Training 2026 Preseason Thread

[Running_Lifter86]

Yeah that's my point exactly. You could see the progress there. North haven't even demonstrated progress within seasons let alone across, they've been liable to go to shit at any point and I can barely remember a period that you could look upon as demonstrating some kind of improvement or hope or possibility of taking another step.

Even in 2019 we were clearly a better side than we'd been from 2007-2016 (2010 exception), just with something going wrong, and there was enough competitiveness in almost all of our losses to have some hope we would play finals again within a year or two. North have looked five years off finals for the last 7 years.

Paul Roos was big on improving percentage and used that as a better guidance than straight up W/L record, after 18 months the focus shifted onto scoring. But in the first 12 months it was just getting the basics correct, defending first etc. It seems North haven't got that right, only one pre season game but regardless of the strength of either side, North need to be better than they were against the dees.

 

[Gysberts2Bate]

Paul Roos was big on improving percentage and used that as a better guidance than straight up W/L record, after 18 months the focus shifted onto scoring. But in the first 12 months it was just getting the basics correct, defending first etc. It seems North haven't got that right, only one pre season game but regardless of the strength of either side, North need to be better than they were against the dees.

I don't think the practice hitout means much at all in function, but it's on top of them losing eight (8) of their final nine (9) games last year with an average losing margin of 48 (inflated by 101 point loss to Geelong) with a win v Richmond. It's a shame that they don't get a chance to play us until R19 this year and give us another belting like R2 last year.

 

[Dory_77]

I don't think the practice hitout means much at all in function, but it's on top of them losing eight (8) of their final nine (9) games last year with an average losing margin of 48 (inflated by 101 point loss to Geelong) with a win v Richmond. It's a shame that they don't get a chance to play us until R19 this year and give us another belting like R2 last year.

Agree the praccy doesn't mean much but looking back they really have struggled to ever build consistent form. That round 2 belting was a false dawn - a run of four 6+ goal losses followed after and didn't get another win until round 10 (although drew with Brisbane round 9). Haven't won consecutive games since the start of 2023.

 

[Crusty Demon]

Agree the praccy doesn't mean much but looking back they really have struggled to ever build consistent form. That round 2 belting was a false dawn - a run of four 6+ goal losses followed after and didn't get another win until round 10 (although drew with Brisbane round 9). Haven't won consecutive games since the start of 2023.

Jesus. That's grim. They really have been awful for a long time. WCE being so bad probably has taken a little of the focus off just how bad they've been.

 

[Gysberts2Bate]

Agree the praccy doesn't mean much but looking back they really have struggled to ever build consistent form. That round 2 belting was a false dawn - a run of four 6+ goal losses followed after and didn't get another win until round 10 (although drew with Brisbane round 9). Haven't won consecutive games since the start of 2023.

The worst thing about that is the Brisbane draw really dampening our victory over the Lions the following week.

I agree re consistency, I don't remember them having any kind of momentum of form whatsoever at any stage which is what makes it so different to our 2010, 2014-2016, even 2011/2019.



There's something almost aesthetically beautiful about their 2023. What's the longest losing streak a club has had following consecutive wins I wonder. That R24 win v Gold Coast was their first win by over five points (they beat Richmond by four points in R18. 2022) since they beat WCE by 15 points in R2, 2022. It's strange because I remember being quite impressed by their extremely close loss to top 4 Collingwood late-2022 and thinking they'd surely turned the corner, and then they knocked off top 8 Richmond the following week and were looking nearly hot. Lost 25 of their next 27/34 of their next 37.

 

[Grimey Sylvia]

Jesus, what a bleak period for them.

 

[Charlie_s123]

From the North subreddit RE this preseason

 

[Scythe]

Apparently no Heath at the captain's run, so looks like he's been dropped for Gawn, even with Mihocek out. Looks like we'll be sticking with one ruck and relief from a KPF like JVR or Kentfield in the real stuff (at least to begin with).

 

[stEdy]

Kentfield has looked good this pre-season. Wouldn't be mad if he 2nd rucked and let JVR stay forward come R1 (also means we are less likely to field the magician which is a win).

 

[Bluelegs]

Kentfield has looked good this pre-season. Wouldn't be mad if he 2nd rucked and let JVR stay forward come R1 (also means we are less likely to field the magician which is a win).

Jefferson isn't competing for any of the tall spots imo. He should be treated as a medium forward in the same basket with Fritsch and Melksham.

 

[Gysberts2Bate]

Jefferson isn't competing for any of the tall spots imo. He should be treated as a medium forward in the same basket with Fritsch and Melksham.

Reeks of Lucas Cook, I fear year end delisting for the lad. It's the regressing on his 2024 VFL season in 2025 (not that Lucas Cook ever accomplished the lofty heights of an MJ 2024-esque VFL season)

I think you're right though, with his build and strengths if we do manage to move the ball a bit more chaotically and quickly he'll do better in a Melksham type role than as a conventional tall at least for now. Melksham a significantly better contested mark though

 

[stEdy]

Jefferson isn't competing for any of the tall spots imo. He should be treated as a medium forward in the same basket with Fritsch and Melksham.

I agree with this but because we are looking for a tall and Fritsch and Melk are currently better than him, I fear he will be asked to do "KPF" things and enter the team that way (club seems very keen to talk him up all pre-season). Also, Jeffo puts on so little pressure for a medium.

Which means that JVR needs to do the rucking, or we play Heath. I also saw Mihocek take a forward half throw in before he got concussed against the Roos.

Will be interesting to see what happens.

 

[stEdy]

Basically I'm just looking for any way to not have to watch the Magician in the seniors

 

[Gysberts2Bate]

Jake Bowey lisfranc injury really takes you back. Hope we do better with it this time than we did with Mitch Clark (and Trengove, though that was a different injury (navicular?))

 

[Scythe]

Team:

 

[schmuttt]

Basically I'm just looking for any way to not have to watch the Magician in the seniors

Yep, I feel bad saying it but can't stand him in the side. Just so soft and uncompetitive.

 

[Scythe]

Yep, I feel bad saying it but can't stand him in the side. Just so soft and uncompetitive.

Won't be seeing him for a while anyway

Matt Jefferson will miss the game with GM of AFL Football Performance Alan Richardson providing an update on the Demon.

“Matt has unfortunately sustained a bone stress injury in his foot,” Richardson said.

“We have taken a conservative approach and given him time to de-load.

"Once he’s had that period of rest, we will then have a clearer picture of his return to play timeline.”

 

[Scythe]

This club does a bizarre history of random foot injuries

 

[Lord Nev]

Tommy Matthews in! Hope he gets enough minutes to take mark of the year.

 

[Daemon]

I'm surprised that Heath is out, thought he did well and could combine somehow with Max. With Kentfield in I hope he rucks. I'd much rather JVR doesn't go near the ruck as he isn't much chop and could use the time to build confidence up forward.

 

[Daemon]

Won't be seeing him for a while anyway

No matter what you think about him it's sad to see this injury. He doesn't get a chance to prove any doubters wrong for a fair while you expect.

 

[Scythe]

I'm surprised that Heath is out, thought he did well and could combine somehow with Max. With Kentfield in I hope he rucks. I'd much rather JVR doesn't go near the ruck as he isn't much chop and could use the time to build confidence up forward.

He's unlucky, but I'm not overly surprised. Playing two massive lumbering rucks (granted, they're decently athletic ones) doesn't really fit King's gameplan (even if it would protect Gawn a bit).

 

[Daemon]

He's unlucky, but I'm not overly surprised. Playing two massive lumbering rucks (granted, they're decently athletic ones) doesn't really fit King's gameplan (even if it would protect Gawn a bit).

Yeah and as someone said earlier, King may take a more horses for courses approach with the rucks. If nothing else he has a great mentor to learn under and looks like he has the right stuff to be a decent AFL ruck one day.

 

[Canary]

Small forward line, especially given Kent is likely to be relief rucking. Assume Mihocek is an auto-in when fit, but it's interesting that Melk isn't getting a run. Will be keen to see how this works in practice.

 

[madcapmilkdrinker]

Given that this thread has devolved into a Kangaroos chat room, is it time to end the North Melbourne experiment now and give a proper footy club a go? Subiaco or Norwood would do a better job, and have contributed more to the fabric of Australian rules footy, than the chequebook kings of footy ever have in their miserable existence.

F**k I hate them.