Training 2026 Pre-Season Training - reports, pics etc

[Crippa#9]

What's the word on Acres? Has he had any role changes or is he still playing on a wing? Was really hoping he could ply his trade up forward this season. One of our taller players and it'll push him further up the ground where his field kicking won't be such a massive issue. Anyone else making line switches or is it business as usual?

Has been a liability the last two years after an exceptional 2023.

I for one hope he's in the VFL start of the year.

 

[Cripps 'n' Blue Bloods]

Lewis Young is 1 who has had a very good pre season thus far.

If he can improve his decisiveness with ball in hand then he'll be a handy asset for us.

That's good to hear, but how much improvement can we expect from a fringe 27yo?
He's always been a decent player, but like KJP says, his biggest issue is his decision making. He slows our ball movement while trying to make a decision. I simply can't see that changing this late in his career.
I feel the best we can hope for is that he's creating pressure for spots, performing well in the VFL and can fill a role as a backup in the case of injury.

Always happy to be proven wrong when it comes to stuff like this though.

 

[Aphrodite]

The emerging Blues making waves in 2026

“We did a bit of match sim yesterday and he really stood out.”

www.sen.com.au

 

[Aphrodite]

Link to footage, please?

Post #1,119 in this thread Benny

 

[jooce8891]

Link to footage, please?

 

[BlueLocke]

What's the word on Acres? Has he had any role changes or is he still playing on a wing? Was really hoping he could ply his trade up forward this season. One of our taller players and it'll push him further up the ground where his field kicking won't be such a massive issue. Anyone else making line switches or is it business as usual?

I know he’s probably the best runner on the list (and one of the best in the league), but I reckon the ship has long since sailed for him to be anything other than a wingman.

Hollands, Moir and Hayward are all similar sized players who have genuine forward craft, and, at least in Moir and Haywards case, much better kicks with the ability to compete in the air. Acres' weapons are his tank and being oversized for his position; both things he won’t really be able to exploit as a forward.

I’d love to see him naturally displaced from the team by whomever of Chesser, Hollands and Campo come on best.

 

[Jimmae]

First - I am not asking McKay to be exactly like Cameron, second I am not expecting McKay to play a low pressure game, third and most importantly we are bringing in the lies of Florent, Chesser, Ainsorth, Hayward & Smith (plus possibly E Hollands & Cottrell) this year (plus Walker next year) in order us to have the hard running players that should allow us to play a much more Geelong style game

You want McKay to cover ground like Cameron while also focusing on defensive pressure? So that's just McKay in 2025 with less ruck duties, and no Charlie at FF.

I'm pretty confident that this doesn't help the team or Harry. Getting it forward purely for territory will definitely decrease this year, but you need your star forward front and centre as a basic resting pulse.

 

[Bennyboy7777]

Footage of the boys doing weights today, there are two clips of jagga working hard but jeez it looked awkward. Drop the weight and get better form/results? Maybe they just caught him at the end of sets

I reckon his reps were at the end, close to failure.

 

[Bennyboy7777]

Not an expert but I've been training for years and worked in the fitness industry.

You dont need a masters in sport science to see alot of our guys form is pretty average . Anyone who has spent more then 5 minutes in the gym would notice.

Not shocking by average gym standards. Just surprising for profesional athletes guided by trainers.

Not just us either. Seen several clubs release those videos of players attempting a 1 rep squat/bench max with massive weight and attrocious form. Good way to blow a knee or shoulder. Its very odd

When it’s not an overly dangerous exercise (Olympic lifts, squats, deadlifts are technical and some of the more risky/dangerous ones etc..) your form doesn’t need to be perfect, particularly on reps to failure. It’s functional strength and power training that you want that translates to game day. You can’t always push off an opponent, burst through packs with perfect form. As for posters noting that it’s all upper body work, they obviously would split up the weights program across the week, so that particular muscle groups are focused upon on certain days. FYI, if you ask what would I know, and just to blow my own trumpet, I have a degree in exercise science, have been a personal trainer for years, and trained/been educated by some doyens in strength and conditioning - Stan Nicholls, Peter Schockman and some high level Olympic Weight Lifters.

 

[marcmurphy3]

When it’s not an overly dangerous exercise (Olympic lifts, squats, deadlifts anre technical and some of the more risky/dangerous ones etc..) your form doesn’t need to be perfect, particularly on reps to failure. It’s functional strength and power training that you want that translates to game day. You can’t always push off an opponent, burst through packs with perfect form. As for posters noting that it’s all upper body work, they obviously would split up the weights program across the week, so that particular muscle groups are focused upon on certain days. FYI, if you ask what would I know, and just to blow my own trumpet, I have a degree in exercise science, have been a personal trainer for years, and trained/been educated by some doyens in strength and conditioning - Stan Nicholls, Peter Schockman and some high level Olympic Weight Lifters.

The safety comments were in reference to squat / bench 1 rep max's.

Agree, using to much weight on something like 1 arm lat pull downs isnt unsafe. Just not optimal.

Anyway lm not a concerned. Was just surprised.

Im sure they do plenty of legs. We only saw a small snippet of the workout.

 

[JimmyRabbit49]

You want McKay to cover ground like Cameron while also focusing on defensive pressure? So that's just McKay in 2025 with less ruck duties, and no Charlie at FF.

I'm pretty confident that this doesn't help the team or Harry. Getting it forward purely for territory will definitely decrease this year, but you need your star forward front and centre as a basic resting pulse.

"So that's just McKay in 2025 with less ruck duties" McKay of 2025 managed just 12 games and wasn't in a great place mentally.

But once he returned in round 20 he averaged 14.8 disposals, 2.6 goals 3.6 tackles and 6.2 marks - so yes I suppose I want McKay of 2025 just for the full year at full capacity.

"and no Charlie at FF." Yes - exactly - no Charlie anchored at FF wrestling - but instead multiple mobile midsized marking options.

"but you need your star forward front and centre" Again I agree start him deep at the centre bounce but why waste him sitting deep forward if we can't get it out of our D50. Play him higher where he can impact the game getting double figure marks and 20 possessions

 

[TwiggleyFanClub]

Now we are experts in weights training

This is the internet. I'm an expert on everything.

 

[JustaBattler]

"So that's just McKay in 2025 with less ruck duties" McKay of 2025 managed just 12 games and wasn't in a great place mentally.

But once he returned in round 20 he averaged 14.8 disposals, 2.6 goals 3.6 tackles and 6.2 marks - so yes I suppose I want McKay of 2025 just for the full year at full capacity.

"and no Charlie at FF." Yes - exactly - no Charlie anchored at FF wrestling - but instead multiple mobile midsized marking options.

"but you need your star forward front and centre" Again I agree start him deep at the centre bounce but why waste him sitting deep forward if we can't get it out of our D50. Play him higher where he can impact the game getting double figure marks and 20 possessions

Its a good thing that coaches understand the value of a roving marking tall - since they pretty much have played Harry in that role as often as not. No doubt both HoK and Reid will be trialled as the 'other' tall marking targets - the new boy is a pretyt good contested mark and better than average kick for goal himself. I would like to see 5-6 forwards - actually positioned as forwards - instead of two forwards on a. good day and everyone else running behind the ball to defend - that is what I am looking for and if we continue to see the stoopid no forward struture to kick to again- well I'm over Voss faster than you can say - 'next'.

 

[SOS Rules]

That's good to hear, but how much improvement can we expect from a fringe 27yo?
He's always been a decent player, but like KJP says, his biggest issue is his decision making. He slows our ball movement while trying to make a decision. I simply can't see that changing this late in his career.
I feel the best we can hope for is that he's creating pressure for spots, performing well in the VFL and can fill a role as a backup in the case of injury.

Always happy to be proven wrong when it comes to stuff like this though.

Lewis is an almost player. He needs to get the ball quickly to others once he's won it so that we get max value for his possessions. A good man always knows his limitations. I think his best value to us is as KP depth and chopping out in the ruck if required.

If he could believe in himself a lot more, he could garner a permanent spot in the ones.

 

[katmanblue]

This is crazy. I was talking to Cam Bruce the other day and he said Lions dedicate nearly 14 hours a week to basic kick and handball skills.

We also do 14 hours...a year.

 

[Aphrodite]

 

[Aphrodite]

across

 

[Aphrodite]

 

[mrkyuss]

Anyone know what time training starts tomorrow ?

 

[FitzroyBlueBagger]

Anyone know what time training starts tomorrow ?

9.45 https://www.carltonfc.com.au/fans/open-training

 

[BluStreak]

Young is an interesting conundrum. He does appear to lack confidence in his next action when he has the ball. Given that he is never guaranteed a place in the firsts, you could wonder that he simply over thinking it, not wanting to get it wrong all the time. If given a simple instruction of give it to a runner and the team knows to provide that runner than I believe that he would improve. Call me optimistic.

 

[blueboy25]

Young is an interesting conundrum. He does appear to lack confidence in his next action when he has the ball. Given that he is never guaranteed a place in the firsts, you could wonder that he simply over thinking it, not wanting to get it wrong all the time. If given a simple instruction of give it to a runner and the team knows to provide that runner than I believe that he would improve. Call me optimistic.

Unfortunately that becomes very predictable plus we always seem to either have the receiving player run in to trouble or there are no options up the ground for them to hit.

 

[HomerThompson]

Match sim going at the moment. A few players wearing hats - must be an Andrew Walker tribute match

 

[AT97]

Pretty sure Derksen is out there wearing 47.

 

[AT97]

Carroll doing nice things in match sim playing as a wingman.