Training Pre-season training updates 2026.

[SchuPie]

If we win against St.Kilda with Prindable in our midfield, I’ll be insufferable towards a select few on the main board.

For regular track watchers, based on training so far who would you prefer lining up in opening round; Allan or Prindable?

We kinda need to get games into all our young players to either develop or see if they're got the tools to make it

in terms of Allan v Prindable, imo they're different types of mids so it would depend on team balance

We also don't need to rush Prindable, he has plenty of time to show his capabilities...Allan needs to demonstrate it all this season

 

[TradeDraft]

YOUNGSTERS IMPRESS

Could Tyan Prindable be a smokey for the Pies season opener against St Kilda?

The Pies’ first selection in last year’s draft found plenty of footy and seemed to be in all the right places.

Sam Swadling and Jai Saxena were another two that showed what they’re capable of, clearly the standout youngsters part of the less experienced side during match sim.

Harvey Harrison also got on the end of a number of kicks playing forward.

Coming off an ACL that wiped out his 2025 season, Friday’s session proved he’s taken major steps in his recovery.

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Smokey at best at the Moment

 

[manicpie]

Smokey at best at the Moment

I think Anderson will play before all of them but I really like swadling and Prindable

 

[TradeDraft]

I think Anderson will play before all of them but I really like swadling and Prindable

We have more of an Idea after the 2 Practice Games

 

[Harry O]

We kinda need to get games into all our young players to either develop or see if they're got the tools to make it

in terms of Allan v Prindable, imo they're different types of mids so it would depend on team balance

We also don't need to rush Prindable, he has plenty of time to show his capabilities...Allan needs to demonstrate it all this season

I really like Swadling and Saxena - just not sure they have the size and strength to play yet.
Prindles on other hand - looks ok physically to play year 1

 

[Gone Critical]

Most players can turn on their opposite and execute with varying degrees of proficiency- HDM can’t, and constantly gets caught.
It’s a major flaw that Ben Johnson also had early in his career and our lack of depth at the time meant he was given time to improve- the rest is history.
Like I said, I wish the HDM well, but unlike BJ, HDM has more capable players fighting for the same spot.

This isn't borne out by stats. Ben Johnson was a seriously good AFL player who played 235 games in 14 seasons. He didnt get early games because there were not capable players fighting for his spot. He got them because he was good. He played 30 games in his 1st 2 seasons and 23 in his 3rd when we were runner ups.

HDM has no games after 2 seasons. Just looking at that stat alone you will not find any player in the 10 drafts prior to him who has not played in the 1st 2 seasons, as a medium small, who has then gone on to have a substantial career. Virtually all good AFL players play a lot in their 1st 2 seasons. HDM cards are stacked against him

 

[Obese Arachnid]

This isn't borne out by stats. Ben Johnson was a seriously good AFL player who played 235 games in 14 seasons. He didnt get early games because there were not capable players fighting for his spot. He got them because he was good. He played 30 games in his 1st 2 seasons and 23 in his 3rd when we were runner ups.

HDM has no games after 2 seasons. Just looking at that stat alone you will not find any player in the 10 drafts prior to him who has not played in the 1st 2 seasons, as a medium small, who has then gone on to have a substantial career. Virtually all good AFL players play a lot in their 1st 2 seasons. HDM cards are stacked against him

I reckon HDM will be fine. I've heard he's had a growth spurt & is looking to make FF his own.

 

[No SPIN]

This isn't borne out by stats. Ben Johnson was a seriously good AFL player who played 235 games in 14 seasons. He didnt get early games because there were not capable players fighting for his spot. He got them because he was good. He played 30 games in his 1st 2 seasons and 23 in his 3rd when we were runner ups.

HDM has no games after 2 seasons. Just looking at that stat alone you will not find any player in the 10 drafts prior to him who has not played in the 1st 2 seasons, as a medium small, who has then gone on to have a substantial career. Virtually all good AFL players play a lot in their 1st 2 seasons. HDM cards are stacked against him

BJ was a turn over merchant and heavily left sided in his early days - to his great credit he worked hard and became a very good footballer. However lack of list depth was the reason he was given games despite the clear deficiencies. HDM doesn’t have that luxury.

 

[sr36]

BJ was a turn over merchant and heavily left sided in his early days - to his great credit he worked hard and became a very good footballer. However lack of list depth was the reason he was given games despite the clear deficiencies. HDM doesn’t have that luxury.

He remained heavily left sided, but he had a wicked side step.

 

[Exambolor]

Interesting quote from Howe here, looks like we’re changing things up, which is good to see

 

[Peters_Nuts]

Interesting quote from Howe here, looks like we’re changing things up, which is good to see

Music to my ears. We looked a bit lost gameplay wise towards the end of last season

 

[Daicosian silk]

This isn't borne out by stats. Ben Johnson was a seriously good AFL player who played 235 games in 14 seasons. He didnt get early games because there were not capable players fighting for his spot. He got them because he was good. He played 30 games in his 1st 2 seasons and 23 in his 3rd when we were runner ups.

HDM has no games after 2 seasons. Just looking at that stat alone you will not find any player in the 10 drafts prior to him who has not played in the 1st 2 seasons, as a medium small, who has then gone on to have a substantial career. Virtually all good AFL players play a lot in their 1st 2 seasons. HDM cards are stacked against him

And I expect that Prindable and Swadling will both play a significant number of games in their first 2 seasons despite being drafted later than HDM was. Remains to be seen but I think the last 2 drafts compared to the previous couple of drafts demonstrates that Hine had stayed on too long and the time was definitely right for a change with the head of recruiting

 

[WanderingDude]

Interesting quote from Howe here, looks like we’re changing things up, which is good to see

Our connection last season needed work. Sad for Ads. Not sad for the Dogs. Let them pay for a player in rehab. And no, I don’t want to look close to home.

 

[Gone Critical]

And I expect that Prindable and Swadling will both play a significant number of games in their first 2 seasons despite being drafted later than HDM was. Remains to be seen but I think the last 2 drafts compared to the previous couple of drafts demonstrates that Hine had stayed on too long and the time was definitely right for a change with the head of recruiting

Might be a bit early to make predictions re Prindable and Swadling but if they can play early games obviously a great pointer to their long term future. Think Anderson , given his age, will be the one we need to see early if he is going to be a player.

With those 3 getting one good player would be great. 2 a dream senario. The club would have a bit of a idea now on what they have but for the rest of us its watch and see for now

 

[Gone Critical]

BJ was a turn over merchant and heavily left sided in his early days - to his great credit he worked hard and became a very good footballer. However lack of list depth was the reason he was given games despite the clear deficiencies. HDM doesn’t have that luxury.

Thats your opinion but I would disagree. His transition in his 1st 3 seasons was similar to that most 200+ gamers do. He played 23 games in his 3rd season in a GF team. This is the same argument posters put up about Maynard. Any thought they go games early because of a poor list are more that reversed by the strong careers they have. Like almost all players that reach the 200 game level they play a lot early because they are top end talents

P.S Benny J stands 19th on the list of games played for Collingwood. You do his career a diservice by implying he only played early because of a weak list. He was a superior talent compared to the vast majority of players we have had come through the door

 

[Timmy from Thomastown]

Thats your opinion but I would disagree. His transition in his 1st 3 seasons was similar to that most 200+ gamers do. He played 23 games in his 3rd season in a GF team. This is the same argument posters put up about Maynard. Any thought they go games early because of a poor list are more that reversed by the strong careers they have. Like almost all players that reach the 200 game level they play a lot early because they are top end talents

P.S Benny J stands 19th on the list of games played for Collingwood. You do his career a diservice by implying he only played early because of a weak list. He was a superior talent compared to the vast majority of players we have had come through the door

Luckily the internet wasn’t much of a thing when Benny was starting out. He’d have been a regular whipping boy for the first few years.

 

[Soups]

Thats your opinion but I would disagree. His transition in his 1st 3 seasons was similar to that most 200+ gamers do. He played 23 games in his 3rd season in a GF team. This is the same argument posters put up about Maynard. Any thought they go games early because of a poor list are more that reversed by the strong careers they have. Like almost all players that reach the 200 game level they play a lot early because they are top end talents

P.S Benny J stands 19th on the list of games played for Collingwood. You do his career a diservice by implying he only played early because of a weak list. He was a superior talent compared to the vast majority of players we have had come through the door

Funny, the 2002 PF against Port has been on fox today. That game was the beginning for him, his takedown of Burgoyne in the goal square was magical.

 

[Robroy22]

Johnno's a legend. His kicking may have been a bit dicey in the beginning but once he settled into that backline he became a real running weapon. Tough, relentless, a larrikan (in the rat pack tradition) Benny Johnson did the number 26 proud.

 

[No SPIN]

Thats your opinion but I would disagree. His transition in his 1st 3 seasons was similar to that most 200+ gamers do. He played 23 games in his 3rd season in a GF team. This is the same argument posters put up about Maynard. Any thought they go games early because of a poor list are more that reversed by the strong careers they have. Like almost all players that reach the 200 game level they play a lot early because they are top end talents

P.S Benny J stands 19th on the list of games played for Collingwood. You do his career a diservice by implying he only played early because of a weak list. He was a superior talent compared to the vast majority of players we have had come through the door

I have not been disrespectful in any way to BJ - so your implication is way off the mark. He is a great example of persistence to achieve ultimate success.

Long and many others have made it after being prematurely dumped due to strong list depth at their original Club. Conversely BJ benefited from poor depth.

How he and Bruzz started ( favoured due to lack of depth) is completely irrelevant to how their careers ultimately unfolded - I just don’t understand your logic on this point.

I really can’t add any more.

 

[Fruit]

Johnno's a legend. His kicking may have been a bit dicey in the beginning but once he settled into that backline he became a real running weapon. Tough, relentless, a larrikan (in the rat pack tradition) Benny Johnson did the number 26 proud.

Benny and Allan Toovey were similar in regards to their kicking but their run and carry was elite which allowed us to turn sides around quickly and turn defence into serious offence.

 

[Fruit]

Interesting quote from Howe here, looks like we’re changing things up, which is good to see

How would people describe Brisbane’s game style? I know short kicks is one of their traits.

 

[sr36]

Interesting quote from Howe here, looks like we’re changing things up, which is good to see

Very interesting. The way Brisbane move it takes out the need for quality kpf, but I think we need more X factor up forward to pull off the Brissy style.

 

[Exambolor]

How would people describe Brisbane’s game style? I know short kicks is one of their traits.

They love the chip chip around the backline a lot. We’ve never been a team that does that a lot so it’ll be interesting

 

[manicpie]

How would people describe Brisbane’s game style? I know short kicks is one of their traits.

They play a run and gun style. If they can't get it cleanly at HB, they will chip it around until they get a break. They don't play a possession style football as some may th8nk. They have strong bodied mids surrounded by very classy runners. Their main strength is forward 50 pressure. Good luck to any sides trying to nullify it, they have too much class all over the field. They don't like sides who chip it around but they're still able to win most contests

 

[WanderingDude]

Thats your opinion but I would disagree. His transition in his 1st 3 seasons was similar to that most 200+ gamers do. He played 23 games in his 3rd season in a GF team. This is the same argument posters put up about Maynard. Any thought they go games early because of a poor list are more that reversed by the strong careers they have. Like almost all players that reach the 200 game level they play a lot early because they are top end talents

P.S Benny J stands 19th on the list of games played for Collingwood. You do his career a diservice by implying he only played early because of a weak list. He was a superior talent compared to the vast majority of players we have had come through the door

I always think about the quality players in the stands while BJ plays in a GF. He had his premiership. Legend. He aged like a quality Pepperjack.