Training Pre-season training updates 2026.

[Sea fog]

I thought Bill Lawry might be down at the club running water or something

No, new supply of spare hankies would be needed in that case. I was at a cricket match as a kid when Bill was in the box and a giant white banner was simply called Bill Lawrys hanky.

 

[Piesinmyeyes]

Josh "The Gorgonizer" Daicos. Has a nice ring to it.

Just like Nick “ The organizer” Daicos equally has a nice ring ..

 

[rand corp]

The Pendles is slow, but the games record is patient.

Confuseus

 

[JuniorB]

The magpie is a juvenile, because it hasn't yet fully transitioned to black and white.
Sort of like some of our young players.

 

[Jen2310]

 

[watt price tully]

Josh "The Gorgonizer" Daicos. Has a nice ring to it.

Gorgonizer: I thought it was a reference to smelly blue cheese

 

[Anzacday]

It’s a good video, especially with the volume off (imo).
PS: Good to see Reef out point DM and then run (ended up in the centre).

 

[Scodog10]

It's good to hear good things about these players (i'll add Parker to this list), need some of these kids to step up, we can't keep wheeling out Pendles.

Would be great to have a midfield of Nick, Josh, Long, Angry, Beau, Allan and Steele by the end of the season.
Reef, Parker and Cochran in our backline and Buller, West and Harrison in our forward line and Steene giving Cameron some thing to think about.

I know it's wishful thinking, but i have hope.

It’s gonna be a pass on us finishing bottom 4 from me! If we have 9 guys in our “best” 23 by seasons end who entered it as basically nothing players then we’ve either been smashed by injuries or we are in for a long run to the end of the 20’s. If we can find 3-4 from the bolded group it would be a ripping result because it would mean we’ve found replacements for Pendles, Howe, Steele S and Hill who are the most likely to not go around again for us.

FWIW that’s not me writing the others off. The problem is that a best 23 with 9 players under 30 games is back end of 2025 Essendon.

 

[WanderingDude]

It’s gonna be a pass on us finishing bottom 4 from me! If we have 9 guys in of our “best” 23 by seasons end who entered it as basically nothing players then we’ve either been smashed by injuries or we are in for a long run to the end of the 20’s. If we can find 3-4 from the bolded group it would be a ripping result because it would mean we’ve found replacements for Pendles, Howe, Steele S and Hill who are the most likely to not go around again for us.

FWIW that’s not me writing the others off. The problem is that a best 23 with 9 players under 30 games is back end of 2025 Essendon.

The Collingwood Football Club could never be that large and that ugly. Thankfully.

 

[Dead Eye Didak]

Fly just ruled out both Moore and Howey for opening round, and interestingly the early part of the season, whatever that means...

 

[WanderingDude]

Fly just ruled out both Moore and Howey for opening round, and interestingly the early part of the season, whatever that means...

Given the list management choices including KPD not being an immediate priority this one hurts. Recent options such as Tomlinson, Doedee and Silvagni would not have been good anyway. Not wanted, injured and too expensive led the club to here. Smit and Cochran from VFL. Or position role changes for McStay, Membrey and Cameron. It feels very exposed.

 

[Dead Eye Didak]

We're going to struggle defensively....

Given the list management choices including KPD not being an immediate priority this one hurts. Recent options such as Tomlinson, Doedee and Silvagni would not have been good anyway. Not wanted, injured and too expensive led the club to here. Smit and Cochrane from VFL. Or position role changes for McStay, Membrey and Cameron. It feels very exposed.

To me it sounded like Moore is a possibility against Adelaide, but more than likely wont be risked and likely return after the bye.
Whilst Howe will be given longer considering he has had recurring calf injuries.
But if both are missing for the first 2 or 3 games we play, then we're in a bit of bother....

 

[WanderingDude]

We're going to struggle defensively....

To me it sounded like Moore is a possibility against Adelaide, but more than likely wont be risked and likely return after the bye.
Whilst Howe will be given longer considering he has had recurring calf injuries.
But if both are missing for the first 2 or 3 games we play, then we're in a bit of bother....

Maybe think positive. Games into Smit or Cochran.

 

[Dead Eye Didak]

Maybe think positive. Games into Smit or Cochran.

Smit l wouldn't be playing as he needs to work on his kicking, and would need a full year of further development at VFL level.
I would say Cochran is probably a definite to debut Opening Round.
I'm hoping McInnes plays on Sunday, whether at VFL or AFL level, and gets match play under his belt, and is a possibility for opening round.
Besides that Ryan or TJ would be the other possibilities but l can't either being considered for opening round....

 

[Dead Eye Didak]

I would strongly consider moving McStay to CHB. He looks like he is marking well. I think a move could benefit him, without the pressure of having to kick goals.
He also, physically, can take on the bigger key forwards.
Only issue is he hasn't trained as a defender this off season...

 

[ksardog]

that kick from Long out of the middle in the first minute

 

[Scodog10]

Fly just ruled out both Moore and Howey for opening round, and interestingly the early part of the season, whatever that means...

Pre-bye would be my guess.

The Collingwood Football Club could never be that large and that ugly. Thankfully.

It happened in 2021 when we started handing games out like candy to a bunch of kids that were below average to poor. Check out the 23 v Port. Some of the names are eerily similar to those listed in the post I quoted from a talent perspective.

 

[Ted Parker]

I would strongly consider moving McStay to CHB. He looks like he is marking well. I think a move could benefit him, without the pressure of having to kick goals.
He also, physically, can take on the bigger key forwards.
Only issue is he hasn't trained as a defender this off season...

Rewatch the 2025 QF against the triumvirate of Fogarty, Thilthorpe and Walker. BBF was huge for us, where his 12x 1%ers (spoils and punches) acted as a wall. He alone allowed Darcy Moore to play with confidence.
Then there was that tackle on Pies whipping boy Keyes, one of the best I've seen from a player in the B&W. (refer BBF Player thread)

 

[Fruit]

I think this is a good opportunity for Dan Houston

9

Dan Houston

Age

28

Ht

186cm

Wt

88kg

Pos.

Def

Career

Season

Last 5

D

18.2

5star

K

11.8

4star

HB

6.4

4star

M

4.9

5star

T

3.0

5star

MG

289.2

4star

D

17.6

4star

K

11.6

4star

HB

6.0

3star

M

3.3

3star

T

3.4

4star

MG

319.9

5star

D

16.6

4star

K

12.4

5star

HB

4.2

4star

M

7.0

5star

T

2.6

4star

MG

279.8

5star

to step up. He wasn’t the attacking player we hoped for last year but I actually thought he was good defensively, especially in the air. I can remember him getting a strong fist on the ball in many aerial contests and can’t remember him getting outmarked. At 189cm I think he can play a tall role if needed.

 

[The Royal Sampler]

Let there be no further questions about whether Parker should be playing if Howe is out.

 

[Soups]

Let there be no further questions about whether Parker should be playing if Howe is out.

He’s ready.

 

[rand corp]

Parker is ready to step in, Jaith might also get his chance.

 

[Finnishpie]

We were 3 games clear before resting.
We slid once we started resting.
Those are facts.
The other point of view is a wild guess.

Yeah, should have rested more and avoided the injuries. Sending Howe to GC was a shocker of a decision.

 

[HFF]

Fly just ruled out both Moore and Howey for opening round, and interestingly the early part of the season, whatever that means...

It means he will select the healthiest and fittest side possible which is what should happen early in the season

Howe in particular should be given longer to prove his fitness before returning such is his fragility in recent years

 

[Scodog10]

Let there be no further questions about whether Parker should be playing if Howe is out.

He’s ready.

There’s no chance I’m picking him over McInnes/ Cochrane with Moore also missing. I think the days of Maynard coping with 6’4+ forwards are fading fast and Frampton on his own isn’t enough to deal with Sharman, Marshall and Owens… He’s physically there, but doubt still lingers for me over whether he’s actually good enough to take someone’s spot.

FWIW Maynard/ IQ/ Houston/ Perryman/ Jaicos/ Pendles is the ground level mix I’d go with down back.