Training 2026 Pre Season Training Thread

[bedford]

Ahah yep was wondering why it felt like it was one short. Add him so its down to 1 spot for the 4 of them.

I don't think Rampe will play given that Serong is ahead of him. Also think that the order of half backs is Bice, Roberts and Kyle. But thats a bad blunder missing Blakey

Kyle not yet , but Rampe should not play again unless we have too many injuries

 

[Dubai Quacker]

Kyle not yet , but Rampe should not play again unless we have too many injuries

I’m still feeling there’s a bit of shiny new toy syndrome at play.

I’m far from convinced that Serong is > Sir Dane.

Really looking forward to the pre-season games to find out more about the pecking order.

 

[bedford]

I’m still feeling there’s a bit of shiny new toy syndrome at play.

I’m far from convinced that Serong is > Sir Dane.

Really looking forward to the pre-season games to find out more about the pecking order.

Sir Dane

 

[Millky95]

As long as Blakey isn't sucked into playing as the deepest defender again, he should stay at half back. Was AA there 2 years ago and fixes his weakness of not being able to win the ball

 

[Kbroome]

I’m still feeling there’s a bit of shiny new toy syndrome at play.

I’m far from convinced that Serong is > Sir Dane.

Really looking forward to the pre-season games to find out more about the pecking order.

I think there is shiny new toy syndrome with Kyle compared to Bice/Roberts/Mills.

But I think that Serong has the runs on the board to show that he is good enough to play at AFL level. Legit wasn't playing last year because he was behind Sicily, Barrass and Battle which I think is a fair argument to be the best key defence in the league.

 

[Kbroome]

As long as Blakey isn't sucked into playing as the deepest defender again, he should stay at half back. Was AA there 2 years ago and fixes his weakness of not being able to win the ball

I think Serong's leg speed compared to Rampe will help Blakey be released more as you say he won't be sucked back deep helping as a sweeper as much when Rampe loses his man on a long lead

 

[bedford]

I think Serong's leg speed compared to Rampe will help Blakey be released more as you say he won't be sucked back deep helping as a sweeper as much when Rampe loses his man on a long lead

Rampe should start in the VFL

 

[Wheresbuddy]

As long as Blakey isn't sucked into playing as the deepest defender again, he should stay at half back. Was AA there 2 years ago and fixes his weakness of not being able to win the ball

Cox made mention of the Lizard's height on more than one occasion as the reason to play him as a key back. Hope he doesn't make that mistake again.

 

[Adnico26Parker]

 

[Wheresbuddy]

Now for the right boot BJ

 

[bedford]

Now for the right boot BJ

He probably can't

 

[Adnico26Parker]

 

[Wheresbuddy]

That looked too easy.

 

[bedford]

That looked too easy.

He's done

 

[Kbroome]

He's done

Let him marshal the backline in the VFL helping to develop Edwards and Snell . But yeah he has lost most of his physical attributes that helped him be that grindy character even though he was smaller than most key position players

 

[bedford]

Let him marshal the backline in the VFL helping to develop Edwards and Snell . But yeah he has lost most of his physical attributes that helped him be that grindy character even though he was smaller than most key position players

Perfect

 

[Adnico26Parker]

 

[Millky95]

Either our defense sucks or Curnow is kicking 100 this season

 

[Kiama Chris]

Defenders not working hard enough. Allowing Curnow to take pole position. Except Blakey interestingly. He's always better with the ball in front of him.

 

[dosser]

Defenders not working hard enough. Allowing Curnow to take pole position. Except Blakey interestingly. He's always better with the ball in front of him.

I'm actually more excited by what Mcdonald could be learning here.

 

[Adnico26Parker]

Would be nice to see Edwards and Snell step up a bit more in 2026, not even mentioned. Did they play today ?

McKirdy noted them both in this track watch from today's session:

Edwards: earned plenty of praise from coaches and teammates with some of his one-on-one contest work, in particular when he duked it out with Charlie

Snell: coaches are also trying to get more versatility into Snell’s game, encouraging him to run and overlap his teammates to push further up the field. He earned plenty of praise for his one percenters, with Sydney's defensive depth in good shape.

 

[Punts]

Hope Edwards becomes solid

Could let Mccartin play a little loose and intercept

 

[Nool Carpenna]

On our back 6/7, I have a bit of a left-field theory that I expect might draw some detractors... but that's okay. No need to worry, I won't be selecting the team. It's just my opinion.

Any combination that includes either TMac or Meli as the No.1 reduces our ability to build a gameplan around a steadfast platform down back.

While they have definitely proven adequate, the combo really doesn't give off the same resilient and composed vibe that recent premiership winners have had and, that I would like us to have from the get go.

I was excited by the footage of TMac and Charlie working together a while back. I definitely think Tommy has the ability to become elite as a No.1 KD but he isn't there yet, and I don't believe burdening him with that responsibility in actual games, this season, is helpful. Let him play what is a more natural game for him, at this stage of his career, and put the finishing touches of his learning on the training track against a dual Coleman winner.

Meli? Well I love Meli, but I have question marks over his application/ability/discipline to defend, in either the No.1 or 2 roles, for four quarters to premiership standard. I also think that his contributions further up the ground, when not looking after a key threat, is vastly under-rated and a role that comes naturally to him.

Put the two of them together and I feel like it becomes little more than a scramble.... and working from a scrambled base, the transition into attack will likely have the same characteristics.

Enter Joel Hamling

29

Joel Hamling

Age

32

Ht

194cm

Wt

92kg

Pos.

D/F

Career

Season

Last 5

D

11.6

3star

K

6.2

2star

HB

5.4

4star

M

5.0

5star

T

1.4

3star

No current season stats available

D

11.8

3star

K

7.6

3star

HB

4.2

4star

M

5.8

5star

T

1.0

3star

. No frills, unfashionable, getting on a bit.... recognised more around these parts as a beneficiary of the Great Grand Final Heist than for anything else.

Now, I'm not claiming that Joel is an absolute champion, that he is anything more than average footballer, but what his inclusion in our team, at least in the short term, does is to allow TMac and Meli to play roles that are much more suited to their skillsets.

Joel played 14 games last year and we didn't add any KDs in the off-season. Yes he got tossed around a bit, but after Buller finally got the call, I don't recall many complaints about his efforts down back. Certainly nobody got a hold of him through that period of games.

So, the way I see it, we have a choice between playing Tom and Meli in positions where their output is reduced, and hoping that our third is so good that he makes up for that reduction.... or we play conservative, put our trust in Joel allowing Tom and Meli to play to their optimum, while providing a much more stable platform to work from.

This also takes all the pressure off Edwards and Snell in their development. Both have shown snippets of potential while also being exposed for having more to learn.... a much greater chance of happening in a VFL side that likely will be pretty competitive and, at very least, with a much more structured and competent gameplan than what we have seen over the last few years.

 

[tombomb]

If Will Edwards emerges as an AFL level key defender it will be a game changer for us.

We've been undersized in key defence for 25 years.

McCartin and Melican are both excellent defenders but are vulnerable against the really big forwards.

 

[Edmund hunt]

Hopefully Jai can win a spot come round 1. He has show he's of potential especially when going 1 on 1.