Training 2026 Preseason

[theGav56]

don't get me wrong, i rate and like Simpson and he's gonna matter for this squad/team, already shown plenty to be excited about. was a great pick.

the point was, in that draft, I thought it would've been ace to pick up a starting 23-ready, mature-bodied player who could immediately perform at the level, which Mannagh absolutely did for the Cats. i hoped Mannagh would last to our next pick but Cats obviously saw his value.

Walls etc just had different priorities. not disappointed with Simspon at all.

Simpson is a decent prospect, as he was when we drafted him. I'm happy the club is giving him time to develop. But he hasn't actually established a clear position for himself, and we have just drafted more small players in a single draft than in any other draft I can remember.

Mannagh is who we should have taken. He was always going to have an immediate impact, and looks likely to play 150 games.

 

[ilikepotatoes]

I have no issues with JOM. Started the 2025 year off quite well then injury and didn’t get back to the early season level.

Rd 1 - 31 possessions
Rd 2 - 32 possessions
Rd 3 - Inj

Rd 19 - 24 possessions
Rd 22 - 26 possessions

Had some decent late season games but lost form in the two games leading to finals and was very average in the final. Needed to have a very good PS to retain his spot and from all reports had had one of his best PS.

I suggest you watch round 1 and 2 again and tell me JOM actually played well.

He got the ball I'll give him that.

But he played inside mid and wasn't very effective.

 

[Spirit Level]

I've heard enough.

Neil Erasmus is going to tear the comp apart this year and I won't hear any word to the contrary.

 

[anchor man]

Whoever it was needs to practice their left hand handballing!

Shees ... really!!

 

[BREATHLESS_987]

I've heard enough.

Neil Erasmus is going to tear the comp apart this year and I won't hear any word to the contrary.

My dirty little vision for him is to be a consistent "bobs up and kicks 2 goals in the third quarter to swing an arm wrestle of a game in our favour" type player

 

[Spirit Level]

My dirty little vision for him is to be a consistent "bobs up and kicks 2 goals in the third quarter to swing an arm wrestle of a game in our favour" type player

Josh Dunkley is what I want out of him

 

[Smurf_x]

I've heard enough.

Neil Erasmus is going to tear the comp apart this year and I won't hear any word to the contrary.

I'm pretty big on Ras.
Always have been. I always thought he was pretty hard done by with the small amount of game time he'd get and needed to show he was one of the best players within that short amount of time. He was also not used at all some weekend, either AFL or WAFL footy so he really just couldn't develop.

He needed to work out the AFL speed, some take a bit longer than others, and once he did late last year he looked like he belonged.

I believe.

 

[mattis117]

Sean Darcy only playing a quarter is a bit of a concern. All reports had him as healthy as ever in the lead up. Surely they're not managing his workloads yet?

Every single player is under load management...

 

[anchor man]

Sean Darcy only playing a quarter is a bit of a concern. All reports had him as healthy as ever in the lead up. Surely they're not managing his workloads yet?

I don't see it that way.
It is only pre season. Why break him before a ball is even bounced.
All players will be given spells for recover or management.

 

[worsemim]

Sean Darcy only playing a quarter is a bit of a concern. All reports had him as healthy as ever in the lead up. Surely they're not managing his workloads yet?

There's absolutely no way this is workload management. We are doing match sims to get everyone towards full match fitness.

He went off because of 1) injury or 2) awareness that isn't severe enough to qualify as an actual injury; we can only hope it was the latter.

 

[Taylor]

Corkie can do that

 

[worsemim]

Corkie can do that

Fingers crossed. I do get a bit jittery where concerns Sean Darcy.

 

[BREATHLESS_987]

There's absolutely no way this is workload management. We are doing match sims to get everyone towards full match fitness.

He went off because of 1) injury or 2) awareness that isn't severe enough to qualify as an actual injury; we can only hope it was the latter.

You could be right, but there's a lot more to a preseason build than just getting minutes.

Maybe some metrics just suggested he was carrying a bit of fatigue after a big few weeks and 30 minutes in the legs was enough for today. To say it's a binary case of either injury or awareness, is jumping the gun, for mine.

 

[GingerDocker]

He heard I've jumped off him in the player draft...the poor fella is crushed, just give him some time, he'll be right.

 

[worsemim]

You could be right, but there's a lot more to a preseason build than just getting minutes.

Maybe some metrics just suggested he was carrying a bit of fatigue after a big few weeks and 30 minutes in the legs was enough for today. To say it's a binary case of either injury or awareness, is jumping the gun, for mine.

He played one quarter of a match sim and was not seen again. There's been no such limitations noticed by journos or fan reports in any of his other previous match sims. A single quarter in the legs is not enough this deep into preseason.

I'm not having a crack at Sean Darcy; I desperately want him playing r1. But there's really only one conclusion that can be drawn.

 

[chaosball32]

Darcy possibly injured? Colour me shocked

 

[serial_thrilla]

The only thing that makes me doubt that Darcy got injured was that Jackson barely did any ruck work afterwards.

 

[anchor man]

There's absolutely no way this is workload management. We are doing match sims to get everyone towards full match fitness.

He went off because of 1) injury or 2) awareness that isn't severe enough to qualify as an actual injury; we can only hope it was the latter.

Stop looking for rabbit warrens to fall into.

 

[freo84]

If Darcy was injured the media would've plastered it everywhere.

 

[bigfoopy]

Tobyn on a wing round 1? Someone tell me what I want to hear

 

[anchor man]

He played one quarter of a match sim and was not seen again. There's been no such limitations noticed by journos or fan reports in any of his other previous match sims. A single quarter in the legs is not enough this deep into preseason.

I'm not having a crack at Sean Darcy; I desperately want him playing r1. But there's really only one conclusion that can be drawn.

Famous last words..... I am not having a crack at .......

 

[Sumwun]

The lanky yank landed awkwardly in a marking contest and was limping for a bit. After the game he had an icepack wrapped onto his calf, but he reckons it's fine.

 

[Docker82]

Snatched him by taking him about 20 picks earlier than he was expected to go because

Taking a 26 year old with anything earlier than the last few picks in the draft is borderline unprecedented otherwise tbh.

Doesn't mean we made the right decision of course but it was a bold call of Geelong to take Mannagh that early.

Murray is quite a different case to Mannagh tbh. There's plenty of examples of 20/21 years getting taken in the late first and early second round over the years, let alone later on the draft.

 

[worsemim]

 

[Purple Jesus]

Bloke is made of tissue paper.