Training Training updates 2026.

[gouki88]

Just an expression. No need to be a smart arse. Reminds me of Malthouse at a post match presser after a bad defeat claiming not to understand what the term "Did they come to play, today?" meant.

I thought it was a stupid question well handled. Miss his caustic post match interviews

 

[Jen2310]

Afternoon session that began at 2:30 and finished just before 4pm.

Cochran was the only player absent for some reason.

Rehab group consisted of
Moore
Harry D
West
Hill.

West dealing with inflamed Plantar, he apparantely had this in preseason and it eased down, so the expectation is that it'll be the same. He'll be fine.
He did some running, then left the track.

Hill did some running before heading indoors. Moore as well did a running session and looks to be moving fine.

Nick trained through the whole session. A little proppy but felt he got better as the session went on. Still wed's session to come, so I think he should be fine.

Pendles too completed the whole session with no complaint, I don't forsee any issue there that he shoudn't be available for Friday's game.
As expected being the first session of the week, it was a pretty chill session. Some work on connection between mids and forwards and transition from D50 to F50, but this is pretty common stuff they tend to do.

At the very end, they decided to bounce a soccer ball on their heads, so it doesn't hit the ground, to see how long it would take until someone misses it. They probably lasted a minute or two.

 

[BillyElliott]

 

[Daicos Torpedo]

TJ 's body is looking ready for AFL.
I hope that he puts his hand up soon.

 

[Mick F]

TJ 's body is looking ready for AFL.
I hope that he puts his hand up soon.

Do we need another ‘attacking’ defender??

 

[Abdul_The_Bull]

TJ 's body is looking ready for AFL.
I hope that he puts his hand up soon.

I got some photos of the lads from the weeken'ds game and TJ looks like he hasn't missed a day in the gym all off-season!
I'm low-key impressed with the bulk he's managed to put on!

 

[Timmy from Thomastown]

Do we need another ‘attacking’ defender??

why not

 

[Daicos Torpedo]

Do we need another ‘attacking’ defender??

Probably not. Maybe a wing or half forward trial for a few weeks?

 

[BillyElliott]

 

[BillyElliott]

 

[Masked Magician]

Nick daicos is good to go, spending more time at half forward for match Sim.
West has now come out of match sim, looks sore.
Bobby hill looks surprisingly good in match sim.
Elliott spending more time on ball.
Steele, Hayes, steene, Allan, Sullivan all in white
Noah Howes moved to key Def

 

[Scodog10]

 

[GCPie]

Hopefully Bobby ready for VFL this week as that could make him an outside chance for Anzac Day.
Watched Angry in the VFL against GWS and too good for VFL - takes the 1st option and quick decision maker.
I think he will be a permanent fixture in the AFL.

 

[Exambolor]

Ned Long had his breakout game at Gather Round last year. Maybe the same for Angry?

 

[Peters_Nuts]

Nick daicos is good to go, spending more time at half forward for match Sim.
West has now come out of match sim, looks sore.
Bobby hill looks surprisingly good in match sim.
Elliott spending more time on ball.
Steele, Hayes, steene, Allan, Sullivan all in white
Noah Howes moved to key Def

Love the news about Bobby and trialling Howes in the backline.

Not sure I love Elliott spending more time on ball. We can't score as is so why are we moving him up the ground?

 

[Lifelong Pie]

Love the news about Bobby and trialling Howes in the backline.

Not sure I love Elliott spending more time on ball. We can't score as is so why are we moving him up the ground?

I don't want Elliott on ball but he has been pretty ordinary this year, we really need him to get going and start kicking some goals

 

[Scodog10]

Love the news about Bobby and trialling Howes in the backline.

Not sure I love Elliott spending more time on ball. We can't score as is so why are we moving him up the ground?

My guess is to get him going. I suspect we’ve used him deep too often to start the season and he’s a bit easy to stop. By moving up the field he gets hands on the ball more often and might get better match ups in transition.

 

[Apex36]

Love the news about Bobby and trialling Howes in the backline.

Not sure I love Elliott spending more time on ball. We can't score as is so why are we moving him up the ground?

Because we’re getting absolutely slaughtered in the middle of the ground, that’s one of the main reasons we’re not scoring.

 

[Vankri]

I’m also hoping it’s a sign that Jordy will play more time deep forward. Whatever the issue is with him at the moment, he’s not delivering in the middle, looking slower and struggling with his ground ball game. I see Elliott as a decent part timer for that.

 

[Big Bryza]

Love the news about Bobby and trialling Howes in the backline.

Not sure I love Elliott spending more time on ball. We can't score as is so why are we moving him up the ground?

Because he can't get a kick atm.

 

[Jen2310]

I think Howes may have played key defence today because no Cochran and TJ didn't train
But I wouldn't begrudge that move given I think we have enough forwards

 

[Sea fog]

From Annabele fb some more training views, we seem to have a few today.


A cobalt sky clothed in some white feathery clouds, and lovely autumnal weather greeted the players as they filtered out following AFLW training. The crowd watching was thickened by the school holidays attendees who enthusiastically appeared in their black and white garb, eager to see close up glimpses of their favourite players.

Who was missing? Cochran missed his second successive session but there was no official explanation for his absence.

Anyone in rehab today? HDM who has a stress reaction in his back did some close-in, reflex handball skills with Moore on the pavilion side. The latter then went to the outer side and completed a long bracket of running, aggressive forward kicking, interspersed with some agility work and some sprinting with the rod. Is officially pronounced to be up to four weeks away but is belying this slightly in terms of how he’s tracking, though after the GWS mishap conservatism may be the order of the day. Tew undertook some light skills and didn't join main training.

Did anything unusual occur? More recently debutants have been informed of the joyful news inside the private sanctum (though later broadcast via social media), but today onlookers knew something was in the offing when Fly called all the players to link arms and form a circle. We could hear a build-up of affirmation and player volume as they listened to what was being said which eventually culminated in a cacophony of discordant sound as players smothered someone we assumed to be Anderson. Eventually the latest Magpie was revealed and players then cleaved to finish the session working on individual drills.

Nick, Hill and Pendles did some specialised running/sprinting in the early stages of training as the rest of the group completed their formal warm-up. For the record, Pendles, who wore lycra pants, was moving totally freely, while Nick was almost back to top pace. Hill moved away to do some extra running but completed the drills and match simulation.

Different warm-up activities today - There was some sharpening of the reflexes work as players pounded the ball into the rebounder. There were lines of players facing one another who kicked the balls in unison in response to a whistle with the clear sound of boot on leather reverberating around the arena. There was a mix of mini and high hurdles and players had to navigate both. They were asked to drive through hard. They jumped the higher ones, working on their leaping capacities. Ryan had some work done on the hip area.

Drills/activities - some brief ground ball movement was followed by a few rotations of groups negotiating a range of skill challenges. One specialised protracted centre square set-up, included : Beau, JDG, Prindable, Long, Crisp, Nick and Roan Steele in a mix of black and white tops competed against one another sharking the ball from the ruck and laying off.

The match simulation was won convincingly by the black team who kicked four goals while conceding only one point to their white counterparts. One noteworthy aspect of this was that Howes played in defence for the white team and took an early mark. Houston kicked a long goal and was busy in terms of trying to assume an assertive position and pump the ball into attack.


Random observations:

The ball movement was mixed during the matchplay. Occasionally there was some slick and swift connection executed by the black team but sometimes a player would hold up proceedings and we would become stagnant. The latter mirrors our recent outings whereby the scintillating movement of circa 2022-23 has been replaced by the soporific stagnation which is antithematical to the current lightning quick mode paradigmatic of teams like the Swans.

Hill is starting to become more active during the match simulation and today he showcased his penchant for evasiveness, bamboozling a few opponents whom he moved away from with characteristic swiftness.

Crisp and Steele were opposed to one another on the wing, perhaps suggesting that this is where Fly sees their optimum position being, though the latter was in white.

Allan was back in the white in the matchplay signifying yet another likely demotion for him.

Nick kicked a goal and is approaching full fitness again in terms of the freedom of movement manifested by him.

Swadling may be the next debutant if he keeps getting the ball and following through for the overlap. There are some second tier onballers in the seniors who should be looking over their shoulders.

Hayes was also in white. Ditto Sullivan so this pair is also in the mix for making way for Pendles, Anderson and Nick who are expected to be named tomorrow night in the main team.

Jamie spent some time on the ball during match sim which offers us something different and perhaps him a release valve from the clamping he's endured to this juncture during matches

West is nursing some plantar soreness and withdrew from the matchplay



Point of interest - the complexion of the defence with three aerial threats in Voss, Treacy and Amiss. Treacy ideally would command Frampton’s attention as the most accomplished, while Voss needs somebody athletic to combat his movement. Amiss is physically weaker but still tall which means if Frampton and Howe take the first two it will again be left to Maynard to fill the breach.

 

[Pistol Night]

Hopefully Bobby ready for VFL this week as that could make him an outside chance for Anzac Day.
Watched Angry in the VFL against GWS and too good for VFL - takes the 1st option and quick decision maker.
I think he will be a permanent fixture in the AFL.

A surprise draft hit becoming a regular this soon would be awesome

 

[Apex36]

I think Howes may have played key defence today because no Cochran and TJ didn't train
But I wouldn't degrudge that move given I think we have enough forwards

Agree, all of West, Buller, Howes and McCarthy make us too top heavy up front, while we seem to have a pretty short defence, particularly with Smit spending a lot of time in the ruck.

Moving Howes makes the most sense imo.

 

[Piesinmyeyes]

Love the news about Bobby and trialling Howes in the backline.

Not sure I love Elliott spending more time on ball. We can't score as is so why are we moving him up the ground?

Two things that never work at Collingwood.
McStay in the ruck and Elliott on ball.
Both get bashed around unwelcomely