Training 2026 Pre-Season Training - reports, pics etc

[Soapy V]

Yep. Not a surprise to me. I rate him and always have. Exactly what we need. Pace and skill off HB

Wilson & Florent off HB. Yes please

 

[Opium]

Awesome!
Has he got some wheels about him op?

One passage of play that really impressed me was when Wilson gathered the ball from the midfield on traffic and sprinted 20 metres and kicked a bullet 40 metre spear that Bryne marked on the lead cleanly with a defender on his tail. He a very lively player. Tackles with intent.
Will suprise a few.

 

[Soapy V]

One passage of play that really impressed me was when Wilson gathered the ball from the midfield on traffic and sprinted 20 metres and kicked a bullet 40 metre spear that Bryne marked on the lead cleanly with a defender on his tail. He a very lively player. Tackles with intent.
Will suprise a few.

He’s become a very popular teammate already. Real energy player with incredible work ethic

I can see him being a popular player with supporters. His tackling is apparently awesome. Bit of a Jack Higgins type I’m told

 

[Bennyboy7777]

The hate for Acres last year made me sick. Has absolutely smashed up his body playing courageous, unconditional footy for us and it was clear he was nowhere near fit, yet a lot of noise seemed to start up that "his only good moment" was the goal in the Melbourne game. Maybe watch the Sydney final too, where he saved us on the goal line twice, or how he had to run off the ground after kicking the winner against the Dees because his shoulder was hanging by a thread (which he'd been carrying for weeks, but playing through).

Beast of a winger who will always have my respect.

If he was so banged up, why was he continually picked to play?

 

[AlecDuncan]

After 2023 I would have put up a statue of #13 out the front of Princes Park. I'd still like to see us move on from 30+ year olds. Lets hope some kid forces the choice.

 

[Treesloth]

He’s become a very popular teammate already. Real energy player with incredible work ethic

I can see him being a popular player with supporters. His tackling is apparently awesome. Bit of a Jack Higgins type I’m told

He might also have some Elliot qualities too. Looks like a good mark for his size

 

[Bennyboy7777]

I agree with the first part. The bigger issue for Blakey is his ball use going inside 50. He tends to just bomb it high, which you can sometimes get away with when you’ve got two elite key forwards. This year our forward line is going to be much more dynamic and smaller, so he simply needs to lower his eyes and use the ball better. If he does that, he becomes a genuine weapon (with all the attributes you've mentioned). If not, he risks getting overlooked, from what I've heard his back is fine and shouldn't impact ball use.

I agree . If Acres can’t improve on his last season’s ability to hit targets, others will go past him and he’ll be playing 2s. We have quite a lot of developing wingmen on our list and more experienced players who can fulfil this role (building depth): both Hollands (will E Hollands be on our list?), Chesser, L Campo, Cottrell, Florent and Walsh. Acres played some amazing games for us in previous seasons (amazing finals series), showing he was a great pick up, but his turnovers in 2025 were far too often extremely costly and if we are to improve as a team, this can not be tolerated. There were suggestions that Freo gave him up for less than they maybe should’ve because they thought his kicking was a big issue - many of their supporters thought so!

 

[Bennyboy7777]

You're thinking of the Demons game, he only kicked one against the Swans. Regardless, I think his detractors and supporters are mostly talking past each other when the finals get brought up. Most posters are guilty of either minimising his feats or romanticising them. I'm definitely guilty of the former.

At the end of the day, I don't think he brings a net benefit to this team. He has good AFL attributes, but our team can't kick for shit, and Vossy is selecting too many 'inside' types on a weekly basis. I think Blake draws a lot of ire because his playstyle embodies Carlton's playstyle as whole - he's almost the perfect 'Vossyball' player. His kicking is long and wayward, he takes the first option, but he puts his head over the ball, takes big marks, and busts his gut.

Personally, I just want to see us win games using different methods, and not be entirely reliant on clearance domination or contested ball. We can't complain about our terrible ball use and not be willing to make some harsh calls on role players who are at the root of the problem. We have to learn to live with Walsh's wayward kicking, we don't have to live with Acres' kicking.

I think Walsh was a good kick pre-back issues. Hopefully he can turn this around, post-back issues - praying this goes away!!!

 

[Walshy_The_Goat]

I'll be heading down to Open Training tomorrow to capture some vision on my video camera, as I did last time via my Bluebaggers Edge YouTube channel (https://www.youtube.com/@BluebaggersEdge)

If anyone has any requests for vision of certain players, feel free to let me know. Will be uploading the full vision and a training report breakdown on my channel tomorrow afternoon.

Was instructed by the club that I was unable to film the match sim due to sensitive setups/gameplans etc, unfortunately, so limited in the amount I could capture - but nonetheless here is my report and my accompanying vision! Enjoy!

 

[BlueLocke]

T. Byrne reminds me of that country kid who'd play his under 12s game and then would go in and fill in for the seniors - reckon the physicality of senior footy will be something he thrives on.

His hands seem vice-like - just doesn't fumble.

 

[The Bighouse]

He got dropped to the VFL mid-season so it wasn't like there was some whipping boy campaign against Acres. He really struggled through last year for whatever reason and supporters can acknowledge that. If he can get his kicking up a bit he'll be in the best 23 for sure. He's a great overhead mark for his size and runs all day. But we can't keep picking guys who only have enough confidence in their kicking to poke a short pass or bomb it - and regularly miss targets even doing that.

BA had back surgery in the previous off-season, that was the out that was allowed with plenty of validity.

Needs to improve his disposal, or better options for safer disposal & retention, or face the heat on his position in the 1’s.

 

[Bennyboy7777]

IMHO, Acres has been asked to do too much and many of his poor disposals are 1) Under pressure: our game plan and team fundamentals do not give him multiple outlet options, or support. 2) Under fatigue: he is expected to be at the last line on both ends of the ground and runs to a stop. Hopefully the extra interchange, plus more talent means we rotate better/more on the wing. 3) Wear & Tear: He is half a step slower these days.

He had issues with his kicking before he arrived at Carlton. It was common knowledge.

 

[Blue_Steel89]

Also, while I feel for Mots having done two myself could open up a spot to take both White and EH.

I've also done 2, horrible injuries aren't they!

I would think we take both Lij and White now, especially with White playing the same position as Mots.

 

[Bennyboy7777]

Lachie Cowan has amazingly big calfs. Thought that he was strong last year, could be a brute this year.

Moo has big calves!

 

[Michael Jezz]

Kicking Skills are not AFL standard

 

[teddy-hopkins]

Bucky didn't give a stuff about the club's directive to not film the match sim. In an open training session it seems stupid anyway as any club who gave a stuff could covertly film it all ... and are we really thinking other clubs are watching Carlton for the latest great coaching masterstroke? Get your hand off it Carlton.

He had some interesting intel about Wade Derksen being invited to train as of next week. Obviously they're now thinking the Mots spot goes to a KPD.

Elijah has the other spot sewn up at this stage. Again - just watch that kick on 14:45. For most of our players that is a mindless bomb down the line. EH creates a goal from the HBF. 50m bullet onto Jagga's chest in the centre circle, on to Carroll - goal.

Exhibit A for the difference good kicks of the football make to your team.

Totally agree with Bucky's analysis of the first part of training. Any time I watch our skills drills I keep thinking - I've seen good suburban clubs train better than this. The frequency with which the kick bounces before the target, floats overhead or even goes out of bounds is absolutely embarrassing to watch from professional footballers. Windy day or not that shouldn't happen.

Good news on Wilson and Byrne - be interesting to see if either are there R1.

 

[teddy-hopkins]

Looks like this game was 1s vs. 2s. From what I could see the 1s:

Ainsworth
Hayward
Reidy
Moir
Hewett
Cripps
Walsh
O’Keefe
Jagga
Elijah
Kemp
Wilson
Cerra
Acres
Boyd
Weitering
Monahan
Evans

But looks like they switched teams a bit throughout.

 

[The Bighouse]

Looks like this game was 1s vs. 2s. From what I could see the 1s:

Ainsworth
Hayward
Reidy
Moir
Hewett
Cripps
Walsh
O’Keefe
Jagga
Elijah
Kemp
Wilson
Cerra
Acres
Boyd
Weitering
Monahan
Evans

But looks like they switched teams a bit throughout.

Pitto on the sideline with his throat injury. H sat it out. Chesser also taking it easy?
Saad in team 2, interesting..?

Where is Monahan lining up this year?

 

[Just Kreuzing]

Bucky didn't give a stuff about the club's directive to not film the match sim. In an open training session it seems stupid anyway as any club who gave a stuff could covertly film it all ... and are we really thinking other clubs are watching Carlton for the latest great coaching masterstroke? Get your hand off it Carlton.

He had some interesting intel about Wade Derksen being invited to train as of next week. Obviously they're now thinking the Mots spot goes to a KPD.

Elijah has the other spot sewn up at this stage. Again - just watch that kick on 14:45. For most of our players that is a mindless bomb down the line. EH creates a goal from the HBF. 50m bullet onto Jagga's chest in the centre circle, on to Carroll - goal.

Exhibit A for the difference good kicks of the football make to your team.

Totally agree with Bucky's analysis of the first part of training. Any time I watch our skills drills I keep thinking - I've seen good suburban clubs train better than this. The frequency with which the kick bounces before the target, floats overhead or even goes out of bounds is absolutely embarrassing to watch from professional footballers. Windy day or not that shouldn't happen.

Good news on Wilson and Byrne - be interesting to see if either are there R1.

Some of that kicking in the first 5 mins is absolutely atrocious.

 

[agro]

Bucky didn't give a stuff about the club's directive to not film the match sim. In an open training session it seems stupid anyway as any club who gave a stuff could covertly film it all ... and are we really thinking other clubs are watching Carlton for the latest great coaching masterstroke? Get your hand off it Carlton.

He had some interesting intel about Wade Derksen being invited to train as of next week. Obviously they're now thinking the Mots spot goes to a KPD.

Elijah has the other spot sewn up at this stage. Again - just watch that kick on 14:45. For most of our players that is a mindless bomb down the line. EH creates a goal from the HBF. 50m bullet onto Jagga's chest in the centre circle, on to Carroll - goal.

Exhibit A for the difference good kicks of the football make to your team.

Totally agree with Bucky's analysis of the first part of training. Any time I watch our skills drills I keep thinking - I've seen good suburban clubs train better than this. The frequency with which the kick bounces before the target, floats overhead or even goes out of bounds is absolutely embarrassing to watch from professional footballers. Windy day or not that shouldn't happen.

Good news on Wilson and Byrne - be interesting to see if either are there R1.

Byrne takes a very strong mark on the lead albeit with Young applying the pressure.

 

[blueblooded]

Some of that kicking in the first 5 mins is absolutely atrocious.

I watched buckys video and thought it was appalling in the first half of the video … lack of care and lack of standards … going through the motions to warm up or whatever they were doing. The fact the coaches let them get away with it speaks volumes. On a day the club opens the session up to supporters as well.

Shows you were we are at as a club. The standard you walk past is the standard you set and it’s no wonder we miss targets in games when it’s not policed in basic ****ing training drills. Local level 2nd division rubbish those drills were. On the coaches that.

 

[lopezz]

He might also have some Elliot qualities too. Looks like a good mark for his size

From the limited vision i have seen, he reminds me of Toby Greene, love him to come close to any of those players

 

[The_BigFella]

It’s actually refreshing to hear Bucky call out some of the piss-poor standards in the drills. It does my head in when you watch some of the content and “everyone’s flying.”

 

[Coona Blues]

I watched buckys video and thought it was appalling in the first half of the video … lack of care and lack of standards … going through the motions to warm up or whatever they were doing. The fact the coaches let them get away with it speaks volumes. On a day the club opens the session up to supporters as well.

Shows you were we are at as a club. The standard you walk past is the standard you set and it’s no wonder we miss targets in games when it’s not policed in basic ****ing training drills. Local level 2nd division rubbish those drills were. On the coaches that.

Strangely, I can’t help but relate this as a cultural issue. Many years ago I watched my first training session on the Sunshine Coast and I was appalled by one M.Murphy and his clowning around and dinky nothing kicks as training kicked off. That is indelibly stamped on my brain.

Last year in the middle of a training session in the wet a handful of youngsters and a couple not so young were comparing how far they could run and slide on the saturated ground. On backsides on bellies, whatever. I understand that training can become a chore and some look for ways to “break it up”, but “perfect practice makes perfect”, there is too much clowning around with ball in hand. I don’t mind the experimental dribble kicks etc, but generally, every kick needs to count.

 

[Lukeblueboy]

Even to me the match sim didn’t look anything spectacular. Whether or not there’s reasons for it I don’t know.
Hopefully it’s that there just back from the break ect.
I’d expect/be looking for some improvement over the next couple of weeks