Training 2026 Bulldogs Pre-Season

[JohnnySteel]

Bullish about Carmichael from what I've seen at training.

What have you seen that you like so far?

 

[Dougs Wing]

Bullish about Carmichael from what I've seen at training.

It would be good to compare notes, what has he shown that impresses you?

 

[cecil]

I don't think Libba is a lock for the midfield this year. If it weren't for Garcia getting flattened in match sim, Libba would have spent basically the whole game forward. So even with a higher number of mids (given we need to field two teams for a match sim) he wasn't getting CBAs. And that's with Richards and Sanders both missing.

Maybe this was to give more opportunity to the younger guys, but I won't be surprised if it's a sign of a role change

I'd say its for opportunity. If Libba doesn't play midfield then he should be in the VFL

 

[weltschmerz]

Weightman's now running on the AlterG!

 

[Bald Headed Flog]

I'd say its for opportunity. If Libba doesn't play midfield then he should be in the VFL

I agree re: VFL. I’m not sure what his role is if not inside mid. Maybe Boyd style shift to half back? He’s tough, and has the precision kicking, though still feels like a very different player and not sure Libba has the defensive nous off-ball that Boyd had.

 

[Libbaaaa]

I agree re: VFL. I’m not sure what his role is if not inside mid. Maybe Boyd style shift to half back? He’s tough, and has the precision kicking, though still feels like a very different player and not sure Libba has the defensive nous off-ball that Boyd had.

I love Libba, but his lack of pace and mobility would leave him so exposed off half back.

 

[Bald Headed Flog]

I love Libba, but his lack of pace and mobility would leave him so exposed off half back.

Maybe it’s just too long ago to form accurate memory, but I feel like Boyd was not much quicker than Libba, just had elite positioning and read of the play.

Either way, I’m skeptical about Libba’s ability to adapt to a non-inside role. My favourite ever player, but I’m also trying to be realistic about how much he can offer in the coming years.

Though the first month or two of last season had him putting the team on his back so he’s clearly not done yet. Many doubted Steele Sidebottom’s position in the Collingwood side a couple years ago, only for him to put up close to a career best season

 

[X_box_X]

I love Libba

You can't prove that.

 

[grassman75]

I love Libba, but his lack of pace and mobility would leave him so exposed off half back.

You mean the Libba that ran down Brad Hill

 

[Testekill]

Maybe it’s just too long ago to form accurate memory, but I feel like Boyd was not much quicker than Libba, just had elite positioning and read of the play.

Either way, I’m skeptical about Libba’s ability to adapt to a non-inside role. My favourite ever player, but I’m also trying to be realistic about how much he can offer in the coming years.

Though the first month or two of last season had him putting the team on his back so he’s clearly not done yet. Many doubted Steele Sidebottom’s position in the Collingwood side a couple years ago, only for him to put up close to a career best season

Boyd still had pretty decent lateral movement.

 

[Mojorisin]

I don't think Libba is a lock for the midfield this year. If it weren't for Garcia getting flattened in match sim, Libba would have spent basically the whole game forward. So even with a higher number of mids (given we need to field two teams for a match sim) he wasn't getting CBAs. And that's with Richards and Sanders both missing.

Maybe this was to give more opportunity to the younger guys, but I won't be surprised if it's a sign of a role change

I'd say its a combination of a few things.
I think he has been earmarked to spend time forward/back to hopefully lengthen his career so more worthwhile sharpening those areas of his game pre season.
Somewhat protect him during pre-season
Give others the chance to push for their preferred position come round one.

I wouldn't be suprised to see the experiment of Sanders on the wing continue atleast at stages this season.

 

[Optimistic Dog]

Libba like his Dad continues to surprise year after year. Like what Jack Dyer once famously said "Do not get where the ball aint. Libba sure does get where the ball is and is still the dog's player I would take to war with me.

 

[Norm De Guerre]

You mean the Libba that ran down Brad Hill

That was one of the clubs highlights or the year for mine.

However, I think it was more a reflection of Libba footy smarts than a display of his blistering pace.

He's such a smart footballer that all he needed to do was maintain pressure and trap the left footed Hill against the right boundary. Because at some point Hill was going to have to pivot inside and get onto his left. When he inevitably did Libba snapped the trap shut.

Im pretty confident that Hill would still smoke Libba in a footrace over any distance and theres no shame in that.

Boyd still had pretty decent lateral movement.

Boyd is always the analogue when people are looking to revitalise a mids career by sending them back. But hes such an outlier in this regard that it makes any comparison pointless. The thing that gets lost in most of the conversations is that very few mids have the psychotic desire to succeed or had to reinvent themselves like Boyd did. Not to mention his elite aerial skillset. This is the main difference between the two great junkyard dogs and the reason that any move into defence is bound to fail.

Libba will be a starting mid or he'll be bouncing between the fringes and Footscray.

As it should be.

It's evolution, baby, ugh
It's evolution, baby
Ah, do the evolution.

 

[Shacf501]

I think with the interchange changes libba like treloar will be perfect for this role. Less Game time, but manic when on the field if managed correctly. Yes Libba is old, bur one thing you can't take out of someone is hunger, desire and aggression to win the ball and compete and that's what he has in spades. I would take a slow libba over a non defensive sanders in a.heart beat regardless of age

 

[BigFloppa]

Maybe it’s just too long ago to form accurate memory, but I feel like Boyd was not much quicker than Libba, just had elite positioning and read of the play.

Either way, I’m skeptical about Libba’s ability to adapt to a non-inside role. My favourite ever player, but I’m also trying to be realistic about how much he can offer in the coming years.

Though the first month or two of last season had him putting the team on his back so he’s clearly not done yet. Many doubted Steele Sidebottom’s position in the Collingwood side a couple years ago, only for him to put up close to a career best season

You're talking about a guy playing a role 10 years ago when the game was different. Boyd wasn't a typical half back by any measure and didn't have the usual attributes for that role. He was an exception; not the norm. We can't expect similar midfielders to go back and have the same impact he did.

 

[King Harold]

That was one of the clubs highlights or the year for mine.

However, I think it was more a reflection of Libba footy smarts than a display of his blistering pace.

He's such a smart footballer that all he needed to do was maintain pressure and trap the left footed Hill against the right boundary. Because at some point Hill was going to have to pivot inside and get onto his left. When he inevitably did Libba snapped the trap shut.

Im pretty confident that Hill would still smoke Libba in a footrace over any distance and theres no shame in that.



Boyd is always the analogue when people are looking to revitalise a mids career by sending them back. But hes such an outlier in this regard that it makes any comparison pointless. The thing that gets lost in most of the conversations is that very few mids have the psychotic desire to succeed or had to reinvent themselves like Boyd did. Not to mention his elite aerial skillset. This is the main difference between the two great junkyard dogs and the reason that any move into defence is bound to fail.

Libba will be a starting mid or he'll be bouncing between the fringes and Footscray.

As it should be.

It's evolution, baby, ugh
It's evolution, baby
Ah, do the evolution.

Pretty sure Brad Hill is a a right footer ?

 

[Dannnnnnnnnn]

I'm keeping Libba in the middle and just resting him more. Doesn't play five day breaks, resting after big games/travel, etc. we have the depth to cover it now.

 

[Libbaaaa]

You mean the Libba that ran down Brad Hill

One off run down tucked along the boundary line is very different to manoeuvring your way out of half back where a mistake will most likely result in a goal scoring opportunity the other way.

 

[Angak]

I would like to see West, Richards and Bont in the centre bounce mix together ~5 to 6 times a game.

 

[Norm De Guerre]

Pretty sure Brad Hill is a a right footer ?

That would be inconvenient for my narrative.

So Im going to do what I do best and ignore all reality.

 

[maddog37]

I think with the interchange changes libba like treloar will be perfect for this role. Less Game time, but manic when on the field if managed correctly. Yes Libba is old, bur one thing you can't take out of someone is hunger, desire and aggression to win the ball and compete and that's what he has in spades. I would take a slow libba over a non defensive sanders in a.heart beat regardless of age

Nice drive by for the young fella. Sheesh.

 

[Shacf501]

I would like to see West, Richards and Bont in the centre bounce mix together ~5 to 6 times a game.

agree, would like to see west given some opportunity inside

 

[Mojorisin]

You're talking about a guy playing a role 10 years ago when the game was different. Boyd wasn't a typical half back by any measure and didn't have the usual attributes for that role. He was an exception; not the norm. We can't expect similar midfielders to go back and have the same impact he did.

I think the changing of the half back role over that time is one of the most drastic shifts and agree that would be his biggest hurdle. It's a similar reason why guys like Daniel became less sort after, with teams valuing all out pace and the odd dump kick over short accurate passes across half back.

 

[X_box_X]

Imagine having Butters, Libba and West in the centre square together. That's a lot of mongrel not seen since the late 90s.

 

[Golden_6]

I'm keeping Libba in the middle and just resting him more. Doesn't play five day breaks, resting after big games/travel, etc. we have the depth to cover it now.

I've thought this for a few years but he keeps backing it up. TOG & games played have been consistent since 2021.

I wonder if the club will be proactive or just let him keep plugging away until there's tangible proof he's slowly down (like increased soreness, poor form or GPS numbers).