2026 Pre-Season Thread

[knaf]

Can someone create a “yawning” emoji for comments on the Payne relationship break up.
Ps not having a go at you Marty.

 

[Nunez]

All this relationship talk has me pining for Leemas this offseason. Imagine the horses mouth content we'd be getting

 

[SizeMatters]

I’ve been guilty of it myself but can we ban posts about player personal lives until this all cools over? Or maybe start a dedicated thread to discuss gossip?

 

[BangyBangy]

I’ve been guilty of it myself but can we ban posts about player personal lives until this all cools over? Or maybe start a dedicated thread to discuss gossip?

Agree.

However,.....

I heard that Lachie Neale & Jack Payne were in the closet making babies. And I saw one of the babies, and the baby looked at me.

 

[Royboy1961]

Melbourne reportedly already training for this, using a tall midfielder as their second ruck.

It will be interesting to see what happens with the new ball up rule. Much will depend on how quickly the umpire decides to throw the ball up. If the main ruck is one kick away from the play in either an offensive or defensive position he may not get to the contest in time. It will be interesting to see if teams start developing a tall wingman who can contest in the ruck. Imagine if we could develop Hipwood in that position as he is excellent aerobically and can take a mark. Adelaide have a very tall wingman in Curtin as an example.

 

[briztoon]

It will be interesting to see what happens with the new ball up rule. Much will depend on how quickly the umpire decides to throw the ball up. If the main ruck is one kick away from the play in either an offensive or defensive position he may not get to the contest in time. It will be interesting to see if teams start developing a tall wingman who can contest in the ruck. Imagine if we could develop Hipwood in that position as he is excellent aerobically and can take a mark. Adelaide have a very tall wingman in Curtin as an example.

I’m not on board with Hipwood as a wing option. I don’t believe he’s a good runner compared to midfield options. He’s certainly not in the Buddy league of tall forwards who can run.

Nor do I really want him rucking, even against a midfielder. He has a very high center of gravity (long legs, high hips) and would be easily knocked off balance in a ruck contest once contact is made.

 

[mpal6]

I’m not on board with Hipwood as a wing option. I don’t believe he’s a good runner compared to midfield options. He’s certainly not in the Buddy league of tall forwards who can run.

Nor do I really want him rucking, even against a midfielder. He has a very high center of gravity (long legs, high hips) and would be easily knocked off balance in a ruck contest once contact is made.

Other issue is he's a bit clumsy/unco while crashing packs too - can giveaway free kicks easy.

 

[Ray Button]

Melbourne reportedly already training for this, using a tall midfielder as their second ruck.

Sounds like they've just reinvented the ruck-rover.

 

[carry on]

It will be interesting to see what happens with the new ball up rule. Much will depend on how quickly the umpire decides to throw the ball up. If the main ruck is one kick away from the play in either an offensive or defensive position he may not get to the contest in time. It will be interesting to see if teams start developing a tall wingman who can contest in the ruck. Imagine if we could develop Hipwood in that position as he is excellent aerobically and can take a mark. Adelaide have a very tall wingman in Curtin as an example.

fair point re tall aerobic wingers, as IMO, there is little chance (other than perhaps the first few weeks), umpires will be waiting, nor calling the rucks up before recommencing with a 'ball up' The stoppages will speed up

 

[carry on]

your welcome

So are some saying that Tom D has given up on ever contributing at AFL level, even though he still has two years left on his contract? Sure coming back after 3 ACL's will be extremely challenging, but there is an NRL player who has overcome 3 ACL's. I am no expert, but arguably there are different grades of ACL's, but I am backing Tom D to be playing AFL at some point.

 

[martinson]

So are some saying that Tom D has given up on ever contributing at AFL level, even though he still has two years left on his contract? Sure coming back after 3 ACL's will be extremely challenging, but there is an NRL player who has overcome 3 ACL's. I am no expert, but arguably there are different grades of ACL's, but I am backing Tom D to be playing AFL at some point.

He can't come back and play as we ever envisaged when we signed him up so it's a matter of finding a role he can adapt to and seeing whether his body holds up to be the best person for that role.

 

[knaf]

It will be interesting to see what happens with the new ball up rule. Much will depend on how quickly the umpire decides to throw the ball up. If the main ruck is one kick away from the play in either an offensive or defensive position he may not get to the contest in time. It will be interesting to see if teams start developing a tall wingman who can contest in the ruck. Imagine if we could develop Hipwood in that position as he is excellent aerobically and can take a mark. Adelaide have a very tall wingman in Curtin as an example.

would be interested to see how Berry would go. Not a leaper but very strong body and around 6.3/6.4 in the old money. Bit like Nicholls maybe.

 

[Section 5]

Sounds like they've just reinvented the ruck-rover.

True
But that won't happen
Teams are not going to drop a midfielder to run what was the old ruck rover role.

A lot of midfielders are as tall as the ruck rovers when they were the fashion.
Dunkley is 191 cm or 6 foot 3 inches. That's a ruck or ruck rover height in those times.
We don't really want Dunkley doing that backup ruck role.
It will be 1 or 2 of the forwards and defenders
As the match sims get a bit more serious, we will see a nominated player pattern emerge.

Most likely another outcome we will see is the ruck being positioned back down the line more often.
That's if he knows he won't get to the contest in time

 

[briztoon]

True
But that won't happen
Teams are not going to drop a midfielder to run what was the old ruck rover role.

A lot of midfielders are as tall as the ruck rovers when they were the fashion.
Dunkley is 191 cm or 6 foot 3 inches. That's a ruck or ruck rover height in those times.
We don't really want Dunkley doing that backup ruck role.
It will be 1 or 2 of the forwards and defenders
As the match sims get a bit more serious, we will see a nominated player pattern emerge.

Most likely another outcome we will see is the ruck being positioned back down the line more often.
That's if he knows he won't get to the contest in time

Pretty sure other posters have reported that Fagan wants to run with a 2 ruck set up, at least to start with. So that probably means we play 3 talls up forward for the vast majority of our games, with a resting ruck playing forward when a KPF is on the bench.

 

[Nunez]

I’m not on board with Hipwood as a wing option. I don’t believe he’s a good runner compared to midfield options. He’s certainly not in the Buddy league of tall forwards who can run.

Nor do I really want him rucking, even against a midfielder. He has a very high center of gravity (long legs, high hips) and would be easily knocked off balance in a ruck contest once contact is made.

Yeah I am against him as a wing, but could see a future where we have a three tall forward line of Hipwood, Morris and Allen and use Gallop as our fifth on the bench and use Hipwood up the ground, let him run hard and then rotate Gallop in to play second ruck and forward. Would have to get the rotations and balance right, but absolutely could work.

 

[Dalions]

Agree.

However,.....

I heard that Lachie Neale & Jack Payne were in the closet making babies. And I saw one of the babies, and the baby looked at me.

I’ll have what he’s having!

 

[briztoon]

I’ll have what he’s having!

 

[rye]

if doedee is cooked id just begin trialing hipwood in defence . lester will retire at the end of this year.

 

[martinson]

True
But that won't happen
Teams are not going to drop a midfielder to run what was the old ruck rover role.

A lot of midfielders are as tall as the ruck rovers when they were the fashion.
Dunkley is 191 cm or 6 foot 3 inches. That's a ruck or ruck rover height in those times.
We don't really want Dunkley doing that backup ruck role.
It will be 1 or 2 of the forwards and defenders
As the match sims get a bit more serious, we will see a nominated player pattern emerge.

Most likely another outcome we will see is the ruck being positioned back down the line more often.
That's if he knows he won't get to the contest in time

I can see Gallop being groomed for donkey work which wouldn't be my preference at his age.

 

[Saucery]

True
But that won't happen
Teams are not going to drop a midfielder to run what was the old ruck rover role.

A lot of midfielders are as tall as the ruck rovers when they were the fashion.
Dunkley is 191 cm or 6 foot 3 inches. That's a ruck or ruck rover height in those times.
We don't really want Dunkley doing that backup ruck role.
It will be 1 or 2 of the forwards and defenders
As the match sims get a bit more serious, we will see a nominated player pattern emerge.

Most likely another outcome we will see is the ruck being positioned back down the line more often.
That's if he knows he won't get to the contest in time

One of favorite rucks of all time, Scott Wynd, would always drop back to the CHB hole after a bounce and along with Chris Grant made that defensive line impenetrable.

On a side note, I remember seeing the Bulldogs play the Swans at the G, Locket got knocked on his ass, he turned around and started running at the perp but when he realized it was Wynd he just stopped, turned and walked away.

 

[carry on]

would be interested to see how Berry would go. Not a leaper but very strong body and around 6.3/6.4 in the old money. Bit like Nicholls maybe.

Hopefully shoulder/s are now stronger and if so certainly a consideration. Is Draper a good enough forward to play forward/ruck with our two time premiership ruck?

 

[rye]

i genuinely dont see why so many people think an extra rotation on the bench means teams will default to carrying an extra tall. every afl standard ruck copes with having a forward chop them out on occasion for the last few years. the advantages of a more versatile player being that fifth rotation far outweigh whatever advantage an extra ruck or even just a general kpp will bring imo....

 

[briztoon]

i genuinely dont see why so many people think an extra rotation on the bench means teams will default to carrying an extra tall.

Pretty sure I’ve heard Fagan talk about probably starting the season with two rucks in the team.

So when you are wondering why we’re discussing it, it’s because our coach raised it as a genuine possibility.

As for other clubs, plenty of club forums on here with far more detailed training reports than what we get on the Lions forum.

every afl standard ruck copes with having a forward chop them out on occasion for the last few years. the advantages of a more versatile player being that fifth rotation far outweigh whatever advantage an extra ruck or even just a general kpp will bring imo....

 

[Section 5]

i genuinely dont see why so many people think an extra rotation on the bench means teams will default to carrying an extra tall. every afl standard ruck copes with having a forward chop them out on occasion for the last few years. the advantages of a more versatile player being that fifth rotation far outweigh whatever advantage an extra ruck or even just a general kpp will bring imo....

As briztoon mentioned.

With the Lions having a new ruck with an injury history i can see the benefit of two rucks initially.
Ease Draper into the gameplan as 1st ruck and see what unfolds.
No need initially for Draper to have long minutes in the actual ruck role with Fort/Smith as relief.
Hopefully Draper becomes a great first ruck but that's unknown at present.

Who that 5th player is will depend on each team's player makeup, game plan, experience etc.
Also, a much better way to introduce debutants and players that only have a few games experience

 

[DERRINALPHIL]

Pretty sure other posters have reported that Fagan wants to run with a 2 ruck set up, at least to start with. So that probably means we play 3 talls up forward for the vast majority of our games, with a resting ruck playing forward when a KPF is on the bench.

Run with two rucks if they are good players who can win the position. Allen, Draper and Fort are worth a game.

I've warmed to Fort after the Grand Final. If he can win the position, rather than merely contesting, he is worth a game.

I remember Charman domination the 2003 preliminary final in the last quarter (Swans) and I thought he should have started on the ground in the Grand Final but Leigh started Keating. Two very good players.