not sure about leadership group, but in 1980 Fitzroy had Robert Walls, Max Richardson, Len Thompson and John Rantall on their list and all 4 had been Captains at previous clubs.

 

[martinson]

Not sure about leadership group, but in 1980 Fitzroy had Robert Walls, Max Richardson, Len Thompson and John Rantall on their list and all 4 had been Captains at previous clubs.

True but Rantall and Thompson were totally done ,only lasted a few games. Walls and Richardson were just about done. We were virtually carrying them at that point but had no one better.

Zorko Neale and potentially Allan are still great players capable of winning you finals

 

[Harris Specter]

Will would not drive his shoes laces up!
Harris Andrews is just the bomb and should have got the medal

Looking forward to seeing Nick get more frustrated with the eventual downfall this season for Collingwood.

 

[3KZ is Football]

True but Rantall and Thompson were totally done ,only lasted a few games. Walls and Richardson were just about done. We were virtually carrying them at that point but had no one better.

Zorko Neale and potentially Allan are still great players capable of winning you finals

No doubt.

In 1979 Richardson kicked 34 goals (a career high) and had quite a good year. Distinguished himself in Rd. 1 of 1979 against Collingwood in the opening minutes by belting Ron Wearmouth as a level up for his cheap and match ending coat hanger on Garry Wilson.


Walls had a good 1979 also. Not stellar by his standards, but he still managed 30 goals.

Here they both are in Fitzroy’s trouncing of Essendon in the 1979 Elimination Final.

 

[3KZ is Football]

PS Thompson and Rantall were completely cooked. Two poor recruiting decisions.

 

[morsie]

No doubt.

In 1979 Richardson kicked 34 goals (a career high) and had quite a good year. Distinguished himself in Rd. 1 of 1979 against Collingwood in the opening minutes by belting Ron Wearmouth as a level up for his cheap and match ending coat hanger on Garry Wilson.


Walls had a good 1979 also. Not stellar by his standards, but he still managed 30 goals.

Here they both are in Fitzroy’s trouncing of Essendon in the 1979 Elimination Final.

Walls did his knee ,otherwise could have gone on

 

[010203]

Congratulations to [PLAYERCARD]Josh Dunkley[/PLAYERCARD] and Tippah on their engagement

 

[Toastie]

Where do we think Fletcher plays with Kiddy back in the side? Push up onto a wing or stay in def?

 

[mpal6]

Where do we think Fletcher plays with Kiddy back in the side? Push up onto a wing or stay in def?

Zorko to take reduced minutes with Kiddy becoming more mainstay in defense. Not sure how the season will play out so having more flexibility helps.

I'm more worried about covering Starcevich to be honest. We don't have a like for like, Doedee would be the most likely but he's coming from 2 years out so can't expect too much.

 

[GenericUsername202]

Zorko to take reduced minutes with Kiddy becoming more mainstay in defense. Not sure how the season will play out so having more flexibility helps.

I'm more worried about covering Starcevich to be honest. We don't have a like for like, Doedee would be the most likely but he's coming from 2 years out so can't expect too much.

I feel like people keep forgetting that Answerth is the like for like Starce replacement. He was earlier last season when starce was out and Daly even said so himself recently. Also, i maintain that Answerth has a higher ceiling than Starce, and we didn't look out of place with him in Starce's role earlier last season.

 

[StevoJenkins]

I feel like people keep forgetting that Answerth is the like for like Starce replacement. He was earlier last season when starce was out and Daly even said so himself recently. Also, i maintain that Answerth has a higher ceiling than Starce, and we didn't look out of place with him in Starce's role earlier last season.

Haven't forgotten about him, but he won't be around until mid-season.

Doodee will probably get the nod in the meantime. Could give Brain another go depending on how his preseason is going.

 

[mpal6]

I feel like people keep forgetting that Answerth is the like for like Starce replacement. He was earlier last season when starce was out and Daly even said so himself recently. Also, i maintain that Answerth has a higher ceiling than Starce, and we didn't look out of place with him in Starce's role earlier last season.

Answerth would go well against small nippy forwards like Watson, same as Starcevich - I agree. But Starce can also take on bigger mid-sized forwards like Dangerfield. That's where I feel Answerth will get knocked around and we may need someone different.

 

[3KZ is Football]

Where do we think Fletcher plays with Kiddy back in the side? Push up onto a wing or stay in def?

In the middle.

 

[GenericUsername202]

Answerth would go well against small nippy forwards like Watson, same as Starcevich - I agree. But Starce can also take on bigger mid-sized forwards like Dangerfield. That's where I feel Answerth will get knocked around and we may need someone different.

I get it, but the club views Answerth as the exact like for like for starce, barring their differing attributes. Watson is around 12-14cm smaller than Answerth. While he plays well on smaller defenders, he's actually classed as a medium sized defender like Starce.

 

[Grasshopper17]

I get it, but the club views Answerth as the exact like for like for starce, barring their differing attributes. Watson is around 12-14cm smaller than Answerth. While he plays well on smaller defenders, he's actually classed as a medium sized defender like Starce.

I don't think 182cm is really "medium" these days. Would love to think Noah could step up into those roles mpal6 is concerned about, but I think this is a situation we're going to have address by committee, even when Noah is ready to play.

 

[SizeMatters]

A lot of confidence that kiddy will come back like he hasn’t missed a beat.

I’m not that confident and arguably don’t have him best 22. It’s a long way back. Look at Doedee who spudded it up.

Is kiddy better than Wilmot, fletcher or Zorko? I don’t have him so. I think at best he plays off the interchange. Though he’s the most natural replacement once Zorko is done and dusted i mean wtf he’s gonna be 37 or something next year but doesn’t look like he’s lost anything outside a yard of lace. I’d have Zorko ahead of Kiddy…

 

[StevoJenkins]

A lot of confidence that kiddy will come back like he hasn’t missed a beat.

I’m not that confident and arguably don’t have him best 22. It’s a long way back. Look at Doedee who spudded it up.

Is kiddy better than Wilmot, fletcher or Zorko? I don’t have him so. I think at best he plays off the interchange. Though he’s the most natural replacement once Zorko is done and dusted i mean wtf he’s gonna be 37 or something next year but doesn’t look like he’s lost anything outside a yard of lace. I’d have Zorko ahead of Kiddy…

Many said this about Dan Rich in his AA year (not the Kiddy stuff, but you know what I mean).

The next year he was left out a GF side and retired.

Zorko is really good, and I don't want him to retire, but he's one bad/niggling injury away. That's why a getting games into Kiddy is very important.

 

[Nathan Barley]

Answerth is better at ground level, Starce is better in the air. They're not like for like but swapping them won't have a big impact most weeks and may be an improvement for certain oppositions

 

[Section 5]

In the middle.

I don't see that happening with Fletcher in the first half of the year anyhow.
Not saying he can't make the move to midfield, but baring injuries we do have a few midfielders available.

We need to keep most of that backline together until we see what unfolds early in 2026.
Early in the season i just don't want to take out both Starch and Fletcher from the 2025 GF side
GF: Fletcher - Andrews - Wilmot, Lester, Gardiner, Zorko with a Starch replacement to come in

Starch is gone and Answerth won't be back till midseason (possibly earlier) after doing his achilles in July.
Payne ruptured his patella tendon in June so mid-season likely return also.
Kiddy maybe get a run but let's see how he goes in preseason sims and games
Zorko another great year in 2025 but 37 in February. I hope this continues but maybe it won't.
So far, his attacking from halfback has been great but with some horrible turnovers thrown in.
Should those turnovers become close to the norm than that's a big problem.
Your favorite Lester has had a great few years but he is the 2nd oldest. Most of 2026 as 33-year-old but 34 in August.
Doedee has played 1 AFL game in R22 (10d & 6 m) since 3rd June 2023. He did play 12 VFL games but did not stand out demanding a return to AFL. Hopefully with a total of 13 games last years and another preseason he will feel more confident and regain some form.

 

[GenericUsername202]

I don't think 182cm is really "medium" these days. Would love to think Noah could step up into those roles mpal6 is concerned about, but I think this is a situation we're going to have address by committee, even when Noah is ready to play.

The club website literally says he's a medium sized defender. Even the club views him as a medium sized defender as he took starce's role when he was out. Noah has stepped up in these rules numerous times in the past, and i'm sure he will in the future. By the way, a 186cm Zack Guthrie played on a 194cm ty gallop on the grand final. To say that a 182/183cm Answerth can't play the same role as a 187cm starce doesn't really align much. There will always be minor height differences in the league, and being 6'0 isn't small by any means. It's better to trust the club on this one.

 

[Saucery]

I don't see that happening with Fletcher in the first half of the year anyhow.
Not saying he can't make the move to midfield, but baring injuries we do have a few midfielders available.

We need to keep most of that backline together until we see what unfolds early in 2026.
Early in the season i just don't want to take out both Starch and Fletcher from the 2025 GF side
GF: Fletcher - Andrews - Wilmot, Lester, Gardiner, Zorko with a Starch replacement to come in

Starch is gone and Answerth won't be back till midseason (possibly earlier) after doing his achilles in July.
Payne ruptured his patella tendon in June so mid-season likely return also.
Kiddy maybe get a run but let's see how he goes in preseason sims and games
Zorko another great year in 2025 but 37 in February. I hope this continues but maybe it won't.
So far, his attacking from halfback has been great but with some horrible turnovers thrown in.
Should those turnovers become close to the norm than that's a big problem.
Your favorite Lester has had a great few years but he is the 2nd oldest. Most of 2026 as 33-year-old but 34 in August.
Doedee has played 1 AFL game in R22 (10d & 6 m) since 3rd June 2023. He did play 12 VFL games but did not stand out demanding a return to AFL. Hopefully with a total of 13 games last years and another preseason he will feel more confident and regain some form.

I'm still of the mind that with our tall riches in the front half that Ty maybe just the fit for the Starce role. Strong, fast, great tackle, good overhead, great defensive mindset, reads the play well. With exposure down back he could become a dominant swing man if the need arises.

 

[Thomasno]

A lot of confidence that kiddy will come back like he hasn’t missed a beat.

I’m not that confident and arguably don’t have him best 22. It’s a long way back. Look at Doedee who spudded it up.

Is kiddy better than Wilmot, fletcher or Zorko? I don’t have him so. I think at best he plays off the interchange. Though he’s the most natural replacement once Zorko is done and dusted i mean wtf he’s gonna be 37 or something next year but doesn’t look like he’s lost anything outside a yard of lace. I’d have Zorko ahead of Kiddy…

Kiddy played 1 game last year, and before he ran out of gas he looked the goods. There was an audible “oooooh” from people around me with one of his aggressive kicks from the back pocket directly into the centre square, pinpoint accuracy as good as he’s ever been.

It’s his fitness that’s the issue, that brief moment we saw him last year was enough to prove to me that his skills are exactly what we’ve been hoping for. Full preseason into him and I back him in.

 

[irel]

Like‑for‑like replacements almost never occur in modern footy. Every player on our list brings a unique combination of skills, traits, and abilities, so it’s unrealistic to expect anyone to replicate another player perfectly. What we can do is identify the players whose profiles come closest to filling the same role or meeting the same structural needs.

From my perspective, we’re certainly not short of viable options. Doedee, Reville, Tunstill, and McKenna are all capable and ready to step in, with Beecken still a developing possibility depending on how he progresses.

At this stage, I think Reville has the strongest opportunity to lock down the role and genuinely cement himself as the natural replacement for Starce. The others will come into contention based on form, matchups, and opportunity, and as always, timing will play a huge part.

 

[Grasshopper17]

By the way, a 186cm Zack Guthrie played on a 194cm ty gallop on the grand final. To say that a 182/183cm Answerth can't play the same role as a 187cm starce doesn't really align much.

Apples are not oranges.