2026 Pre-Season Thread

[Grasshopper17]

Nice. Thanks for the heads up. Will try to get out for a look and give everyone some updates.

 

[Maboo]

Caption, pls.

View attachment 2521297

Hmmm, your pretty fly for pie guy

 

[mpal6]

Caption, pls.

View attachment 2521297

Sorry mate, still no free kick for you.
Eyes only on the ball prior to spoil.

 

[Perrip]

Hawks' 'surprise' plan, 'big four' contract calls, who leads Lions?
Interesting insights from Josh Gabelich who spent time at Brisbane HQ last week. Says the Lions don't believe there's a culture issue at the club, they're "offended" people are questioning their culture. Reckons the captaincy will either be Chief sole captain or all 3 contenders. "Three very different leadership" types. Twomey references a "series" on the Lions from Josh & Fish while talking about Clug and his career from an under-ager to a 2x premiership player, not sure what that's about?

 

[mighty_lions]

Hawks' 'surprise' plan, 'big four' contract calls, who leads Lions?
Interesting insights from Josh Gabelich who spent time at Brisbane HQ last week. Says the Lions don't believe there's a culture issue at the club, they're "offended" people are questioning their culture. Reckons the captaincy will either be Chief sole captain or all 3 contenders. "Three very different leadership" types. Twomey references a "series" on the Lions from Josh & Fish while talking about Clug and his career from an under-ager to a 2x premiership player, not sure what that's about?

They are doing a podcast on the rise of lions since the go home 5 said it on the roar deal

 

[Perrip]

They are doing a podcast on the rise of lions since the go home 5 said it on the roar deal

Ah thanks. Haven't listened to the new episode yet.

 

[Malleagle]

Wonder if any pre-season observers could help out. At the Maroochy intra-club there was a very tall young, blonde man who did some rucking for the golds (maybe no. 50 or 50 something). Wondering who it is - presuming a VFL lister but my old eyes need help.

 

[Dalions]

Wonder if any pre-season observers could help out. At the Maroochy intra-club there was a very tall young, blonde man who did some rucking for the golds (maybe no. 50 or 50 something). Wondering who it is - presuming a VFL lister but my old eyes need help.

Could have been Cody Curtin a new draftee from WA. Dan Curtin”s brother who plays for Adelaide.
Big boy!

 

[Mr Ripper]

Wonder if any pre-season observers could help out. At the Maroochy intra-club there was a very tall young, blonde man who did some rucking for the golds (maybe no. 50 or 50 something). Wondering who it is - presuming a VFL lister but my old eyes need help.

This chap? Isaac Waller

 

[Denno]

Of all the prospects for 2026, I'm most concerned about draper, and not entirely upset now that he has to come into the side gradually because of injuries. I formed this view on the basis because of watching one of those channel 7 shows I never normally watch, where they get some young players to talk amongst themselves. it's a weird, often awkward format. Anyway, the time I saw it Draper was on, probably mid-season for the bombers. And my conclusion from watching him was that he sounded like and absolute dickwad, and I was glad we didn't have blokes like that at Brisbane. When Motty is your rebel character in the changing room, you know that things are pretty good. So I feared that Draper might bring that attitude to Brisbane, and infect some of the players. Fages has recruited a lot of hardworking country boys, blokes like Berry and Hugh and it seems to have been reflected in the culture when it comes to conducting themselves when they're at the club. They are polite, nice respectful blokes. Anyway, hopefully he'll adapt himself rather than corrupt others, but I have me doubts. I'd be very careful about touching ex-Melbourne FC players for the same reason.
Anyway, that's my 2 cents

Think you might be barking up the wrong tree here.

Whilst from the outside Draper might look like a negative influence to have around, Fagan spoke about this not long ago (may have been at a Melbourne event).

He (Fagan) met with Draper at some point last year, and had a bit of a preconceived view, but evidently came away super impressed with Draper, and said that he's a deep thinker, considered, and he was on-board (with trying to recruit him) thereafter.

I know I trust Fagan's judgement (at least certainly better than a TV snippet).

 

[rye]

Think you might be barking up the wrong tree here.

Whilst from the outside Draper might look like a negative influence to have around, Fagan spoke about this not long ago (may have been at a Melbourne event).

He (Fagan) met with Draper at some point last year, and had a bit of a preconceived view, but evidently came away super impressed with Draper, and said that he's a deep thinker, considered, and he was on-board (with trying to recruit him) thereafter.

I know I trust Fagan's judgement (at least certainly better than a TV snippet).

i dont think you can take a whole lot from rehearsed media appearances, but ive found draper to be surprisingly impressive in the interviews hes given so far at the club.

 

[010203]

Caption, pls.

View attachment 2521297

Fages: ''you have more teeth than most Collingwood players.''

 

[Malleagle]

This chap? Isaac Waller

View attachment 2521617

 

[Malleagle]

This chap? Isaac Waller

View attachment 2521617

Yes. Tallest on the field. Competed well.

 

[Malleagle]

Ben Murphy being inducted

 

[SonofSuperboot]

Think you might be barking up the wrong tree here.

Whilst from the outside Draper might look like a negative influence to have around, Fagan spoke about this not long ago (may have been at a Melbourne event).

He (Fagan) met with Draper at some point last year, and had a bit of a preconceived view, but evidently came away super impressed with Draper, and said that he's a deep thinker, considered, and he was on-board (with trying to recruit him) thereafter.

I know I trust Fagan's judgement (at least certainly better than a TV snippet).

Well, I hope you're right. Still have my doubts, though

 

[SRH17]

Well, I hope you're right. Still have my doubts, though

Seem to recall lots of folks had the same view of Cam. Total off the mark there.

 

[Tassie4ever]

Re Draper: whatever might be said about "character" etc about which no-one here would really have a clue, his injury represents a bad failure on the part of our medicos. One of the very few failures admittedly, but [along with Doedee] a miss nevertheless which with the new ruck rule might lead us somewhat exposed. Would speculate some internal reviews being conducted.

 

[braddsey]

Well, I hope you're right. Still have my doubts, though

Sometimes people looking for a fresh start is about themselves more than those around them.
If Draper was viewed as the class-clown at Essendon, that can be hard to shake.
Moving to a new environment allows him to shake off those preconceptions and show a new persona.

 

[Dalions]

Re Draper: whatever might be said about "character" etc about which no-one here would really have a clue, his injury represents a bad failure on the part of our medicos. One of the very few failures admittedly, but [along with Doedee] a miss nevertheless which with the new ruck rule might lead us somewhat exposed. Would speculate some internal reviews being conducted.

Little bit early to use the word failure.
Long way to go on that front.
With the new centre bounce ruck rules I can see where the clubs minds were at.

And we have Forty to fill the role for now. (Not really a jumper though)

 

[p4p1]

Re Draper: whatever might be said about "character" etc about which no-one here would really have a clue, his injury represents a bad failure on the part of our medicos. One of the very few failures admittedly, but [along with Doedee] a miss nevertheless which with the new ruck rule might lead us somewhat exposed. Would speculate some internal reviews being conducted.

You might end up being right on making a mistake, but its way too early to make this call.
Crazy call on the internal reviews being conducted already over this. The list management team has to weight up the pros and cons in a position that is probably one of the hardest to fill with an elite player. I just read less than 0.1% of the Australian population is over 200cm. Then you need to get someone from that 0.1% that has the size, strength, endurance, general athletic ability and footballing ability to compete with Gawn/Cameron/Xerri/Darcy etc.
Darcy Fort is 33 this year.
Henry Smith has played 72 games (inc reserves) in 5 seasons and has a injury history himself. The jury is still out on whether he is going to be genuine AFL 1st ruck quality.
ZZ is developing but may not have the height to be a genuine AFL ruck if his listed 196cm is correct.
Curtin is a first year player but more likely to be a KPP.

We clearly needed a ruck and I am doubtful we thought that we could get another quality Ruck that we got in Fort for the cost.

 

[Not a Psycho]

The biggest ruck concern for the Lions is Draper's body.
Not a bad place to be, as history shows you only need a warm body in there to be successful.
The only watch is his salary and whether it stops us from retaining or recruiting players.

 

[Clarkythelion]

Re Draper: whatever might be said about "character" etc about which no-one here would really have a clue, his injury represents a bad failure on the part of our medicos. One of the very few failures admittedly, but [along with Doedee] a miss nevertheless which with the new ruck rule might lead us somewhat exposed. Would speculate some internal reviews being conducted.

As I understand it the stress reaction is in the foot where he did his achilles, to me that seems totally understandable. If you have been favouring the foot for months hobbling around other parts of the foot do a bit of extra work as he probably subconsciously, avoids the original pain and he manages the injury recovery. I know bugger all about it but it seems something the medicos could not see and he would have been doing in some tiny way before he arrived and no one would have noticed a change not even him.

 

[CarterS]

Article in the paper says Gallop is not an automatic entry into the 22 and is competing with Allen and Morris for 2 spots.

 

[Perrip]

Article in the paper says Gallop is not an automatic entry into the 22 and is competing with Allen and Morris for 2 spots.

Haven't read the article but he wouldn't be right? Morris retains his position, Gallop retains his position because Hipwood is injured, and Allen replaces Big O.