Training 2026 Training Reports

[Caracas]

Its ****in simple. “Round 1 to start and give it a red hot crack. We have internal expectations, us leaders are setting a standard that will be above and beyond and we will come out breathing fire”.

Dont give me cheap words. Messages like that will resonate with the group and with supporters. Unrealistic expectations are no good. Take one week at a time, do not look at the FIXture and dont pencil in anything. Wins will be hard, every game will be hard.

Our team needs some “red hot crack”.

 

[Caracas]

If nothing else, I’d like again the experience of being firmly in games with 10 minutes left on the clock on a very regularly basis - instead of being out of the game completely halfway through the second quarter.

 

[ferball]

If we aren’t at least 4-2 after six games, then it’s time to shake hands with Clarkson and move on.

That's so over the top.

We've had that sort of start (or better) twice since 2010 season started. On only one of those occasions we won a final (and made a PF.)

"We're the worst side in AFL history. If we don't repeat a feat we've managed twice in 16 seasons we should sack the coach in his second last season."

 

[TennisPlayerAndy]

That's so over the top.

We've had that sort of start (or better) twice since 2010 season started. On only one of those occasions we won a final (and made a PF.)

"We're the worst side in AFL history. If we don't repeat a feat we've managed twice in 16 seasons we should sack the coach in his second last season."

In the context of this particular set of games, his fourth season in charge, the level of experience across the field there are no excuses, short of an unprecedented injury run to our best six players, where anything less that 4-2 is ok.

WC, WC and * will be bottom four.

Carlton are barely above that and we pantsed them last year.

Port will be marginally favoured and Brisbane are Brisbane.

There’s no more hiding or excuses.

If he can get this group to four wins in those games, he never will.

 

[iloveireland]

At least Nostrils takes it all in good stride. Some people in here, probably newer members have completely lost their sh*t at some of the more “combative” posters. Those that have been around longer just scroll by as we go about reading on our lunch breaks

I find ignoring certain posters also does wonders, although I only have one atm

 

[The Nostradamus]

I find ignoring certain posters also does wonders, although I only have one atm

who is it?

 

[Kangaroos4eva]

Training (Arden Street Oval)
Monday, February 2
9am-11.15am AEDT

Training (Arden Street Oval)
Wednesday, February 4
8.45am-10.45am AEDT

Training (Arden Street Oval)
Friday, February 6
8.45am-11.15am AEDT

 

[ferball]

In the context of this particular set of games, his fourth season in charge, the level of experience across the field there are no excuses, short of an unprecedented injury run to our best six players, where anything less that 4-2 is ok.

WC, WC and * will be bottom four.

Carlton are barely above that and we pantsed them last year.

Port will be marginally favoured and Brisbane are Brisbane.

There’s no more hiding or excuses.

If he can get this group to four wins in those games, he never will.

I think 3 wins is a reasonable expectation and four is a better chance than even ... but at the same time our side will still be driven by a bunch of kids who are really just on the edge of being physically capable of playing AFL footy.

I understand your pov, just disagree, simply because since the racism shit ended, around the bye in 2024 we've improved significantly, nearly three times the wins and the wins we had were regular wins not in freaky circumstances like a coaches first game or the last game of the year against the GC in winter in Hobart.

Unless we regress badly during the season I'm happy to give Clarkson the rest of his contract and then see what happens. Either replace him if we don't keep a similar level of improvement to the last 18 months or make a more measured assessment if we do.

I don't want us to change coach mid season again. It would be the fifth time we've done that since 2019.

 

[iloveireland]

who is it?

Not you mate

 

[The Nostradamus]

Not you mate

Haha I know that

 

[The Nostradamus]

North Melbourne will tune up for the 2026 season with a match simulation against Melbourne on Friday, February 20 at Casey Fields in Cranbourne.

The match sim will begin at 4.30pm AEDT. It is free for fans to attend and will be broadcast live on Foxtel and Kayo

Magpies wait in Community Series​

Following the match sim, the Kangaroos host Collingwood in the AAMI Community Series at Ballarat's Mars Stadium on Sunday, March 1 at 3.10pm AEDT.

Tickets for the Community Series match will go on sale from Wednesday, February 4.

 

[Ether]

In the context of this particular set of games, his fourth season in charge, the level of experience across the field there are no excuses, short of an unprecedented injury run to our best six players, where anything less that 4-2 is ok.

WC, WC and * will be bottom four.

Carlton are barely above that and we pantsed them last year.

Port will be marginally favoured and Brisbane are Brisbane.

There’s no more hiding or excuses.

If he can get this group to four wins in those games, he never will.

WC will be so bad that they'll be last and second last. Even we never achieved that.

 

[FlyHigh18]

I might be in a minority but i dislike the whole "oh he's an ex basketball player" gloat.

It's not the flex you think it is. Basically what you're telling me is he didn't play footy as a kid.

 

[pitchster]

I find ignoring certain posters also does wonders, although I only have one atm

While i understand you sentiment i dont agree with it. I come from a time when irritating people and behaviours were tolerated not ignored for our own comfort. Even those we dont agree with, you can still learn from. It might be occasionally but it still does happen.

 

[Psi-Roos]

I might be in a minority but i dislike the whole "oh he's an ex basketball player" gloat.

It's not the flex you think it is. Basically what you're telling me is he didn't play footy as a kid.

Every "basketballer" I ever played with was incredibly soft and couldn't be relied on to go when it was their turn.

So I agree.

 

[Themanbun]

I might be in a minority but i dislike the whole "oh he's an ex basketball player" gloat.

It's not the flex you think it is. Basically what you're telling me is he didn't play footy as a kid.

Ehhhhhhhhh. Early athlete specialisation in footy isn't recommended.

Basketball teaches some really good skills. Spatial awareness. Not panicking in close. Not rushing to get the ball forward. And repeat sprints where acceleration helps you get separation.

Other sports teach other things. Cricket/baseball/tennis teach you what it feels like to have the focus squarely on you versus another person.

Dancing provides really body awareness and stability.

It's cool to see where people have come from IMO and what those sports can bring to their game.

 

[Phar Ace]

I might be in a minority but i dislike the whole "oh he's an ex basketball player" gloat.

It's not the flex you think it is. Basically what you're telling me is he didn't play footy as a kid.

Not sure if it applies now to Gen Zeders, but most kids used to play both, and built core skills in both games. Basketball's evasion skills are often elite, including turn of speed and lateral movement. Spatial awareness is one of Pendlebury's overlapping skills, for example.

 

[DuckYeah]

who is it?

Im on about 8 ignore lists. Guarantee its yours truly

 

[King Corey]

Ehhhhhhhhh. Early athlete specialisation in footy isn't recommended.

Basketball teaches some really good skills. Spatial awareness. Not panicking in close. Not rushing to get the ball forward. And repeat sprints where acceleration helps you get separation.

Other sports teach other things. Cricket/baseball/tennis teach you what it feels like to have the focus squarely on you versus another person.

Dancing provides really body awareness and stability.

It's cool to see where people have come from IMO and what those sports can bring to their game.

All true.

You can tell a lot of North players grew up doing a lot of kata, because they move and execute exceptionally well when there isn't an actual opponent.

 

[koshari]

The players aren't allowed to have finals as a goal when there is 10 spots up for grabs?

Would we prefer them, when asked, to say
"just looking for some improvement. 6-7 wins should be alright." ???

GTFOH.

They could say they wrre going to win the world series for all i care, getting a list that can contend is more important than falling over the line to play a bullshit wildcatd game.

 

[Ura]

Only thing that matters is what happens on the field. It’s obviously a slow pre season if we are genuinely arguing about comments about aiming to make finals. Genuinely only big footy could make 3 pages and angry talk about comments like that.

Last season the message from the club was “we want to be in games longer” in fairness to the club they often were in games to 3qtr time. I prefer we are aiming for finals but realise the club has work to do…

 

[Passmore]

So as you've witnessed a bit of training this preseason and past years, what's your takeaway comparing the last few years. I am bullish about the year ahead & tbh this partly due to us having imo 10 winnable games.

The main difference that I've noticed is we've seemingly seen less match sim (not withstanding the bowel movement led missed session) and more focus on drills. One of our more knowledgeable posters, way more switched on than me to this stuff, detailed them in an earlier post.

That and some high quality players starting to mature.

What it leads to, who knows until we start playing other teams.

 

[rickety]

Im on about 8 ignore lists. Guarantee its yours truly

I wonder if the Mods gather round the takeaway table at Chaddy, or Chirnside Park during the Community Series, and collate a list of who's who on the ignore lists, and who has the most, and conversely, who is on the most. Could be an award or 2 in that.

 

[DuckYeah]

I wonder if the Mods gather round the takeaway table at Chaddy, or Chirnside Park during the Community Series, and collate a list of who's who on the ignore lists, and who has the most, and conversely, who is on the most. Could be an award or 2 in that.

I’d be up there. Should be an award if you rack up 10 POTY votes and be on the most ignore lists

 

[Krakouer Bonar]

I’d be up there. Should be an award if you rack up 10 POTY votes and be on the most ignore lists

If obnoxiousness was an Olympic Sport, you'd fill all 3 places on the dais...