Training 2026 Pre-Season Training - reports, pics etc

[jooce8891]

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.

awful viewing, wtf are they doing?

 

[Soapy V]

Just a few added comments and observations from where I sat

1. Chesser is a beast and quick. If he can put it together we have a steal
2. Kemp was a worry around Aug/Sept. Had some treatment to "stretch" achilles? and now running without issue
3. Cottrell is easing in nicely. Was some concerns around injury but fingers crossed
4. Asked about SSP and no one says anything. It's a watch. I asked about getting another tall and it's definitely an option and they are looking at several players that could be considered. Derksen may be one? Both Elijah & White are flying. If they both still are mid Feb it's going to be a tough decision but no one is favouring one or the other
5. Watch Hayward/Florent and you notice how they do the little things well. Things we as a group haven't done. Little things like extra push ups, or support, or just that extra bit of running. Hoping it rubs off
6. Seems to be more skills work which is good. It was windy but we were working on pulling the trigger and drilling targets and changing angles
7. All coaches heavily involved.
8. Kids look good. It's pre season but Wilson, Charleson, Carroll, Lucas, Lord look more at home than before. Watching Lord and Walsh work in match sims is like twins. Both don't stop and just keep pushing and pushing
9. Ison has "it". Just a matter of getting miles into legs and losing that little bit of puppy fat. Has real size. Get him and Chesser into middle and we have some real size in there but have skill and leg speed
Dean looks like they are just easing him in. Looks very calm type and doesn't fumble or make mistakes. Almost unobstrusive
10. Walker looks 23 years old and ready to go
11. Jagga still building and doesn't do all drills. Looks great but I think they are being cautious
12. O'Farrell tracking well and has had no issues. After bye is target


Bottom line is everyone looks good and training looks sharp and professional but I have been here before. What I do like is the professionalism of new players and that we seem to be working more on skills. We also seem to have more options for spots than before

Also, (and it may be me) but I feel a lot of negativity and she'll be right attitude has left the group.

Fingers crossed


PS I was told previously that Duffy had really improved. After watching him I agree. He moves well and skills are good
Reidy is more mobile and has better skills than I thought. With Pittonet not in full training yet I would have him in front for ruck spot

 

[Lukeblueboy]

Thanks for the report soap and to everyone who had given there time to share.

Just on the midfield mix.
How is that dynamic looking?
where u able to see who they where rotating through there?

 

[Soapy V]

Thanks for the report soap and to everyone who had given there time to share.

Just on the midfield mix.
How is that dynamic looking?
where u able to see who they where rotating through there?

At the moment seems to be usual suspects but early days. When match sims heat up over next month it will tell us more

 

[Coona Blues]

Just a few added comments and observations from where I sat

1. Chesser is a beast and quick. If he can put it together we have a steal
2. Kemp was a worry around Aug/Sept. Had some treatment to "stretch" achilles? and now running without issue
3. Cottrell is easing in nicely. Was some concerns around injury but fingers crossed
4. Asked about SSP and no one says anything. It's a watch. I asked about getting another tall and it's definitely an option and they are looking at several players that could be considered. Derksen may be one? Both Elijah & White are flying. If they both still are mid Feb it's going to be a tough decision but no one is favouring one or the other
5. Watch Hayward/Florent and you notice how they do the little things well. Things we as a group haven't done. Little things like extra push ups, or support, or just that extra bit of running. Hoping it rubs off
6. Seems to be more skills work which is good. It was windy but we were working on pulling the trigger and drilling targets and changing angles
7. All coaches heavily involved.
8. Kids look good. It's pre season but Wilson, Charleson, Carroll, Lucas, Lord look more at home than before. Watching Lord and Walsh work in match sims is like twins. Both don't stop and just keep pushing and pushing
9. Ison has "it". Just a matter of getting miles into legs and losing that little bit of puppy fat. Has real size. Get him and Chesser into middle and we have some real size in there but have skill and leg speed
Dean looks like they are just easing him in. Looks very calm type and doesn't fumble or make mistakes. Almost unobstrusive
10. Walker looks 23 years old and ready to go
11. Jagga still building and doesn't do all drills. Looks great but I think they are being cautious
12. O'Farrell tracking well and has had no issues. After bye is target


Bottom line is everyone looks good and training looks sharp and professional but I have been here before. What I do like is the professionalism of new players and that we seem to be working more on skills. We also seem to have more options for spots than before

Also, (and it may be me) but I feel a lot of negativity and she'll be right attitude has left the group.

Fingers crossed

I feel so very much for the players who are going to miss the top team, we are going to have double figure numbers of deserving players miss out.

 

[The Bighouse]

I feel so very much for the players who are going to miss the top team, we are going to have double figure numbers of deserving players miss out.

Not to mention the ****ing ridiculous bye in round 2 and limited VFL (no fixture out yet?).

 

[Bennyboy7777]

Thanks to everyone who goes to training and takes the time to report back to us all. It’s so, so appreciated!!!!

 

[SurreyBlue]

No overlap run from behind or spread and carry from the contest. Kick and mark game as per last year.
No changes in the training. Very, very wrong.

 

[Yubby]

Just a few added comments and observations from where I sat

1. Chesser is a beast and quick. If he can put it together we have a steal
2. Kemp was a worry around Aug/Sept. Had some treatment to "stretch" achilles? and now running without issue
3. Cottrell is easing in nicely. Was some concerns around injury but fingers crossed
4. Asked about SSP and no one says anything. It's a watch. I asked about getting another tall and it's definitely an option and they are looking at several players that could be considered. Derksen may be one? Both Elijah & White are flying. If they both still are mid Feb it's going to be a tough decision but no one is favouring one or the other
5. Watch Hayward/Florent and you notice how they do the little things well. Things we as a group haven't done. Little things like extra push ups, or support, or just that extra bit of running. Hoping it rubs off
6. Seems to be more skills work which is good. It was windy but we were working on pulling the trigger and drilling targets and changing angles
7. All coaches heavily involved.
8. Kids look good. It's pre season but Wilson, Charleson, Carroll, Lucas, Lord look more at home than before. Watching Lord and Walsh work in match sims is like twins. Both don't stop and just keep pushing and pushing
9. Ison has "it". Just a matter of getting miles into legs and losing that little bit of puppy fat. Has real size. Get him and Chesser into middle and we have some real size in there but have skill and leg speed
Dean looks like they are just easing him in. Looks very calm type and doesn't fumble or make mistakes. Almost unobstrusive
10. Walker looks 23 years old and ready to go
11. Jagga still building and doesn't do all drills. Looks great but I think they are being cautious
12. O'Farrell tracking well and has had no issues. After bye is target


Bottom line is everyone looks good and training looks sharp and professional but I have been here before. What I do like is the professionalism of new players and that we seem to be working more on skills. We also seem to have more options for spots than before

Also, (and it may be me) but I feel a lot of negativity and she'll be right attitude has left the group.

Fingers crossed


PS I was told previously that Duffy had really improved. After watching him I agree. He moves well and skills are good
Reidy is more mobile and has better skills than I thought. With Pittonet not in full training yet I would have him in front for ruck spot

Thanks Soap.

What's your view on the training drills and kicking being poor from some of the other people who got down to training? And do you know if the coaches/club are concerned?

 

[Soapy V]

Thanks Soap.

What's your view on the training drills and kicking being poor from some of the other people who got down to training? And do you know if the coaches/club are concerned?

I didn't think it was that bad. It was windy and quite hot and they didn't stop and were doing a heap of running. Also were encouraged to try things with more dare. There was a lot of really good kicks as well

If it was late Feb I would be a bit concerned but for early Jan and with weather I wasn't worried at all

 

[FitzroyBlueBagger]

Didn’t make it down to the open training session but enjoyed this report, podcast i hadn’t watched before…

 

[Fabab]

Thanks for the reports guys much appreciated cheers.

 

[teddy-hopkins]

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.”

Bit of gaslighting going on for sure. I mean it's in the video for everyone to see. A good suburban team would do those sorts of skills drills and the ball would barely touch the ground. It's only Jan but no training session should be this bad.

 

[entitled supporters]

Perfection everyone wants that but guess what it's not going to happen at all clubs.First run back windy maybe new game style I can wait make my mind up when it matters

 

[Blue By Blood]

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.

If he's correct with the Derksen Intel then I'm pretty happy with that. I think Elijah has one spot sewn up but we definitely should be looking at a tall for that 2nd spot. Derksen can play both ends and would give us flexibility. Could easily see him pushing past Gov and also this is probably the last year we see Haynes so there's a bit of a need there.

At the very least it adds more pressure to both Elijah and White to keep performing.

 

[JJBagger]

I didn't think it was that bad. It was windy and quite hot and they didn't stop and were doing a heap of running. Also were encouraged to try things with more dare. There was a lot of really good kicks as well

If it was late Feb I would be a bit concerned but for early Jan and with weather I wasn't worried at all

I’m in the same boat here. I was there too, and it seemed much more to be as a result of weather, fatigue and the difficulty of the kicks required in drills that made it look worse than it was. There was a drill where they had to make a pinpoint kick in between multiple players. If anything, I was so impressed because I hadn’t seen a Carlton team ever do drills that pushed kicking ability to the limits

 

[Blue and Silver]

Without minimizing the value of good kicking. I am not taking a single training session on a windy January day as the skill level for the whole year.

Little disappointed not to get much vision of the match sim due to club restrictions, but a big thank you to all who report

 

[Soapy V]

If he's correct with the Derksen Intel then I'm pretty happy with that. I think Elijah has one spot sewn up but we definitely should be looking at a tall for that 2nd spot. Derksen can play both ends and would give us flexibility. Could easily see him pushing past Gov and also this is probably the last year we see Haynes so there's a bit of a need there.

At the very least it adds more pressure to both Elijah and White to keep performing.

Someone mentioned Derksen to me. Phillips is training and doing well. He’s just solid and was playing on O’Keefe and did everything you would expect of a solid defender. Good team person as well

Lewis Young played defence as well

 

[Benaly28]

I think the second half of the year will see the best of us,will take awhile for the team to gel especially with quite a lot of new personal.

 

[norway blue]

Was Travis Boak at the session and iff so what role did he play ?

 

[ItsAllAboutMe]

does Cody have his fathers speed?

 

[Bennyboy7777]

does Cody have his fathers speed?

He looks pretty fast to me, particularly in the curtain raiser before the 2025 GF - under 17 futures game. Fear not, the force is strong with the Skywalkers!





Scouting notes from that game that highlight his burst speed/power:
https://central.rookieme.com/afl/2025/09/29/scouting-notes-2025-national-under-17-futures/ :

 

[Not since 1910]

Pretty much just wrote down some notes at training the other day rather than an actual report. Here's what I had.

Warm ups

Hayward's game sense/awareness a standout in the warm up drills

Charleson, Evans, Ison and Ainsworth kicking a standout. Massive step up on just about anyone else out there.

Cottrell moving well again, looks fairly unhampered.

Ison out bodied a bit too easily against the bigger AFL bodies but he has a pretty good recovery for a kid.

Some absolutely huge unit wearing Motlop's number 3 but not really participating, not sure of his name. Was getting notes from an assistant during most of the drills.

Walsh power in his run is back, getting more penetration in his kicks and breaking lines again.

Jagga a few nice sidesteps/agility on display but over the far side of the oval from us so can't see too much.

Haynes kicking looks improved in warm up 2

Cody absolutely ripped for a 17 year old

Cowan in great physical condition but kicking still a touch up and down, still kicks it short and long but he looks to be in and out of the rehab group so perhaps just rusty.

Chesser looks fantastic athletically, great leap as well as a good runner and a penetrating kick

Walshy once again drilling passes. Nice to see he has that punch back.


Running block

Elijah the one that caught the eye for leading a few times, other one was Ben Ainsworth. Draftees and a couple senior players went off and did and advanced ball handling/catching drill, Hayward and Weitering the clear standouts in it but Walker surprisingly clean for such a young man.


Match sim

Frank is in for a big year, running and kicking inside 50 is just excellent.

Ison's decision making is fantastic and his kicking is quality.

Wilson playing higher up the ground and drills a pass to Bryne on the lead against 3, hits him lace out.

Florent and Hayward just look extremely assured whenever they get the ball, never seem worried they'll make a bad decision.

Flynn Riley still very raw

Carroll moving a lot better than previous years, running has improved out of sight and his left boot remains a weapon.

Ben campo still a concern by foot, way too up and under.

Kemp presenting well up forward but no H.Mckay in match sim?

Ison has the Pendlebury stop time effect

Wilson once again lasering bullets inside 50.

Acres big shoulder collision with White, seems okay but sore?

Z Williams playing high off half back, taking kickouts too

Ainsworth contested clunk inside 50 against Tucker?

Boyd on kickouts for the other team, launching bombs 60m +

Ainsworth kicks inside 50 but hangs it in the air too long to a leading Kemp, barely spoiled.

Ben Campo great clearance work but once again kicking is an issue.

Cowan, Haynes, Cottrell and Pittonet doing their own thing. Cripps has disappeared, I'm assuming inside with McKay.


Ben Campo and L Campo still big issues with skills inside 50.

Elijah a 50m bullet into the corridor, Carroll gets the handball running by and hits up Moir on the lead who snags the goal. Those two are really impressing around the ground with their run and ability to hit targets.

Chesser kicking a little bit iffy at times, maybe more an unusual action than actual efficiency?

Hayward and Carroll again just outstanding with their link up work, absolutely flying.

Cripps back on the field in the 2nd quarter/half. Playing a bit forward and kicks a goal via set shot.

Ison marks 80m out and hits an absolutely disgusting bullet inside 50 in amongst a clump of players.

Boyd still on kickouts for whites, kicking looks excellent but not really involved around the field like Carroll has been.


Teams have switched up a bit, on ball is

Hewett + B Campo + Lord + Riley
Vs
Walsh + Cerra + Cripps + Reidy

Walsh, Cerra, Cripps is far more damaging on the outside, very noticable. Reidy some nice follow up work.

Williams still at half back, Jagga and Walsh rotating on ball and half forward with each other.

Cody just obliterated Boyd on the wing with a stiff arm/charge crowd got very excited.

Elijah dishes out a handball to Wilson on the burst from half back who takes a bounce and handballs to Boyd in support. Boyd bullets a pass to Kemp playing deepest forward, still doesn't look confident on his set shots and passes inside to Walsh 30 out directly in front.

Hewett and Walshy having a bit of a tussle in the middle, Jagga bobs up inside 50 and kicks a goal off a step.

Lord not really seeing a lot of action on ball, the other mids seem to have his number a bit.

Moir rotates on ball for Blues and instantly provides a nice tap which leads to a clearance.

Ison once again extremely clean and just makes good decisions, sets up Byrne or F Young for a goal off a nice hand pass.

Ison marks on the wing and once again hits an awesome pass by foot in amongst traffic.

Ainsworth buzzing about and running hard but probably not being used as often as he should.

Carroll again with a lovely intercept and good decision to look in board. He is looking outstanding.

Hayward running really noticable that he covers a lot of ground. Bloke is a serious weapon running back to goal once his team gains possession, genuinely burns his opponents back.

Carroll another beautiful pass.

Ison is a freak. Banana dribbler along the ground from 40m out and goes straight through the middle.

Moir again good in his stints around stoppage, just seems to find the ball or be in a spot to get a tap that turns it in his teams favour, surprisingly consistently.

Had to depart at this stage, so not sure what they did after, but believe that was the end of match sim.

 

[ITCHY EYEBALLS]

Just a few added comments and observations from where I sat

1. Chesser is a beast and quick. If he can put it together we have a steal
2. Kemp was a worry around Aug/Sept. Had some treatment to "stretch" achilles? and now running without issue
3. Cottrell is easing in nicely. Was some concerns around injury but fingers crossed
4. Asked about SSP and no one says anything. It's a watch. I asked about getting another tall and it's definitely an option and they are looking at several players that could be considered. Derksen may be one? Both Elijah & White are flying. If they both still are mid Feb it's going to be a tough decision but no one is favouring one or the other
5. Watch Hayward/Florent and you notice how they do the little things well. Things we as a group haven't done. Little things like extra push ups, or support, or just that extra bit of running. Hoping it rubs off
6. Seems to be more skills work which is good. It was windy but we were working on pulling the trigger and drilling targets and changing angles
7. All coaches heavily involved.
8. Kids look good. It's pre season but Wilson, Charleson, Carroll, Lucas, Lord look more at home than before. Watching Lord and Walsh work in match sims is like twins. Both don't stop and just keep pushing and pushing
9. Ison has "it". Just a matter of getting miles into legs and losing that little bit of puppy fat. Has real size. Get him and Chesser into middle and we have some real size in there but have skill and leg speed
Dean looks like they are just easing him in. Looks very calm type and doesn't fumble or make mistakes. Almost unobstrusive
10. Walker looks 23 years old and ready to go
11. Jagga still building and doesn't do all drills. Looks great but I think they are being cautious
12. O'Farrell tracking well and has had no issues. After bye is target


Bottom line is everyone looks good and training looks sharp and professional but I have been here before. What I do like is the professionalism of new players and that we seem to be working more on skills. We also seem to have more options for spots than before

Also, (and it may be me) but I feel a lot of negativity and she'll be right attitude has left the group.

Fingers crossed


PS I was told previously that Duffy had really improved. After watching him I agree. He moves well and skills are good
Reidy is more mobile and has better skills than I thought. With Pittonet not in full training yet I would have him in front for ruck spot

#1. Gets me excited and I agree

 

[Opium]

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.

This post is 100% spot on. NO coach should allow or accept this level as standard.
This is why i can't see Voss surviving or being our next premiership coach.