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

 

[Kegs15]

Dare I say it... Priddis curls.

 

[MaxHunt]

Not who I wouldve picked, but assuming we have him pegged as a pressure forward rather than a midfielder I cant complain too much.

Murdock has been so close for a while so glad he at least gets a chance

So he's the best available pressure forward in the country? I hope they plan to use him in his best position.

 

[Convocation]

Not who I wouldve picked, but assuming we have him pegged as a pressure forward rather than a midfielder I cant complain too much.

Murdock has been so close for a while so glad he at least gets a chance

There are posts upon posts of playing players out of position, particulalrly our SSP players, but sure lets play him as pressure forward rather then a midfielder and then complain at the coaches for not playing him in position when/if he gets his opportunity.

 

[Keys]

Dare I say it... Priddis curls.

View attachment 2537144

And Daniel Rich arms

 

[gravy_86]

And Ginbey arse-area

 

[jdisc]

we're going to win the WAFL prem

 

[Cuzz09]

Interesting name at least

 

[Farmer Lister]

There are posts upon posts of playing players out of position, particulalrly our SSP players, but sure lets play him as pressure forward rather then a midfielder and then complain at the coaches for not playing him in position when/if he gets his opportunity.

He's already been playing as both a mid and a forward

 

[flamingEMBERS]

That's true. However you guys may have used them better. But its definitely easier to say that it was a with the benefit of hindsight. Was just trying to get involved in the thread tbh

Our drafting in the period leading up to that, specifically of mid round picks was pretty ordinary. I’d suggest we’d have done worse

 

[flamingEMBERS]

Just saw something really funny about the Hawks, new name Hawthorn "Ducks" on the fact that that's their secret weapon, "Ducking for free kicks"!!

Wonder if Mitchell used AI for this tactic?

 

[We_The_West]

It's a shame that Starcevich has had a few setbacks this preseason.

Would have been interesting to see him rotating through the midfield in the preseason games.

 

[THE A5]

It's a shame that Starcevich has had a few setbacks this preseason.

Would have been interesting to see him rotating through the midfield in the preseason games.

Why? Never played at AFL level and a type of player that doesn’t get a lot of possession down back. Let him do what he is elite at. We have enough young talent that we fan rotate through there

 

[wafooty2]

He's already been playing as both a mid and a forward

Yep. Will play that pressure forward. Definitely a position of need. Good pickup with Long out for the season.

 

[Bender_]

Can't believe we drafted HM Murdock instead of Charlie Banfield. Surely Clarke could've seen Long was about to hurt his knee again and moved Brockman to the Casuarina list. Sack Puke.

 

[Cuzz09]

Will Murdock make the "A" team?

 

[isthiswhereitype]

The Olympics finished a week ago and only now do the club pay any attention to Milan. Behind the times again

 

[Deplorable trumpster]

Has he got the attributes to be a pressure forward, i.e. pace, agility, competitive mindset, fitness needed to make repeat efforts at chasing etc? All i know about him is he gets a lot of the footy at WAFL level. I though he was a half back but now i am hearing all kinds of contrary things.

 

[Yeahnahmate]

These mature age inside mids competing for a gig are going to kill each other at training at some point especially if form or injury opens spots up as the season goes on

 

[Bender_]

Has he got the attributes to be a pressure forward, i.e. pace, agility, competitive mindset, fitness needed to make repeat efforts at chasing etc? All i know about him is he gets a lot of the footy at WAFL level. I though he was a half back but now i am hearing all kinds of contrary things.

He's no Scott West, that's for sure.

 

[Deplorable trumpster]

He's no Scott West, that's for sure.

Is he an angry, low IQ, unfunny and not witty, ******ed troll on heavy anti depressents who lives in his Mom's basement expressing his anger at the world by hanging around all day on a football posting board trying to annoy people who are random strangers to him? I hope not. Most of us would rather not be here anymore than be as big of a loser as that.

 

[Bender_]

Is he an angry, low IQ, unfunny and not witty, ******ed troll on heavy anti depressents who lives in his Mom's basement expressing his anger at the world by hanging around all day on a football posting board trying to annoy people who are random strangers to him? I hope not. Most of us would rather not be here anymore than be as big of a loser as that.

Try and find the ability to nail down in your mind and then coherently communicate what it is you disagree with the other person about without spinning out into an incoherent rage.

 

[bzparkes]

The Olympics finished a week ago and only now do the club pay any attention to Milan. Behind the times again

Sack Dumb Puke.

 

[RustyShacklefordFalcon]

Try and find the ability to nail down in your mind and then coherently communicate what it is you disagree with the other person about without spinning out into an incoherent rage.

I'm shocked he hasn't threatened you with deportation yet

 

[Ilkka Sinisalo]

Is he an angry, low IQ, unfunny and not witty, ******ed troll on heavy anti depressents who lives in his Mom's basement expressing his anger at the world by hanging around all day on a football posting board trying to annoy people who are random strangers to him? I hope not. Most of us would rather not be here anymore than be as big of a loser as that.

Look some of our mom's basements are extremely tastefully furnished and have ensuite bathrooms, it's hard to move out when you've got such a sweet pad.

 

[JoshWoodenSpoon]

We have enough young talent that we fan rotate through there

Oh, sick! Let me know when it's my turn.