News 2026 AAMI Community Series

[teddy-hopkins]

Pitto had his moments, but he'd need a lot more of them to stay in any other team in the league. Unimpressed by Reidy, who let his aggression take hold too readily and cooked clear position at the tap just to make a point.

I think Pitt had 19 disposals and 30-odd hitouts. Probably one of his more prolific games. Some of his handballing was outstanding too.

 

[passmark]

Thought Derka Derka Derksen was pretty good

 

[4flagsin5yrs]

You can carve it up anyway you like, no pressure, players rested blah, but the Lions would neither have expected nor wanted a loss in that game.

Not to mention it was very warm (high 20s), and no doubt humid - should have suited them as the match wore on... but we ran away with it - 4.6 in the last Q, with no Walsh, Cerra, Jagga (let alone Crippa obviously) suggests it could have been a bigger margin.

What impressed me was the lesser lights standing up and doing their bit.

Early days, but our boys seem in a good headspace this year.

 

[Bluebag13]

You can carve it up anyway you like, no pressure, players rested blah, but the Lions would neither have expected nor wanted a loss in that game.

Not to mention it was very warm (high 20s), and no doubt humid - should have suited them as the match wore on... but we ran away with it - 4.6 in the last Q, with no Walsh, Cerra, Jagga (let alone Crippa obviously) suggests it could have been a bigger margin.

What impressed me was the lesser lights standing up and doing their bit.

Early days, but our boys seem in a good headspace this year.

And this is so crucial, and it must be maintain throughout the year

 

[4flagsin5yrs]

And this is so crucial, and it must be maintain throughout the year

 

[Blue Gertrude]

Warms my heart seeing Travis Boak on the bench with the players.

Hope that is a regular thing during 2026.

 

[teddy-hopkins]

You can carve it up anyway you like, no pressure, players rested blah, but the Lions would neither have expected nor wanted a loss in that game.

Not to mention it was very warm (high 20s), and no doubt humid - should have suited them as the match wore on... but we ran away with it - 4.6 in the last Q, with no Walsh, Cerra, Jagga (let alone Crippa obviously) suggests it could have been a bigger margin.

What impressed me was the lesser lights standing up and doing their bit.

Early days, but our boys seem in a good headspace this year.

Lions still had Neale, Ashcroft, Dunkley, etc. rotating in the last quarter when we were way down into the 3rd string mids. They should have won it easily.

 

[RPCB]

I love the vibes and togertherness of the list. I can imagine it was like walking on eggshells around Charlie and JSOS for a lot of the players. They just give off massive ego vibes.

 

[agro]

Lions still had Neale, Ashcroft, Dunkley, etc. rotating in the last quarter when we were way down into the 3rd string mids. They should have won it easily.

If they changed up a gear or two.

 

[reubsblues]

Get the feeling Reidy is the sort who isn't satisfied if he hasn't legally flattened a few opposition players a game.

Not complaining.

Oh god we're not playing in the 80s-90s
He barely touches the ball and can't take a contested mark
We have the worst ruck stocks in the afl unfortunately

 

[Soapy V]

Oh god we're not playing in the 80s-90s
He barely touches the ball and can't take a contested mark
We have the worst ruck stocks in the afl unfortunately

I would have a bit of patience with Reidy.

Yes, he was quiet but has been good in match sims and pre season. He's played 3 AFL games and I suspect he will take a little bit of time

He's better than he showed. It's just how good he can become with some experience is the question

 

[reubsblues]

I would have a bit of patience with Reidy.

Yes, he was quiet but has been good in match sims and pre season. He's played 3 AFL games and I suspect he will take a little bit of time

He's better than he showed. It's just how good he can become with some experience is the question

I hope your right soapy

 

[bradfisher14]

He looks like a natural forward to me. Just need patience. Once he puts on that bit more muscle, builds his core strength / tank over 1 or 2 more preseasons we'll see the player. Right now it's still just flashes. Super talent though.

Agree with this.

Plus he will learn so much playing alongside Hayward and Ainsworth. He's a 20 year old medium forward who has played 11 games. It's not a surprise to me that he lacks consistency at this stage. There may even be times where he goes back to the VFL to work on some things and that is totally fine. Let him watch two seasoned pros in his position go about their business day in day out. From there he will have a better understanding of what is required at the level and his development will hopefully skyrocket.

 

[T2B_]

Oh god we're not playing in the 80s-90s
He barely touches the ball and can't take a contested mark
We have the worst ruck stocks in the afl unfortunately

Well I never commented on any of that.

Just if he proves good enough to get a game, I enjoy the fact he takes no prisoners and has a hard edge.

 

[Soapy V]

I hope your right soapy

I honestly don't know how good he will be but he is better than he showed. Issue I have is both Pittonet & Reidy are workman like Rucks. They will do a good job for us but can we play both?

Interesting that over pre season we have been trialling two rucks and ran with them again. HOK got a bad corkie?

I still think Reidy will play a lot of footy for us this year

 

[reubsblues]

I honestly don't know how good he will be but he is better than he showed. Issue I have is both Pittonet & Reidy are workman like Rucks. They will do a good job for us but can we play both?

Interesting that over pre season we have been trialling two rucks and ran with them again. HOK got a bad corkie?

I still think Reidy will play a lot of footy for us this year

It really depends in Harry or HOk can give Pittonet a chop out
I don't like the thought of playing to lumbering ruckman

 

[JustaBattler]

If they changed up a gear or two.

Did you watch the setups that Carton had against these blokes? They shouldnt have had to change up a gear or two against Lord/BenCamporele and randoms that were fillng in there...Pittonet was actually tapping to Ashcrofts sharking more than to any Carlton seocnd or third stringer in there...

do you really htink they wanted to lose that sim game? I don't.

What that game showed me was Carlton ash a forward line tahgt is only going to get better and ( finally) 2-3 mids that can match speed with teh best out there from any CLub...

Looking forward to 2026 - especially the second half where the team wil have had time to gell and the chase will be on in earnest.

 

[Soapy V]

It really depends in Harry or HOk can give Pittonet a chop out
I don't like the thought of playing to lumbering ruckman

I'm not a fan either but we are definitely looking at it. Is it a genuine option or just if McKay or O'Keefe go down?

 

[Soapy V]

Early days, but our boys seem in a good headspace this year.

The best I have seen in a long long while

 

[Opium]

The positives are irrelevant - but the negatives are relevant?

For me - yes the win/loss is relatively irrelevant (although getting thrashed would have been a disaster) but not the efficiency of the new personnel in the forward line. The critical factor for our success or otherwise this seasonThreats from all over the forward line - no reliance on CC or HM to kick a bag.

Some promising signs there no?

There was very little pressure from Brisbane. I look at how we structured up defensively.
Positives were the kids. Love the look of Bryne, Dean and Smith.

 

[Soapy V]

I think Moir struggles with forward instincts for positioning and timing.

I think he is great once he is in the contest

Yep. If you asked me 12 months ago I would have said he is a pure forward BUT after seeing him play midfield I see a player with real midfield nouse. He just looked at home there.

He can still be a forward but the way he took to the midfield role was eye opening

 

[David Sylvian]

7.10pm wed night, school night, thanks afl. Really puts the community back in community series.

 

[Opium]

Yep. If you asked me 12 months ago I would have said he is a pure forward BUT after seeing him play midfield I see a player with real midfield nouse. He just looked at home there.

He can still be a forward but the way he took to the midfield role was eye opening

What's his endurance like? From afar it seems he struggles with endurance.

 

[RPCB]

7.10pm wed night, school night, thanks afl. Really puts the community back in community series.

I hate that we have 11 of 14 night games to start the year. Times haven’t been set for Round 16-24, but you just know that the vast majority of those will be night games as well since they contain Richmond, Hawthorn, Collingwood, Brisbane and Fremantle in Round 24 which the AFL will want to make the very last game of the home and away campaign on Sunday evening.

It’s ridiculous. We have 100,000 members consistently, plus countless school age supporters who won’t get to watch us play entire games of football because we are playing at night so often.

 

[Soapy V]

What's his endurance like? From afar it seems he struggles with endurance.

It’s solid and improving

I don’t see Moir as a full time mid but I reckon he could really add to our mix with his skills. He reads it so well and is very creative. Just burst minutes

He can then go forward with confidence

A combination of Moir Walsh Jagga Walker Ison with a bull like Cripps Hewett or Lord helping is really exciting to me. If a Wilson type with genuine leg speed could step up it would be an awesome midfield

Just my opinion