News 2026 AAMI Community Series

[BigFrizz36]

Can anyone explain what is the strategy of not putting Motlop on the LTI list ?

Does the club think he is a chance of playing in 2026 ?

There is no strategy that we know of yet. The club has a couple of weeks to decide how it wishes to proceed.

 

[Revenant1995]

All it will take for the AFL to change the ruck rules back is a spate of PCLs.

Genuinely intrigued by this comment. Do you think there is something in new rules that could contribute toward this, and if so, what would it be?

 

[Big Delut]

Genuinely intrigued by this comment. Do you think there is something in new rules that could contribute toward this, and if so, what would it be?

The previous rule was brought in to reduce PCL injuries by encouraging ruckmen to wrestle. The new rule encourages ruckmen to jump again so a lot more contests which put PCL's in harms way.

 

[Bletch]

VFL practice match report: Truslove wraps up narrow win

The inside word on the Carlton Reserves' opening practice match of 2026.

www.carltonfc.com.au

 

[Korn]

Only saw the highlights.

We finally have some small forwards who are capable of crumbing.

I watched some training videos and noticed the small forwards were practicing it.

I welcome these changes. New forward coach Josh Fraser

Josh Fraser

Age

44

Ht

202cm

Wt

100kg

Pos.

Ruck

Career

Season

Last 5

D

14.1

4star

K

8.7

3star

HB

5.4

4star

CL

2.5

4star

HO

11.8

5star

No current season stats available

D

9.4

3star

K

6.6

3star

HB

2.8

3star

HO

8.6

5star

is already doing wonders.

 

[Lukeblueboy]

VFL practice match report: Truslove wraps up narrow win

The inside word on the Carlton Reserves' opening practice match of 2026.

www.carltonfc.com.au

pretty positive report overall.
Good to hear newy and frank got plenty of it.
Trusgrove mentioned there that they’ll have a few more AFL listed players in the team next week. Wonder if that means cow and Carrol may be back ?

 

[Aphrodite]

 

[BigFrizz36]

pretty positive report overall.
Good to hear newy and frank got plenty of it.
Trusgrove mentioned there that they’ll have a few more AFL listed players in the team next week. Wonder if that means cow and Carrol may be back ?

+ we won't have 10 on the bench in the AFL like last night as it's a full scale practice match. Only assuming but I'd imagine it's only 23 playing so in theory 5 go back

 

[Red_man2008]

pretty positive report overall.
Good to hear newy and frank got plenty of it.
Trusgrove mentioned there that they’ll have a few more AFL listed players in the team next week. Wonder if that means cow and Carrol may be back ?

Maybe it’s because the list to play Geelong will be less so there is more to get through the vfl game.

 

[Opium]

VFL practice match report: Truslove wraps up narrow win

The inside word on the Carlton Reserves' opening practice match of 2026.

www.carltonfc.com.au

Is Alwyn Davey playing for our reserves?

 

[Aphrodite]

Is Alwyn Davey playing for our reserves?

Yes

 

[Sonny Jim]

Yep. Nothing has changed. Voss has absolutely no idea. I don't care about the result. I watch at how we structure up and play. It's appalling

Man!
You certainly went early!!

 

[DirtyLeeds]

Man!
You certainly went early!!

Love the way some posters here actually believe they know more than the professionals, that they can write off what was an excellent and really encouraging win, because it doesn't meet their metrics of success, "appalling structure" ffs this is a dynamic game, not the NFL which is play called! And some of these are only respected by the volume of posts, yet in this case they are just doomies....the sun does come up every morning

 

[The Bighouse]

Love a good spew!

 

[Robertio]

Only saw the highlights.

We finally have some small forwards who are capable of crumbing.

I watched some training videos and noticed the small forwards were practicing it.

I welcome these changes. New forward coach Josh Fraser is already doing wonders.

Josh Fraser might be our best recruit.

 

[Opium]

Man!
You certainly went early!!

Result is irrelevant.

 

[Sonny Jim]

Result is irrelevant.

Not worried about the result of a practice match.
I liked the way we wanted to move the ball, the intent to win and the credo of moving the ball quickly, directly, to create options, and to play team first football.
Our defence still looked a bit suss in transition but it was a good and positive first hitout against an opponent who was trying.
It was a good first hitout and I'm looking forward to the next one and the season to see how we progress.
I hope you are too mate

 

[Opium]

Not worried about the result of a practice match.
I liked the way we wanted to move the ball, the intent to win and the credo of moving the ball quickly, directly, to create options, and to play team first football.
Our defence still looked a bit suss in transition but it was a good and positive first hitout against an opponent who was trying.
It was a good first hitout and I'm looking forward to the next one and the season to see how we progress.
I hope you are too mate

Of course I'm looking forward to see the young kids play. I just haven't seen any evidence Voss has made any adjustments to us defending transition. We also smashed GWS last year by 10 goals and that didn't turn out well against Richmond.
Already 9 injuries and counting. Looking like a carbon copy of last year im afraid.

 

[Blue By Blood]

Honestly he's not Afl standard

I'm not so sure about that. He's definitely not a great tap ruck. He's not and never will be a gun but did you see him compete against two defenders to bring the ball to ground that resulted in Byrne getting that snap goal? His job is to play with aggression and make the game hard for his opposing ruck and defender (when he's resting forward). I'm not going to call him a bust yet..

 

[Blue and Silver]

Will's review of the pre-game snacks was not positive?

 

[4flagsin5yrs]

Meh.

Boundary throw-ins he can probably hold his own, but that's about it.

I'll be honest...if we list Derksen and don't need him predominantly down back or forward, I think he could make a fist of playing second ruck with a bit of development. 23rd man rotating both ends and a few centre bounces....sorry, throw-ups?

thought he was more than serviceable.. not to mention he's got a fair bit of nasty in him that we haven't seen in a big ruckman for decades,,,

P.S. He's a fair bit bigger than Pitto too...

 

[haveago]

Running his GUTS OUT.

Used to say preseason back in my day.....If you are not chucking you are not trying

He is trying

 

[GoBlues!]

Of course I'm looking forward to see the young kids play. I just haven't seen any evidence Voss has made any adjustments to us defending transition. We also smashed GWS last year by 10 goals and that didn't turn out well against Richmond.
Already 9 injuries and counting. Looking like a carbon copy of last year im afraid.

Maybe the emphasis was more on practicing offensive transition, forward 50 entries and quick ball movement. If so, there were some great signs of improvement in this regard in the practice match against the Lions.

 

[branedotorg]

What’s people’s impressions on Moir?

Best 23?

Not for me. Talent is there, tank has improved out of sight.

Intent is still not there yet

 

[Blue__Balls]

Not for me. Talent is there, tank has improved out of sight.

Intent is still not there yet

Had one or two moments where he really put the foot down to apply a bit of pressure, but a defensive forward he is not.

That being said....every team have one or two of those types who are there for their offensive capabilities. It's about balance and role. I think the challenge for Moir is he's not especially quick, so the defensive stuff is going to need to come from positioning and discipline, if he overcommits to the offensive positioning then he's gonna get hurt the other way from time to time.

I'll throw an example out there....Jagga Smith. Did he stick a tackle at all on Wednesday night? Didn't see one. Do I care....not particularly. He's a skinny kid with some absolute weapons but he's barely gonna be a speedbump for most of the mature midfielders in the comp. But I'm prepared to see him get ragdolled and fended off with ease a few times a game as long as he's getting 20-25 touches and causing some real damage the other way. Hewett, Cripps, Lord and Walsh can take the hits while Jagga is growing.

Up forward, Hayward, Ainsworth, Evans, Fogarty, Byrne...even Harry and Kemp - they do good defensive work. If Moir is offering enough in attack (which is another discussion....he's still a work in progress there too) then he can be carried to an extent.

We also need to be understanding of the fact that EVERY TEAM gets good passages of rebound play. You can't shut it all down, especially against the better sides. A quick HBF getting away from Moir isn't by default a failing on his part.