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Training 2026 Training Reports

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Training (Arden Street Oval)
Wednesday, April 1
10am-12pm AEDT


Today's session will tell us a lot about the plan for the ruck. Anyone going? I might try and get down for the last hour maybe.
 
Keep us posted Chad if you make it

Have taken an early lunch break to come have a look.

First few observations;
  • Goad is training with the main group during rotational drills 👀
  • Powell and Zurhaar are too
  • Goater and Logue off to the side with the trainers
  • LDU kinda doing his own thing off to the side with a coach I don't recognise. I don't think it's an injury concern. They seem to be working specifically on his kicking?
  • I know this sounds silly... But I swear the whole group is playing a game similar to musical chairs in the middle. They'd all run around in a big circle in the middle, then a coach would say something and they'd all grapple each other in three or four seperate groups. If you weren't in one of these groups you were 'out'. Never seen that before and I've been to a lot of training sessions.
  • Spirits and morale seem high.
  • No ruck-specific drills yet but I'm keeping an eye out.
 
LDU working on his kicking;

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Goad with the main group a seeking full participant;

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More observations
  • Currently running a drill called "Larks leads" which... isn't about leading or marking, but is about handballing to a team mate in congestion over and over until the coach blows a whistle at which point whoever has the ball has to kick a goal. It's kinda like... pass the parcel? Or hot potato? Very "games" focused training so far today it must be said.
  • Paddy O'Sullivan, Tomlinson, Cappalari, and Liam Gibson from the VFL team are training with the AFL group today. A couple of others too but I don't recognise their faces and they aren't wearing numbers.
  • To my eye, Goad seems to be moving totally fine. Looks strong and fit. My guess is he gets a run in VFL on managed minutes this week, and if all goes well we may see a debut in a week or two.
  • No match sim or 18v18 so far. Just drills and games.

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Observations
  • Blue v Orange midfield drills has CCJ as blue ruck and Goad as orange ruck.
  • Blue midfielders are Sheezel, LDU, FOS, Jy, and Disco. Orange midfielders are Wardlaw, Powell, Fisher, and a couple VFL guys like Keast.
  • Xerri is in this drill too in an orange top but not taking ruck duties.
  • Based purely on this one rotational drill, I think CCJ is ruck #1 this week.
  • Goad vs CCJ has been about even. Maybe give a slight edge to Goad.
  • I just saw Dovastan drill a goal from 55 out so it's interesting to know he has that range.
  • Shit, the guy I thought was Powell isn't actually Powell. I think it's Nick Newton from the VFL. He was wearing a bib that blocked his number. I'm now looking for Powell and I don't see him out there. Side note I might need new glasses.
  • I saw Zurhaar at the start but I can't see him now. It's possible he's gone into the rooms? I'm on the far side of the ground so I missed that if it happened.
  • We have 18v18 now.
  • CCJ is blue ruck. Xerri is orange ruck. Goad not participating.
  • Whitlock in orange. Dawson in blue 👀
  • Other notable colours; Wardlaw, Konstanty, Spargo, RHJ, Hardeman all orange.
  • Dova, Daniel, Corr, Blamires, LMac, Duurs, Banch, all blue.
  • Goad just swapped in for Xerri and took a ruck contest. For orange team. Beat CCJ.
  • Caleb Daniel is playing further up the ground. Doing really well and is in every blue team passage.
  • If I didn't know better I would say Wardlaw is taking it easy. Definitely not going at 100%. The fact he's on orange team is probably not a coincidence. I think he's being managed through this session intentionally.
  • Whitlock playing forward for orange team. Not defending.
  • Dawson playing defense for blue team and has turned the ball over twice by foot. I think they are the only two times he has touched it. He let out a big F-word in frustration after the second one.
  • Banch is working his ass off. Looks like he might be an IN this week?
  • Toby Pink (blue team defender #1) is silk. So composed under pressure. Bias be damned. (Although wearing yellow cap so not fully participant, to be clear)
  • Okay they're taking a break and I need to get back to work. Thanks for reading, everyone.

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Real disappointing constantly reading negative reports on Dawson.
It’s no surprise. He is built like a beast however
  • is still a kid who does not know how to use his strength yet , to be expected
  • Cannot intercept mark, a major concern
  • Cant dispose of the ball by foot; a major concern.

Anyone who thinks Dawson has shown anything to date that suspects he is the answer as a key back is not seeing real life.

He can make it; however right now he is 1-2 years away and that is it all goes well, let him develop at VFL and see how it goes.
 

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