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

 

[Rowan18]

How right you are.

Poor lonely thing.

My friend worked at the Dockers in 2015 when they won this (she was in a corporate role). She said that the AFL didn't even bother to properly award it to them, just handed it over to the CEO before the prelim they hosted in Perth. After they were bundled out, she found it on the floor at the back of the conference room (and sent me a few photos as I always wondered if it was an actual trophy). Sounds like the sadest way to get a piece of silverware.

I do always wonder where it is now. Do they display it or is it in a cupboard somewhere?

 

[wctorp]

Do love how Newton is coming along, those hops last weekend where something I didn’t know he had in him. Tough bugger too with tidy skills think we might’ve uncovered a diamond in the rough.

Hutchinson is the other one I was hoping would be moved back into the forward line who I think offers very similar skills to Newton and could be a handful up front with his marking / size / tackling

 

[Dark Sharks]

Sam Allen is out here, training with the forwards.

Bo Allan with the mids.

Tim Allen in the shed.

 

[FatPizza]

Sam Allen is out here, training with the forwards.

Bo Allan with the mids.

Tim Allen in the shed.

Urgh?

 

[Kegs15]

Been thinking about our small forward issue, with the backline being our strongest pushing some fringeish players to the middle or out... now just hear me out. jobe and CDT or archer as the bigs, yeo and waterman are our mediums, our smalls could be newton, baker and shoenberg while harley and hewett roll through. now i know everyone is thinking theyre not fast but as a former coach the "pressure" you can build can be through being physical, annoying total shit campaigners. that is newton baker and shoenberg to a T

I do agree in a sense - for me though there's two types of smaller forward pressure.

There's tackling and locking it in there and chasing when the opposition is exiting - and agreed these guys can apply that no problem.

But IMO then there's offensive/making the opposition shit themselves small forward pressure. The type where if the defence is a little bit off, or is too offensive with their structuring, or doesn't commit big numbers to the ground ball following a spoiled mark, they'll get a deflating crumbling goal kicked on them. WRioli wasn't much of a chaser/tackler but still applied this kinda pressure. And it's a pressure that by extension forces defences to second-guess themselves and contributes to the success of the first kind of pressure.

Would say of Rioli, Ryan, LeCras and peak Cripps only Cripps was particularly defensively minded - but all of them had the capacity to theoretically kick 5 goals so you couldn't leave them alone. They of course wouldn't kick 5 goals every game but they COULD, which auto-generated that pressure. At this stage, being realistic, teams will be ok risking a goal or two a game from a Shoenberg, Newton, Baker, current Cripps in order to set up more offensively, have an option wider to slingshot from the back half etc.

Every top of the league side has had a small forward that genuinely makes defences shit themselves and who are elite tier at clean crumbing, not just pressure.

Brisbane - Cameron, Bailey
Prime Adelaide - Rankine
Prime Collingwood - Hill isn't of the same quality but played at that level in their winning finals series
Geelong - Stengle
Prime Melbourne - Kosi
Prime Richmond - Bolton
Prime Sydney - Papley
Prime Us - Rioli, Ryan
Prime Hawthorn - Cyril, Breust
Current Hawthorn have an injured midfield and average tall forwards but have invested hard on these types as well.

Having an AA level (or performing relative to that) crumbing forward feels way more consistent with GF sides than having an AA KPF or AA ruck for instance.

IMO these players created situations where more goals could come from your more traditional pressure players in the Callum Ah Chees, Cripps for us, cause defences had to worry about the scary threats.

Sorry overly long response but I'd basically love for us to prioritise getting games into a Champion/TWilliams if they're even slightly ready. They may not be ready to be huge goalkickers yet but at least have the capacity to be threatening at ground level. Champion last year was a bit too unselfish but did show that cleanness. And an underrated investment for list building in general I think - would love us to target a genuine crumber with a decent pick in upcoming drafts, or take a punt on a SSP/MSD mature age type who's say just starting to be professional about it eg McCarthy, Rioli.

 

[Cuzz09]

Rioli/Ryan were helped by JK/JD who did a massive amount of heavy lifting.

 

[THE A5]

Urgh?

Oscar Allens at Laika

 

[Rowan18]

I do agree in a sense - for me though there's two types of smaller forward pressure.

There's tackling and locking it in there and chasing when the opposition is exiting - and agreed these guys can apply that no problem.

But IMO then there's offensive/making the opposition shit themselves small forward pressure. The type where if the defence is a little bit off, or is too offensive with their structuring, or doesn't commit big numbers to the ground ball following a spoiled mark, they'll get a deflating crumbling goal kicked on them. WRioli wasn't much of a chaser/tackler but still applied this kinda pressure. And it's a pressure that by extension forces defences to second-guess themselves and contributes to the success of the first kind of pressure.

Would say of Rioli, Ryan, LeCras and peak Cripps only Cripps was particularly defensively minded - but all of them had the capacity to theoretically kick 5 goals so you couldn't leave them alone. They of course wouldn't kick 5 goals every game but they COULD, which auto-generated that pressure. At this stage, being realistic, teams will be ok risking a goal or two a game from a Shoenberg, Newton, Baker, current Cripps in order to set up more offensively, have an option wider to slingshot from the back half etc.

Every top of the league side has had a small forward that genuinely makes defences shit themselves and who are elite tier at clean crumbing, not just pressure.

Brisbane - Cameron, Bailey
Prime Adelaide - Rankine
Prime Collingwood - Hill isn't of the same quality but played at that level in their winning finals series
Geelong - Stengle
Prime Melbourne - Kosi
Prime Richmond - Bolton
Prime Sydney - Papley
Prime Us - Rioli, Ryan
Prime Hawthorn - Cyril, Breust
Current Hawthorn have an injured midfield and average tall forwards but have invested hard on these types as well.

Having an AA level (or performing relative to that) crumbing forward feels way more consistent with GF sides than having an AA KPF or AA ruck for instance.

IMO these players created situations where more goals could come from your more traditional pressure players in the Callum Ah Chees, Cripps for us, cause defences had to worry about the scary threats.

Sorry overly long response but I'd basically love for us to prioritise getting games into a Champion/TWilliams if they're even slightly ready. They may not be ready to be huge goalkickers yet but at least have the capacity to be threatening at ground level. Champion last year was a bit too unselfish but did show that cleanness. And an underrated investment for list building in general I think - would love us to target a genuine crumber with a decent pick in upcoming drafts, or take a punt on a SSP/MSD mature age type who's say just starting to be professional about it eg McCarthy, Rioli.

I'm in the Woosha school of those forwards are only cherry on top players. Would love one, but give me a bunch of goal kicking mids first (that apply good two way running). Rotate them on-ball and HFF and kill teams with field position.

We have the squad to implement that style right now (obviously need the players to develop), so happy to go with it while the crumbing smalls earn their spots through the development pathway.

 

[PepperTom32]

My friend worked at the Dockers in 2015 when they won this (she was in a corporate role). She said that the AFL didn't even bother to properly award it to them, just handed it over to the CEO before the prelim they hosted in Perth. After they were bundled out, she found it on the floor at the back of the conference room (and sent me a few photos as I always wondered if it was an actual trophy). Sounds like the sadest way to get a piece of silverware.

I do always wonder where it is now. Do they display it or is it in a cupboard somewhere?

It’s probably out for cleaning along with the rest of their trophies. That’s the real reason why their cupboards are bare

 

[Dark Sharks]

Notes from a casual who never goes to training:

- Gross is plenty big enough now.

- Not sure what Harley is like at training normally but after hearing how impressive and dialed in he is I was expecting a bit more. Basically he's that dickhead you get in ammos who just ****s around all session or in a huddle until someone barks at them to pull their head in and shut up. More regular trackwatchers would know better if this is his normal or not, but I think he's just a bloke who doesn't look switched on until the footys come out perhaps?

- It's a testament to how good Baker is when he's clearly the smallest midget out there, with arms skinnier than a draftee yet he's our captain and I love him. Still training with the backs though

- Jobe legit impresses me in every way. Good skills, good touch, chases hard.. just has class. Legit if you said he was a top 5 pick I'd be happy.

- Curious about just how heavy Barnett actually is. Looks the biggest Ruckman we have and honestly has no excuse other than heart to not be dominating undersized WAFL spuds.

- Dev and Bo Allan's intensity

- Lindsay's lateral movement is very good. Hope we keep working with him to be able to create space for himself with it. Very important for lefty's who are always so one sided. He's clearly going to play a big part this year, he gets fed the ball a lot and a lot of training is built around him distributing the ball.

- As most are predicting, reckon we're in for a rough patch with our small forwards. Owies still looks like he adds nothing and Williams isn't ready for this level. Just not sure where the excitement or spark comes from here. Newton solid but not blessed with electric pace or natural crukbing instinct IMO. Reckon we'll really miss Ryan this year.

- Very keen to see how the ACTUAL team we all care about (Beagles) goes this year with Macrae, Schoenberg, Hall, Gross in there together at times. Schlong dead hurts though. That's another full time ammo top-up who plays now.

- Hutchinson still exists. Who knew. Looks fit in the rehab group. Will be handy playing under Jamieson's leadership

- I like what I see of Grego. Hope we don't waste him in some lockdown defender spud role. Good athlete, does good things, clean with the ball.

 

[Dark Sharks]

Allen on Allan

 

[illegaleagle]

Should play Grego in the WAFL Eagles as a small forward he's a good tackler and can bring the pressure, as Dark Sharks said he's wasted in a defensive role as have too many already there.

 

[Chris_6678]

Yeah i agree with Grego to trial as a forward.

Just get him to become a tackling machine in the front half.

 

[kane249]

My friend worked at the Dockers in 2015 when they won this (she was in a corporate role). She said that the AFL didn't even bother to properly award it to them, just handed it over to the CEO before the prelim they hosted in Perth. After they were bundled out, she found it on the floor at the back of the conference room (and sent me a few photos as I always wondered if it was an actual trophy). Sounds like the sadest way to get a piece of silverware.

I do always wonder where it is now. Do they display it or is it in a cupboard somewhere?

Should send that to Freomaniac since he still proudly spruiks that every time it's mentioned Freo hasn't won anything

 

[Farmer Lister]

Allen on Allan

View attachment 2535589

 

[Monocle]

I don't watch WAFL. But our experiences with Scott West and Greg Clark illustrated for me the difference between being a gun player a WAFL level and being able to cut it at AFL level. Neither of those guys even came close and they were the best WAFL midfielders at the time of their drafting.

Whilst neither of them made it at AFL, so acknowledged , I was pissed at Simpson because he played them in positions in the AFL that they didn’t play in the WAFL.

Clark was an inside coal face extractor ( Simpson played him as an outside runner on the wing ) , West played a similar role but ( Simpson played him as a half forward flanker ).

Both these decisions by Simpson were head scratchers for me.

The knock on Clark was he lacked pace and that West had poor footskills.

So for some reason Simpson played them in positions that exposed their weakness and didn’t take advantage of their strengths.

I recall watching a set up where Simpson had Gaff in the centre square contest and Clark on the wing and thinking WTF.

Gaff didn’t have the strength to hustle on the inside but could run all day and was a proven winner on the wing.
Clarke lacked pace but was a brut at the coal face.
Hello …… what’s going on here.

Not saying that either Ckark or West would have made it had they been coached better, but they may well have played with more productivity, at the next level than they did, had they been played in the right positions.

 

[Tyberious Funk]

They have a 2015 McCelland Trophy don't they?

Do you get an actual trophy for that? Or is it just like... vibes?

EDIT: TIL it's actually a real thing

Club awarded McClelland Trophy

Steve Harriss accepts the McClelland Trophy after Fremantle finished minor premiers

www.fremantlefc.com.au

 

[Elite Pete]

Going by that Hamish Davis presser and Woodcocks observation and questioning. Hewett might be playing majority half forward/wing

 

[makaveli01]

Whilst neither of them made it at AFL, so acknowledged , I was pissed at Simpson because he played them in positions in the AFL that they didn’t play in the WAFL.

Clark was an inside coal face extractor ( Simpson played him as an outside runner on the wing ) , West played a similar role but ( Simpson played him as a half forward flanker ).

Both these decisions by Simpson were head scratchers for me.

The knock on Clark was he lacked pace and that West had poor footskills.

So for some reason Simpson played them in positions that exposed their weakness and didn’t take advantage of their strengths.

I recall watching a set where Simpson had Gaff in the centre square contest and Clark on the wing and thinking WTF.

Gaff didn’t have the strength to hustle on the inside but could run all day and was a proven winner on the wing.
Clarke lacked pace but was a brut at the coal face.
Hello …… what’s going on here.

Not saying that either Ckark or West would have made it had they been coached better, but they may well have played with more productivity, at the next level than they did, had they been played in the right positions.

Modern AFL players need to be versatile. If you are not then you aren't going to make it at this level

 

[ziad]

Rioli/Ryan were helped by JK/JD who did a massive amount of heavy lifting.

Fit JK/JD provided hige levels of ground pressure as awell as being targets.

 

[bzparkes]

Modern AFL players need to be versatile. If you are not then you aren't going to make it at this level

 

[kane249]

Blamires signed by Norf

 

[Monocle]

Modern AFL players need to be versatile. If you are not then you aren't going to make it at this level

Don’t disagree with your comment.

However we should have known their positional limitations yet we drafted them.
So thats on us.

There are plenty of examples of players drafted out of second tier competitions that make it ( look no further than Tom MCCARTHY ) they are there absolutely, but you need to know what your drafting and have specific role / roles in mind that you pick them for.

We drafted badly and there is no scooting around that.
Our drafting and list management in the final stages of the Simpson/ O’Brien administration left a lot to be desired and in no small part contributed to the cluster f*** that we eventually found ourselves in.

Fortunately things on both fronts seems to have markedly improved as will our fortunes going forward.

 

[Kegs15]

I'm in the Woosha school of those forwards are only cherry on top players. Would love one, but give me a bunch of goal kicking mids first (that apply good two way running). Rotate them on-ball and HFF and kill teams with field position.

We have the squad to implement that style right now (obviously need the players to develop), so happy to go with it while the crumbing smalls earn their spots through the development pathway.

Of course two way elite mids are #1. And if we have another top 4 pick would probably still want to take a mid. But that specific Woosha school isn't the game anymore IMO.

If we had a pick in the teens and there was the right player would still love us to prioritise a goalkicking crumber. And if he's ready see if Champion can be that this year while we're still developing anyway. You say they're cherry on top players but I really can't think of a flag winning side since 2010 that didn't have one (or several like I wouldn't say Rioli/Ryan were AA level but combined + an excellent forwardline around them they provided that). Maybe Bulldogs? But I actually think they underperformed with how stacked their midfield was.

All the dynasty sides since 2010 have had all three major avenues to goal - goalkicking mids, goalkicking tall forwards and genuine goalkicking small forwards. Hawthorn, Richmond, Geelong (could make a case for Brisbane not having the KPFs but they've added Oscar). Makes them have a method to tick scores over even when teams get on top of them in one area (all of those sides were so annoying in that you could be playing way better than them and the scores would still be level) - and puts consistent pressure across the ground beyond what purely defensive front half players can provide alone.

Then the single premiership sides have had two of those goalkicking options (us with small/tall forwards, Melbourne with small forwards + mids, Dogs with a million mids + tall forwards, Collingwood with mids + small forwards).

And sides who've just not made the cut have had 1-1.5 of those (Adelaide with tall forwards but the smaller goal threat aspect handled by Rankine wherever he was, GWS with an inconsistent mix).

Still value elite mids more than specialist small forwards, absolutely, but think small forwards who can kick goals are more than a cherry on top. We're looking ok in that Harley/Duursma/Hewett/Warner* can all kick goals and our talls look good - but I'd still want us to invest in the third avenue and allow for one line to have a bad finals game/make us harder to stop. Know this isn't what you were saying specifically but I'd hate if we were ok just having 'pressure' smalls in the front half and didn't uncover/develop/draft a genuine goalscorer, however that may come.

 

[Eaglemaniac]

Whilst neither of them made it at AFL, so acknowledged , I was pissed at Simpson because he played them in positions in the AFL that they didn’t play in the WAFL.

Clark was an inside coal face extractor ( Simpson played him as an outside runner on the wing ) , West played a similar role but ( Simpson played him as a half forward flanker ).

Both these decisions by Simpson were head scratchers for me.

The knock on Clark was he lacked pace and that West had poor footskills.

So for some reason Simpson played them in positions that exposed their weakness and didn’t take advantage of their strengths.

I recall watching a set where Simpson had Gaff in the centre square contest and Clark on the wing and thinking WTF.

Gaff didn’t have the strength to hustle on the inside but could run all day and was a proven winner on the wing.
Clarke lacked pace but was a brut at the coal face.
Hello …… what’s going on here.

Not saying that either Ckark or West would have made it had they been coached better, but they may well have played with more productivity, at the next level than they did, had they been played in the right positions.

100% correct. Im glad someone said this.