Training Preseason Training Thread - 2026

[Keys]

The below is the OG faux training report from nearly 9 years ago - often imitated but never surpassed

In the absence of Keys I went down for a trundle this morning to check them out on return. Just a few random notes I took down...

• A lot of running work again, clearly a focus even in the heat.
• Duggan looked on and was hitting targets left and right. Set for a huge 2017.
• Giles went up against Vardy in the ruck contests and I'd say that Giles has the inside running at the moment.
• Mitchell looked a class above the other midfielders bar Priddis. Just knew how to find the footy and wouldn't miss a target all session. Shuey was very quiet and seemed to be taking direction from Mitchell. Doesn't bode well for his captaincy credentials, maybe he doesn't want the gig?
• Won't say too much about it in case I was just reading too much into it, but Rioli looked as though he'd enjoyed the Christmas break a bit too much. A few of the coaches pulled him aside and they were having quite an animated conversation before Rioli was sent to do laps for the rest of the session. Good news for Le Cras, I suppose.
• Sheed kicked on his right foot for 80% of the session, I reckon. Nice to see players working on their non-preferred so readily.
• Petrie looked like he was doing a great job 'coaching' the younger forwards in between the drills. Darling in particular seemed to be following him around.
• Gee Venables has some skills. He mainly jogged laps before spending the last half hour or so on set shots - curled a few beauties from behind the boundary line at the end for a bit of fun. Hardly saw him miss a kick.
• What interested me the most was that McGovern split his time between the defenders and the forwards, could be seeing a swingman role in 2017. He was his usual dominant self down back in some match simulation drills before going head-to-head with Mackenzie in a forward role.
• Bayok is very fast - Cripps was in most of the drills with him and couldn't keep up.
• Nelson is pale as buggery and still doesn't really have the body shape you'd expect of an AFL player.
• There was a big bloke who pulled up next to me and I could have sworn it was Suma, but I'm sure I was wrong...
• Masto was the player picked to kick the goal at the end today and nailed it. Celebrations were huge.
• No sign of Cole, Parto or Hill. Couldn't tell you why.

Will upload pics later if I have time. Let me know if you have any questions!

You might wonder why I’ve put this up and stickied it

Because this is the standard all copies should be measured against and it’s a reminder of how high the bar was set

And to hopefully discourage sequels.

If you want to have a crack in my absence, go ahead but if it doesn’t equal the standard set (as judged by me), then expect

• A one week threadban for a first offence
• A two week threadban for a second offence
• A one year threadban for a third offence

Actual training reports, minus discussion, can become found here:

Training - Preseason Training Reports -2025/26

This thread has been setup for training reports only and won’t be open for replies Informative reports from the preseason thread will be copied into this thread so posters have access to the quality work from the likes of LittleFires without wading through pages of general posts

www.bigfooty.com

 

[Proeagle]

Who is that?

 

[flyinghi64]

I just realised thats Rubes is transforming into Hunter Hearst Hemmsley. Look forward to when he Turns into “The Game”

View attachment 2520375

If his career is as long he could play 500 games

 

[Rowan18]

The club turned pick 3 into Bo Allen (who is the player we wanted in R1 of that draft) and a player that is now a club B&F and captain

and people still be melting over it

But we could have had that twig who did his ACL and was in that Carlton training video last week!

 

[Keys]

View attachment 2520907

Who is that?

Hamish Davis

 

[Sneh]

More to the point, why is the training equipment so rusted

What year is it

 

[Boohemian]

More to the point, why is the training equipment so rusted

What year is it

We're a destitute club, akin to Norf.

 

[Proeagle]

More to the point, why is the training equipment so rusted

What year is it

That's blood

 

[WCE777]

I agree with this. He’s a good forward-ruck and now in his fifth year at the highest level, he allows the likes of CDT & Archer to develop at their own pace.

We keep him for virtually peanuts and I think he’s worth maintaining.

IMO you cant have too much talent on your list.
Easy to keep JW who at worst as a solid KPF/Ruck with decent skills who fills a role when others are injured.
BW is expenadable when you keep JW.
You can't have too much depth in any position, if they are surpassed by others they become depth/trade value that allows you to get other targets.

 

[Obeanie1]

I agree with this. He’s a good forward-ruck and now in his fifth year at the highest level, he allows the likes of CDT & Archer to develop at their own pace.

We keep him for virtually peanuts and I think he’s worth maintaining.

I'd suggest if he stays it won't be for peanuts.

Not silly money.

But not peanuts.

 

[Mighty Eagles]

I'd suggest if he stays it won't be for peanuts.

Not silly money.

But not peanuts.

Yes, you’re right. I meant peanuts in the grand scheme of the total cap (currently $18.3m).

 

[Byron_Clanger]

Don't know where to even put this, but the AFL photos site added the 2026 Eagles player portrait section. 68 photos and it's only of like 10 players, lol.

AFL 2026 Portraits - West Coast - AFL Photos

www.aflphotos.com.au

 

[THE A5]

Now it makes sense

 

[THE A5]

Crazy how much Dev looks like Elijah.

I’ve got an appointment at lions eye institute, i’m more than happy to give it to you,

 

[Bleedblueandgold]

Poor kid, we hardly knew him

Honestly don’t think many were complaining about the selection on draft night.

I remember it differently. Not many wanted him before or after the draft. Seems like many jumped on board this year despite him barely sighted.

 

[Shueygod]

I remember it differently. Not many wanted him before or after the draft. Seems like many jumped on board this year despite him barely sighted.

I thought once we had pick 12 Allan was widely seen as a good choice if he even got there.

More appear to have jumped off than on.

 

[Cuzz09]

That's blood

View attachment 2520917

That's Mastos jubilation

 

[shoutsatclouds]

View attachment 2520907

Who is that?

Wohpol

 

[Doashuey]

I remember it differently. Not many wanted him before or after the draft. Seems like many jumped on board this year despite him barely sighted.

Craft memory in action

 

[Deplorable trumpster]

My own rule of thumb when we draft non - key position players is to look at their disposal first. Because it is the most important attribute in modern footy. And if their disposal is not very good then that means they are going to have to very good across the board at everything else to compensate for it enough to make it at AFL level. And by everything else i mean speed, size & strength, agility, wind tank, attitude/appetite for the contest etc.

I have barely seen Bo Allen play. I don't have time to watch the WAFL games. But the general consensus on here seems to be that he has poor disposal. And if thats right, is he good enough across the board at everything else to compensate?

If you are a draft scout and you are considering drafting a non - KP with poor disposal (especially with a first rounder) you would have to really think long and hard about whether the rest of the package of attributes compensates.

 

[daddy_4_eyes]

I thought once we had pick 12 Allan was widely seen as a good choice if he even got there.

More appear to have jumped off than on.

He was considered a tier down from what we could have got at pick 3. Athletic but average disposal and probably not a midfielder.
Then at pick 12 there were also many who thought we chickened out not taking Murphy Reid.

 

[Shueygod]

He was considered a tier down from what we could have got at pick 3. Athletic but average disposal and probably not a midfielder.
Then at pick 12 there were also many who thought we chickened out not taking Murphy Reid.

Yeah think people weren’t happy we traded pick 3, however I think in the recruitment sphere there was consider very little between the prospects at 3 and Allan/Reid.

Some preferred Reid but Allan had as many (more) credentials as a midfielder than him.

I don’t think anyone with a clue considered him “probably not” a midfielder, he was always likely to end up in the midfield.

 

[Jupes]

Owies the steak knives.

 

[Bender_]

"I've never seen him play, but I've heard he has poor disposal. Sack Clarke." Trumpster 2026

 

[Jeremy McLovin]

Yeah think people weren’t happy we traded pick 3, however I think in the recruitment sphere there was consider very little between the prospects at 3 and Allan/Reid.

Some preferred Reid but Allan had as many (more) credentials as a midfielder than him.

I don’t think anyone with a clue considered him “probably not” a midfielder, he was always likely to end up in the midfield.

I definitely wanted Reid over Allen, but that was mainly for the shits and giggles of having three unrelated Reids in the team.

 

[Shueygod]

Allans poor disposal is being greatly exaggerated on this board in the first place. He’s a fine and most importantly penetrating kick, while prone to a shocker. If he is to play on a wing I’d have his kicking right now similar/better than that of an Acres, if he moves inside than penetration is far more important than tidiness: Dangerfield, Fyfe etc.

If he were to move inside he would definitely need to work on his handballing, as to me it’s currently more concerning than his kicking.