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

 

[woosha24]

No point even playing the season TBH, just hand us the cup now.

Seeing as this core group of youngsters are only gonna get more skilled with age, may as well fob off the next 5 years worth of seasons too. 5x premiers in a canter.

See everyone in 2032!

 

[amazingjoshy]

CDT with a class finish for his 5th

 

[TY24]

CDT Round 1 thanks

 

[JoshWoodenSpoon]

okay son

 

[Happy Mastenator]

Matched our win total from last year already. Only up from here!

 

[TwoStriders]

CDT's kicking is delicious. So skillful for a young tall.

 

[Farmer Lister]

Can we get a feed with these commentators during the season? Sure, they might not be much chop on stats, and mess up a few things, but they are blatantly in the tank for us as they should be. This is what i want.

If Paps is unavailable, Thumper would be a great alternative. Gepp isn't bad either

 

[domad33]

Damn CDT has a smooth set shot kicking action, as advertised. Finishes with 5.

 

[omgfridge]

Jack Williams looks trimmer but still moves like the Titanic. After such a promising 2024, I'm pretty disappointed with how he's tracking.

He was at the back of the KPF queue before today and hasn't done anything to challenge that line of thinking.

Don't agree with this. Did lots of good things today. My preference is some combo of him/CDT/Areid playing ruck fwd. Anything today showed how hopeless Flynn is going to be. Think the ruck fwd hybrid players are going to more important than ever.

 

[Elite Pete]

If Paps is unavailable, Thumper would be a great alternative. Gepp isn't bad either

Should be like USA sport and get to pick your own club commentary

 

[Bender_]

The melts when we traded for Lindsay. What a steal.

 

[nameless]

How good is it to have rookies playing who actually look like they belong at the level?

Lindsay already our best kick
CDT with 5, yes against WAFL defenders but constantly involved
Duursma in the death wing position but worked his ass off and got rewarded late with a classy goal and some great intercepts

Plus the 3 new experienced rookies had big impact, whether they play AFL or WAFL the floor is raised.

 

[Rids]

End of game FT Stats (take as a minimum, I'm sure I've missed a few):

Disposals:
25 - McCarthy
23 - Kelly
21 - H.Reid, Grego, Schoenberg
20 - Dewar
19 - Robertson
18 - Macrae
16 - Lindsay
15 - Maric, Hall, Davis
14 - Duursma

Goals:
5 - CDT
4 - A.Reid
3 - Yeo
2 - Schoenberg, Duursma, Long
1 - H.Reid, Hall, Cripps, Owies, Shanahan, Champion, J.Williams, Johnston

Clearances:
7 - McCarthy
6 - Kelly
5 - Macrae
3 - H.Reid, Hall, Flynn, J.Williams
2 - Yeo, Robertson, Graham, Gross

Tackles:
6 - Kelly, Owies
4 - Robertson, Macrae, J.Williams
3 - Long, B.Allan

Hitouts:
33 - Flynn
18 - Barnett
9 - J.Williams
5 - CDT

Clangers:
4 - T.Williams
3 - Macrae, Robertson
2 - Ginbey, H.Reid, Cole, Duursma

 

[TY24]

Don't agree with this. Did lots of good things today. My preference is some combo of him/CDT/Areid playing ruck fwd. Anything today showed how hopeless Flynn is going to be. Think the ruck fwd hybrid players are going to more important than ever.

Waterman and Shannahan should both be locks for FF/CHF

Realistically it leaves room for a full time ruck which will be one of B. Williams or Flynn, one on the bench and one third tall.

I don't see where Jack Williams fits into that equation personally, unless he becomes a full time ruck. Don't see that happening though.

 

[Pablo_Jackson]

We’re going to win the premiership aren’t we?

Only if we get to verse West Coast every week

 

[FatPizza]

The melts when we traded for Lindsay. What a steal.

To be honest, a lot of people on here would still find a way to melt at the south pole.

 

[Avalor]

Tim's been very good today

PROBABLY BEST ON! Been excellent!

 

[lmach]

 

[Jeremy McLovin]

Matched our win total from last year already. Only up from here!

How did I only just realise that we won more games in last year's preseason than we did in the season proper?

 

[Sneh]

Wish Harley was best on

 

[Seadog]

Only if we get to verse West Coast every week

We've always been good at poetry.

 

[TwoStriders]

Feels like there is a nice alignment between the influx of classy, skillful draftees this year in Duursma, CDT and Lindsay (maybe throw McCarthy on this pile too) and the skills development of the hyper-athletic but raw draftees from 2022-2024 ala Archer Reid, Bo Allan and Ginbey.

Should result in a significant lift in our overall ability.

...possibly just the usual pre-season good feels... but I am genuinely looking forward to watching this season.

 

[Bender_]

Hard to know exactly what to take away from an intraclub, but some optimism is great at least.

CDT, Lindsay, Dewar, McCarthy, Kelly, A Reid, Schoenberg, Allan and Hall all positives from the hit-out across the entire time.

Patches from Newton, Davis, Brock, Maric, Shanahan, Champion, Long, Grego and Yeo.

Would've liked to see our talls play against our backs to see where we're really at in the forward line though.

 

[Yeahnahmate]

**** me what is he on about? Flynn having a stand out 2025?????

He stands out to me. Like every time I see him on the team sheet I’m like why tf did we pick that guy

 

[Sneh]

Hard to know exactly what to take away from an intraclub, but some optimism is great at least.

CDT, Lindsay, Dewar, McCarthy, Kelly, A Reid, Schoenberg, Allan and Hall all positives from the hit-out across the entire time.

Patches from Newton, Davis, Brock, Maric, Shanahan, Champion, Long, Grego and Yeo.

Would've liked to see our talls play against our backs to see where we're really at in the forward line though.

How would you rate H. Reid