Training 2026 Preseason Thread

[Theseventhhamster]

imma buy a membership for the first time in a few years.

Worth repeating, we got rid of both Goodwin and Oliver in the one offseason. What a ****ing time to be alive!

Trac was a gun for a bit, don't get me wrong but the campaigner didn't want to be there anymore and kicked like Simon Godfrey

Simon Godfrey

Age

45

Ht

184cm

Wt

86kg

Pos.

Mid

Career

Season

Last 5

D

12.5

3star

K

6.8

3star

HB

5.8

4star

M

2.8

3star

T

3.0

5star

No current season stats available

D

9.6

3star

K

5.8

3star

HB

3.8

3star

M

2.2

3star

T

0.8

3star

on roids so I can also live with him ****ing off.

 

[Headless]

imma buy a membership for the first time in a few years.

Worth repeating, we got rid of both Goodwin and Oliver in the one offseason. What a ****ing time to be alive!

Trac was a gun for a bit, don't get me wrong but the campaigner didn't want to be there anymore and kicked like Simon Godfrey on roids so I can also live with him ****ing off.

 

[MarcMaverick]

I am rather itching to see how we do.

 

[A11dAtP0w3R]

I think he has 2 years up his sleeve to get a new style up and running before results start to matter.

I honestly don't think it's that hard, we have just had a bunch of empty promises year on year by a coach out of ideas in Goodwin. A good coach can implement a game plan and get results inside 12 months, it's more about if we have the players to play how he wants. Collingwood and GWS changed their style massively and successfully inside 12 months.

 

[schmuttt]

I honestly don't think it's that hard, we have just had a bunch of empty promises year on year by a coach out of ideas in Goodwin. A good coach can implement a game plan and get results inside 12 months, it's more about if we have the players to play how he wants. Collingwood and GWS changed their style massively and successfully inside 12 months.

Yep. I expect us to be pretty bad this year but it wouldn't be unrealistic to push for finals next year if he is any good as a coach.

 

[melbun]

Who will kick our goals?
It is easy to Pickett.

 

[booshboy]

I honestly don't think it's that hard, we have just had a bunch of empty promises year on year by a coach out of ideas in Goodwin. A good coach can implement a game plan and get results inside 12 months, it's more about if we have the players to play how he wants. Collingwood and GWS changed their style massively and successfully inside 12 months.

 

[MarcMaverick]

View attachment 2514382

Simpson Memes, undefeated.

 

[danster168]

ANOTHER PICKETT SET TO LIGHT UP DEES​

The early selection of Latrelle Pickett may have turned heads on draft night, but the first-round talent was a major standout at Melbourne’s training as he pushes for a round 1 debut.

Pickett, the cousin of teammate and Demon superstar Kysaiah Pickett, looked a class above his fellow draftees on Wednesday as he flaunted his high-level skills.

It was a sight to behold as Latrelle and Kysiah crumbed the packs at training, anticipating their teammates’ movements and providing a real showcase of the Pickett’s family prowess.

Latrelle was the bolter of draft night as the No.12 pick, but he looks poised to push for an early-season debut under new coach Stephen King.

Another notable standout was former Eagle Jai Culley, dominating high-pressure zone drills looking ready to impact the senior side this season.

The 22 year old played the last four games of Melbourne’s 2025 campaign after being picked up as an SSP signing as an injury replacement for Andy Moniz-Wakefield, who suffered a pre-season ACL injury.

He averaged 13.5 disposals, 2.8 tackles and 3.5 marks in his four senior games, but looks to be a different beast in 2026, putting on some muscle and tidying up his foot skills.

RECRUIT WATCH

New recruits Changkuoth Jiath, Max Heath, Jack Steele and Brody Mihocek look to be settling into life in the red and blue as they ease into the full training program.

Jiath and Steele spent the majority of the training with the main group before moving into low intensity handball drills, with Jiath sharing laughs with multiple teammates throughout the session.

Max Heath spent the entirety of training away from the main group and running laps.

Mihocek trained lightly, managing a toe injury he hopes to shake before season launch.

INJURY WATCH

Veteran defender Steven May split from the main group early in the session, having conversations with trainers on the sidelines.

He resumed training by himself, doing run-throughs on the sidelines before leaving Gosch’s Paddock while his teammates were still on the field.

He was told to look elsewhere at the end of the season, with his best-23 position under scrutiny, but May couldn’t find a trade suitor and instead has returned to the Demons.

Andy Moniz-Wakefield looks set to make his return from an ACL injury and presents as a potential replacement for the injured Jake Bowey.

The rebounding defender isn’t expected back until mid-season after suffering a Lisfranc injury earlier in preseason.

Max Gawn powered through the fractured finger he suffered last week, donning a finger splint and a red and blue bucket hat on a cloudy Melbourne morning.

The club captain spent the majority of training with the main group, notably chalking up multiple fearless spoils in marking contests.

Former co-captain Jack Viney and new Mihocek featured briefly early on in training, doing low intensity handball drills with assistant coach Nathan Jones separate from the group.

Viney is managing an achilles injury and hopes to join the main group in the coming weeks, while Mihocek is dealing with a toe injury and is expected to be ready for round 1.

https://www.codesports.com.au/afl/u...ws-story/04a82e3083792e538451419dbb1c08db?amp

this whole article was absolute BS. The Picketts in no way, stood out at training. The article could've easily changed the name to Thomas Matthews or 30 other blokes. Crazy that journo's are just making stuff up out of thin air. It was a very low intense training drill. Latrelle Pickett didn't even have 1 notable crumb. Or even any. Neither did anyone on the list. It was a very 'going through the motions' training.

 

[mrmonkey]

I honestly don't think it's that hard, we have just had a bunch of empty promises year on year by a coach out of ideas in Goodwin. A good coach can implement a game plan and get results inside 12 months, it's more about if we have the players to play how he wants. Collingwood and GWS changed their style massively and successfully inside 12 months.

Yeah as long as it's kept simple, which I think it will be. I remember a few years ago listening to SEN and I guess it was the NRL segment and they had an journalists talking about the broncos having a good young team but just an overly complicated game plan and the players just seem to be confused. I remember thinking that melbourne seem to have the same problem with experienced players. I don't really follow the nrl but now that I think about it the broncos just won the premiership so that journalists may have been right and perhaps they did just that and simplified their game plan.

 

[Lord Nev]

Match simulation report | Jefferson turns heads

Matthew Jefferson has continued his consistent pre-season run.

www.melbournefc.com.au

 

[Lord Nev]

The Picketts in no way, stood out at training.

Yer, sounds terrible... "Kysaiah Pickett was also at his damaging best, also kicking three goals including a flying mid-air soccer goal from nothing."

 

[A11dAtP0w3R]

Match simulation report | Jefferson turns heads

Matthew Jefferson has continued his consistent pre-season run.

www.melbournefc.com.au

No surprise that the Magic Man would look better in a team that moves the ball quicker.

 

[Toump Ass]

If Jefferson turns my head even a little bit more it's gonna 360 degrees like Linda Blair in 1973's classic horror film The Exorcist.

Been saying it all along, he's ready to explode.

Edit: here we go:

 

[A11dAtP0w3R]

Good grab the second one from Magician, like the ball movement on the first goal, who was that who lead up then hit Jefferson?

 

[Toump Ass]

Wearing a hat too, what a mad campaigner.

 

[Crusty Demon]

I honestly don't think it's that hard, we have just had a bunch of empty promises year on year by a coach out of ideas in Goodwin. A good coach can implement a game plan and get results inside 12 months, it's more about if we have the players to play how he wants. Collingwood and GWS changed their style massively and successfully inside 12 months.

It's not just as simple as changing the style though. And I can't remember, but I don't know if those sides had players of the calibre of Trac, Oliver and McVee leave? I'm nowhere near convinced we have the cattle to pull it off. Not yet anyway. So i expect another big offseason of delistings and hopefully bringing in players who suit the style. That to me is why he has 2 years up his sleeve. But hey, we still have a lot of unknowns. JVR and Tholstrup could finally show something. Culley could be set to explode. Sparrow and Salem might end up playing useful roles etc?

 

[A11dAtP0w3R]

It's not just as simple as changing the style though. And I can't remember, but I don't know if those sides had players of the calibre of Trac, Oliver and McVee leave? I'm nowhere near convinced we have the cattle to pull it off. Not yet anyway. So i expect another big offseason of delistings and hopefully bringing in players who suit the style. That to me is why he has 2 years up his sleeve. But hey, we still have a lot of unknowns. JVR and Tholstrup could finally show something. Culley could be set to explode. Sparrow and Salem might end up playing useful roles etc?

Meh, I think Goody's style ****ed over a lot of player with talent on our list, turning them into system players rather than using their strengths, so im expecting improvement from a lot of players on our list honestly. Im not saying we are top 4 bound but I wouldnt be surprised if we challenged for the 8.

 

[Daemon]

Wearing a hat too, what a mad campaigner.

He would be a poor magician without a hat.

 

[mrmonkey]

I think people forget JVR has actually shown he has ability. The last few years he's been down but the entire team has been struggling. As mentioned it's been tough working under Goody particularly for forwards. Hopefully we can start seeing his confidence back in a better style.

 

[Demon 16]

We’ve just had same same for way too long so I have no problem with a reset and a couple of years reworking things if it means a more exciting brand and a better chance to get back up towards the top in a few years time.

 

[Lampers]

Good grab the second one from Magician, like the ball movement on the first goal, who was that who lead up then hit Jefferson?

I think it was Windsor, who had a few good highlights in the early parts of the clip. If it’s the play I think you mean you hear someone yell out “Duke” plus it looked like Windsor.

 

[Lampers]

Meh, I think Goody's style ****ed over a lot of player with talent on our list, turning them into system players rather than using their strengths, so im expecting improvement from a lot of players on our list honestly. Im not saying we are top 4 bound but I wouldnt be surprised if we challenged for the 8.

I’m not saying he will take the league by storm, but Magician Jefferson is exactly the sort of player who was doomed in Goodwin’s game plan because he couldn’t bring the pure aerial contest Goodwin demanded from tall forwards. But Jeffo could be something if played in a way that exploits his strengths and hides his weaknesses.

Tholstrup another jammed into a role at AFL level that didn’t exploit his strengths. Again I’m not sold he will make it as a top liner, but he was not the guy to be starved as a pressure half forward.

Geelong have quite a few players with obvious limitations (Humphries, Dempsey, Atkinson) who were able to be effective because they were used in a way that exploited what they were above average at. Hopefully that approach comes across with King.

 

[TheBoss]

Wearing a hat too, what a mad campaigner.

Might as wel move to Caulfield Racecourse already. Pre-season's turned into the Spring Carnival. Less conditioning, more fascinators. Blokes strutting around like they're being judged for Best Dressed instead of fitness.

Absolute millinery club.

 

[netslave]

can see us with more frustrating turnovers but will be worth it for more excitement and scoring hopefully.