Training 2026 Preseason

[BettercallSaul]

Im pretty confident we rated Sweid in the top 15 but thought he would still be available at a pick in the mid 20's judging by the amount of interest he was receiving from other clubs including Essendon. In my opinion that's why we did the McVee trade so easily. Considering the pick we downgraded in that trade started at 12 but was taken at 19 there would appear to be a very good chance we would have bid on (and recruited) Sweid if we didn't downgrade.

Interestingly in regard to Murray with our second pick something that makes me think Walls holds him in very high regard is how he was one of 5 players (Two of whom were SSP contenders in Harding and Scerri) who we tested outside of the official AFL combines before the draft. I think Murray tested so well they decided to take no chances with his recruitment and take him in the main draft.

Either way I think it looks like Walls got his desired players from our draft positioning while also getting McVee. Considering his record at making good decisions with draft picks Im currently low key excited by the new player5s at the club for the 2026 season. Kicket, Whan and Luke also have excellent potential for late picks from what Ive seen at training.

Exactly my thoughts Sheriff. I actually mentioned to him some of the angst re the trading of our picks which led to him saying what I mentioned above. I’ve been reticent to post too much about it because I didn’t want to throw kerosine on the embers of some (understandable ) trade discontent. I’m happy to back Walls in until proven otherwise.
Only the future will tell us.

 

[freo84]

Exactly my thoughts Sheriff. I actually mentioned to him some of the angst re the trading of our picks which led to him saying what I mentioned above. I’ve been reticent to post too much about it because I didn’t want to throw kerosine on the embers of some (understandable ) trade discontent. I’m happy to back Walls in until proven otherwise.
Only the future will tell us.

Nah Snuffaluphagus was wrong. Its okay you can say it.

 

[Halfbaked]

Ok, they had pack everything away. I came back to pick up the car and about 20 players are doing some drills, in my defence they were drying boxing gloves. I presume they were doing drills indoors. Now the other half have swapped over.
Sorry king.
Will do report tonight.

 

[Midnite65]

I'm enjoying the media distraction about Cox. Creates a bit of uncertainty.

If the ultra conservative leaning Longmuir makes the radical decision to play 3 rucks I'd be amazed. It would be a courageous move, and would put his career on the line beyond what is already the case.

A story about Darcy in the ruck, Jackson midfield, and Cox forward may be enough to distract from how our defence is transitioning the ball with the addition of McVee. Or how Amiss is being developed. Or the how the preseason of not-3-million-dollar Reid is going. Or the Epstein files.

Yes I'm hoping we are in ambush mode whichever way this plays out.

What I am actually excited about from what is happening with the rucks is there seems to be a clear push to maximise the impact Jackson can have. He's a game changer.

Would love to see a quote or some posting that we are trialing new kick off plays after a behind so we don't have to watch Ryan kicking to a pack of players or his mate Cox for how many years now.

 

[The Lobbster]

Would love to see a quote or some posting that we are trialing new kick off plays after a behind so we don't have to watch Ryan kicking to a pack of players or his mate Cox for how many years now.

I’ve hammered on this point a bit but no one over rates kick ins more than people on this board.

The vast majority of teams almost always kick to packs on the boundary line with the idea to knock the ball over the line or take a big mark.

Hell, our strategy of using Pearce/Cox to try and force a mismatch on the opposite side to the big pack is probably the most notable alternate kick in strategy in the league.

Scores directly from kick ins are extremely rare. Teams are simply aiming to not turn the ball over immediately so they can set up behind the ball. Most teams do the bomb to a pack, it’s just more obvious to us because we watch every Dockers game.

 

[Jezzitizle]

Would love to see a quote or some posting that we are trialing new kick off plays after a behind so we don't have to watch Ryan kicking to a pack of players or his mate Cox for how many years now.

We are moving from a single cox system to a dual cox system. It should be twice as good, statistically speaking.

 

[go_the_dockers]

We are moving from a single cox system to a dual cox system. It should be twice as good, statistically speaking.

Based on Neale's or Carey's experience, dual cox can cause conflict if not managed properly

 

[The Lobbster]

I’ve hammered on this point a bit but no one over rates kick ins more than people on this board.

The vast majority of teams almost always kick to packs on the boundary line with the idea to knock the ball over the line or take a big mark.

Hell, our strategy of using Pearce/Cox to try and force a mismatch on the opposite side to the big pack is probably the most notable alternate kick in strategy in the league.

Scores directly from kick ins are extremely rare. Teams are simply aiming to not turn the ball over immediately so they can set up behind the ball. Most teams do the bomb to a pack, it’s just more obvious to us because we watch every Dockers game.

Because I am insane, I went and checked every oppo kick out in R24 against the Dogs. Of the 8-

4 are either bombs to packs or chips followed by bombs. Of these 1 results in a WB cont mark, 1 is a long ground ball eventually won by WB and 2 are knocked over the boundary line

3 are corridor kicks. These result in 2 turnovers in dangerous positions and 1 successful scoring shot generated for the Dogs (although Worner fumbles a ground ball a couple times to allow the shot)

1 is a nice series of chips. Unfortunately it also occurs in the last 10 secs of the game so the Dockers are at their most tired and they know they’ve definitely won at this point.

WB were the highest scoring team last year. Whilst 4 non bombs looks good, 3 of those 4 occurred in Q4 (when the Dogs were well behind in the game). There is also no appreciable difference in success between bombs and non-bombs.

Small sample size but this hopefully illustrates my point.

 

[The Feeder Club]

I’ve hammered on this point a bit but no one over rates kick ins more than people on this board.

The vast majority of teams almost always kick to packs on the boundary line with the idea to knock the ball over the line or take a big mark.

Hell, our strategy of using Pearce/Cox to try and force a mismatch on the opposite side to the big pack is probably the most notable alternate kick in strategy in the league.

Scores directly from kick ins are extremely rare. Teams are simply aiming to not turn the ball over immediately so they can set up behind the ball. Most teams do the bomb to a pack, it’s just more obvious to us because we watch every Dockers game.

Some of this resonates but some of it doesn't.

I agree with the general premise that the majority of kicks by all teams from kick ins are long boundary kicks. And also with the premise scores from kick ins are rare

But "majority" isn't "always" as you claim, and there are teams that I see dothe long bomb less often than us and have more variety.

I disagree that people are biased because we only watch dockers games, even if anyone actually does do this they still get to see 23 lots of opposition tactics, so they would have some good info for comparison.

And my intuition from watching many games tells me Geelong, Brisbane and Adelaide as examples all seem to more often try to hit a target on the lead up from kickins than we do, even if I agree they still bomb it long the majority of the time.

But I don't have data to prove it. I wonder if the actual stats are published anywhere that isn't behind a pay wall?

 

[The Lobbster]

Some of this resonates but some of it doesn't.

I agree with the general premise that the majority of kicks by all teams from kick ins are long boundary kicks. And also with the premise scores from kick ins are rare

But "majority" isn't "always" as you claim, and there are teams that I see dothe long bomb less often than us and have more variety.

I disagree that people are biased because we only watch dockers games, even if anyone actually does do this they still get to see 23 lots of opposition tactics, so they would have some good info for comparison.

And my intuition from watching many games tells me Geelong, Brisbane and Adelaide as examples all seem to more often try to hit a target on the lead up from kickins than we do, even if I agree they still bomb it long the majority of the time.

But I don't have data to prove it. I wonder if the actual stats are published anywhere that isn't behind a pay wall?

There is no publicly available source of data for what is done for a kick in as far as I’m aware.

AFL Team Statistics

AFL team statistics.

www.wheeloratings.com

As for scores from kick in, we score more than Adelaide and Brisbane and less than Geelong. However the spread of scoring is so small is effectively meaningless.

However we are 6th for scores from defensive half and 9th in scores from kick ins. Neither of these stats suggest any real issues. We’re also 12th for overall kick ins so if anything, we’re actually overachieving for kick ins

From a quick glance, the areas we’re deficient in statistically is D50 to F50 movement (OK kick ins stats suggests that it’s general play defensive moment were we’re below average) and scores from forward half (not enough turnovers generated).

 

[The Feeder Club]

There is no publicly available source of data for what is done for a kick in as far as I’m aware.

AFL Team Statistics

AFL team statistics.

www.wheeloratings.com

As for scores from kick in, we score more than Adelaide and Brisbane and less than Geelong. However the spread of scoring is so small is effectively meaningless.

However we are 6th for scores from defensive half and 9th in scores from kick ins. Neither of these stats suggest any real issues. We’re also 12th for overall kick ins so if anything, we’re actually overachieving for kick ins

From a quick glance, the areas we’re deficient in statistically is D50 to F50 movement (OK kick ins stats suggests that it’s general play defensive moment were we’re below average) and scores from forward half (not enough turnovers generated).

From those stats the bestt extrapolatable approximation of proportion of kick ins that are long mighr be the proportion of times you play on when kicking in, since it makes little sense to not play on if you're planning to go long.
That column puts Carlton and Geelong as significantly least likely to play on, suggesting though not proving they do least long kicks. We're 4th fot playing on from kickins

 

[Mesc]

Any reports on Cooper Simpson guys? Hows he tracking.

 

[Sherriff Incorporated]

Any reports on Cooper Simpson guys? Hows he tracking.

He looks capable of a decent step up. Has put on significant muscle and seems to be tackling well. Playing exclusively half back so that will be his position you'd think. No chance of him returning to the forward line. He appears to be more involved in match sims than a year ago from what Ive seen. Id have him ahead off Walker and Worner for a small defender role at this point in time.

 

[anchor man]

He looks capable of a decent step up. Has put on significant muscle and seems to be tackling well. Playing exclusively half back so that will be his position you'd think. No chance of him returning to the forward line. He appears to be more involved in match sims than a year ago from what Ive seen. Id have him ahead off Walker and Worner for a small defender role at this point in time.

He played his games last year for Fremantle as HBF.

 

[Shaymuhz]

Keen to hear what training watchers make of Frederick's tank this pre season. Always thought he could be an answer to our wing dilemma but wonder if fitness is the issue?

 

[Halfbaked]

Ok, please excuse any spelling, punctuations or jumping around from one subject to another, it's been a long day. I have a fold phone which I love but it takes really shocking photos.
This was a brutal session, without any running drills.



The first group of 20 to 25 players I saw were split into 3 groups.
The new picks and Bolton were were doing handball drills and such.

Chris Mayne was taking tackling drills.
All the drills were watched and everything was about technique with coaches reinforcing instructions .



Another drill can only described as horizontal leap frog. Fun to watch, I would hate to be doing them.


Then there were three types of one on one brutal contest drills.
Two player simply grappling with each other until someone "won " the contest.
There was maybe 10 pairs and all drills only stopped once the last pair finished.
The next contest was one player had the ball and the other had to snach the ball out of his grip.
The last of these drills was similar to the first drill except one player was attacking and other was defensive.

Theses drills lasted between 3 to 5 minutes and they repleted
the drill maybe 5 times in a row.
This might sound easy but there was no quarter given. I have been going to training for about 12 year ( work permitting) and never seen anything like this.
Once they had done all of the above the final drill was one player laid flat on the ground .
His pair had to lay on top until and stop the guy under him from getting off the ground.
The highlight for was Moose and JT
going for it.
I will repeat there was a lot of coaching of technique , footwork and holding body shape.
Once the first group finished the they disappeared into the change rooms and the rest of the squad repeated the exercises.
The only difference was some of the older squad did handball drills.

 

[freo84]

Ok, please excuse any spelling, punctuations or jumping around from one subject to another, it's been a long day. I have a fold phone which I love but it takes really shocking photos.
This was a brutal session, without any running drills.

View attachment 2510132

The first group of 20 to 25 players I saw were split into 3 groups.
The new picks and Bolton were were doing handball drills and such.

Chris Mayne was taking tackling drills.
All the drills were watched and everything was about technique with coaches reinforcing instructions .

View attachment 2510137

Another drill can only described as horizontal leap frog. Fun to watch, I would hate to be doing them.
View attachment 2510142

Then there were three types of one on one brutal contest drills.
Two player simply grappling with each other until someone "won " the contest.
There was maybe 10 pairs and all drills only stopped once the last pair finished.
The next contest was one player had the ball and the other had to snach the ball out of his grip.
The last of these drills was similar to the first drill except one player was attacking and other was defensive.

Theses drills lasted between 3 to 5 minutes and they repleted View attachment 2510154
the drill maybe 5 times in a row.
This might sound easy but there was no quarter given. I have been going to training for about 12 year ( work permitting) and never seen anything like this.
Once they had done all of the above the final drill was one player laid flat on the ground .
His pair had to lay on top until and stop the guy under him from getting off the ground.
The highlight for was Moose and JT View attachment 2510156
going for it.
I will repeat there was a lot of coaching of technique , footwork and holding body shape.
Once the first group finished the they disappeared into the change rooms and the rest of the squad repeated the exercises.
The only difference was some of the older squad did handball drills.

Cheers for the write up!

 

[Jezzitizle]

Ok, please excuse any spelling, punctuations or jumping around from one subject to another, it's been a long day. I have a fold phone which I love but it takes really shocking photos.
This was a brutal session, without any running drills.

View attachment 2510132

The first group of 20 to 25 players I saw were split into 3 groups.
The new picks and Bolton were were doing handball drills and such.

Chris Mayne was taking tackling drills.
All the drills were watched and everything was about technique with coaches reinforcing instructions .

View attachment 2510137

Another drill can only described as horizontal leap frog. Fun to watch, I would hate to be doing them.
View attachment 2510142

Then there were three types of one on one brutal contest drills.
Two player simply grappling with each other until someone "won " the contest.
There was maybe 10 pairs and all drills only stopped once the last pair finished.
The next contest was one player had the ball and the other had to snach the ball out of his grip.
The last of these drills was similar to the first drill except one player was attacking and other was defensive.

Theses drills lasted between 3 to 5 minutes and they repleted View attachment 2510154
the drill maybe 5 times in a row.
This might sound easy but there was no quarter given. I have been going to training for about 12 year ( work permitting) and never seen anything like this.
Once they had done all of the above the final drill was one player laid flat on the ground .
His pair had to lay on top until and stop the guy under him from getting off the ground.
The highlight for was Moose and JT View attachment 2510156
going for it.
I will repeat there was a lot of coaching of technique , footwork and holding body shape.
Once the first group finished the they disappeared into the change rooms and the rest of the squad repeated the exercises.
The only difference was some of the older squad did handball drills.

I’m gassed just reading about it. What do you think the objective of the last drill is? Just a fitness thing?

 

[Daddoo]

Ok, please excuse any spelling, punctuations or jumping around from one subject to another, it's been a long day. I have a fold phone which I love but it takes really shocking photos.
This was a brutal session, without any running drills.

View attachment 2510132

The first group of 20 to 25 players I saw were split into 3 groups.
The new picks and Bolton were were doing handball drills and such.

Chris Mayne was taking tackling drills.
All the drills were watched and everything was about technique with coaches reinforcing instructions .

View attachment 2510137

Another drill can only described as horizontal leap frog. Fun to watch, I would hate to be doing them.
View attachment 2510142

Then there were three types of one on one brutal contest drills.
Two player simply grappling with each other until someone "won " the contest.
There was maybe 10 pairs and all drills only stopped once the last pair finished.
The next contest was one player had the ball and the other had to snach the ball out of his grip.
The last of these drills was similar to the first drill except one player was attacking and other was defensive.

Theses drills lasted between 3 to 5 minutes and they repleted View attachment 2510154
the drill maybe 5 times in a row.
This might sound easy but there was no quarter given. I have been going to training for about 12 year ( work permitting) and never seen anything like this.
Once they had done all of the above the final drill was one player laid flat on the ground .
His pair had to lay on top until and stop the guy under him from getting off the ground.
The highlight for was Moose and JT View attachment 2510156
going for it.
I will repeat there was a lot of coaching of technique , footwork and holding body shape.
Once the first group finished the they disappeared into the change rooms and the rest of the squad repeated the exercises.
The only difference was some of the older squad did handball drills.

Sounds like the new S&C guy has his hand in these new drills. They sound exhausting. I can't imagine having to decide what is too much work, which can lead to burnout later on in the season, and what is good conditioning.

Great write up. Thanks!

 

[worsemim]

Would love to see a quote or some posting that we are trialing new kick off plays after a behind so we don't have to watch Ryan kicking to a pack of players or his mate Cox for how many years now.

When Simmo was commenting on one of our games we did the classic Ryan --> Cox 70m away on the boundary kick-in and Simmo commented on how annoyingly effective it was, and how he'd never figured out how to stop it.

Predictable isn't necessarily a bad thing.

 

[Grandaddy Purple]

No disrespect to the guy, I wish him all the best, but I also wish all the worst for Carlton and every one of their supporters, so yeah hopefully he stinks it up for Carnton and loses them multiple games.

I am with you, I love beating Carlton so much. When I lived in Melbs I’d go to the G to watch freo. One game against Carlton, was beauty. McCarthy flogging silvagni down the wing. I always dressed incognito and sit the last quarter with the opposition cheer squad. Win, lose or draw..

Well this weak Carlton supporters snapped as freo won by 3 points, their supporters were beyond despair ,as for them losing to Freo was the ultimate failure. ‘Look what we have become, look at what we have succumbed too’ legit grown men crying screaming in rage, absolutely losing their shit. Security stood well back and the cops came and they were clueless too. These men burning their memberships. The dark echos of John Elliot reverberate as they decry ‘we have been punished enough’

They think they a bit special that lot. Until they learn some respect for the game and Freo, I say we make em cry and enjoy doing so.

 

[lint]

How is our SSP watch going? Zac Harding vs Chris Scerri vs Keeping List Spot open?

Inside running has been Chris Scerri so far, apparently he has completed a medical already, and was doing some great things at training before illness over Christmas. This mini-narrative of The Race For The Final List Spot has captured the imagination of the faithful...hopefully our binoculars are trained on the two over the next month or so...

 

[2big2strom]

we changed up our kick ins heaps in 2025 and we clearly have a bunch of set plays already, some of them involve isolating Pearce or Cox on the open side of the ground as they sneak up along the boundary. hopefully we see Ryan play on a bit more and run it out of the 50 if he is fitter this year. I also imagine we will aim to have Clark, McVee and Wagner involved in some of the chains as a high priority

 

[Grandaddy Purple]

I think adding Cox will work a treat on many levels. For all the same reasons we have essentially picked up a bunch of goal kicking rovers. The rule changes in the ruck, the bench and between the arcs.

Having Tracey, Voss, Amiss, Jackson, Darcy and Cox leading down thie boundary line along the wing is going to make it both hell for defenders as punching out of bounds isn’t an option as well as a gold mine for rovers who drift up out of their F50 (Reid and co)

I think these big guys are going to ask a lot of themselves if we are to win the big one, it’s a long season and the will need to be managed a little. A squad approach to the season with horses for courses is a good thing.

Furthermore if Darcy was ever going to for water ever reason ever be traded this would be the year to do it, so getting him playing a high standard while protecting his knee might require some management particularly. And no that’s not me saying we trade Darcy. I fit and firing Darcy is a required player in my books.

Loving seeing a connected playing group experiencing something a bit different, getting a whole of body conditioning workout without putting stress on joints has to be a good idea. Endurance is king over a long season.

Loving these reports, particularly where growth and development are highlighted,,, I love every single player who ever put in the purple and know some guys are meat and potato players and some are superstars. These guys will do their thing. It’s the upside I look for, where’s the improvement going to come, who has trajectory, who has topped out and in need of a positional change (think of every player who left freo to play another position and star). Where do we put O’driscol, BB and O’mera and who’s going to push them out of the team because that’s how we get that cup. We improve on what we have on the feild. Seeing them all work so hard at and away from the club speaks volumes. These guys bout to BOOM..

There’s my $5 worth, looooong time lurker over the years as I’d lost passwords and all that, but always followed along. First time poster so you boof heads behave yourselves.

 

[nurries]

When Simmo was commenting on one of our games we did the classic Ryan --> Cox 70m away on the boundary kick-in and Simmo commented on how annoyingly effective it was, and how he'd never figured out how to stop it.

Predictable isn't necessarily a bad thing.

As long as you are elite at it