2026 Pre-Season Thread

[Mr Ripper]

Drafts are done and the boys are back on the track on Monday.

Let’s go!

 

[rye]

word around the trailer park is that the houses are officially being TRAINED DOWN

 

[Surly Boy]

Fages has already met with the player's partners and stressed the need for sacrifices for the good of the team.

 

[irel]

Drafts are done and the boys are back on the track on Monday.

Let’s go!

View attachment 2483167

Can't wait for the photo montage Mr Rip.

 

[JasRulz63]

Mike Whiting on The Roar Deal podcast mentioned there was group of 15-20 guys doing an unofficial running session late last/early this week, and that Logan Morris was going very well.

 

[scoman]

word around the trailer park is that the houses are officially being TRAINED DOWN

Can confirm the rumour! We had dinner in Hawthorn the other night for my birthday. Drove around Balmoral and Bulimba before heading home. Saw a couple of houses down.

 

[mpal6]

Wonder if Annable would be game to take Starcevich's role. Seems to have the size, strength, added running power. Not sure if he'll adapt to playing defense.

 

[Nathan Barley]

Wonder if Annable would be game to take Starcevich's role. Seems to have the size, strength, added running power. Not sure if he'll adapt to playing defense.

C'mon

 

[mpal6]

C'mon

C'mon what.. have to start somewhere. Why not in defense

 

[scoman]

Wonder if Annable would be game to take Starcevich's role. Seems to have the size, strength, added running power. Not sure if he'll adapt to playing defense.

We have plenty of options covering Starce imho. Brain, McKenna, Doedee to start with. Even Wilmott, Lester or Fletcher might be in for a bit of a role change while waiting on an Answerth return.

Sure, Evans, Tunstil or someone else might be given a role in the reserves to see if they could handle it, but I still see those options well down the list, at least for 2026.

 

[Nathan Barley]

C'mon what.. have to start somewhere. Why not in defense

Well I think we've ticked off every single player on the list now as a Starce replacement that we don't need so hopefully thats the end of it

 

[Nunez]

I am still backing Cam Rayner down back and I don't care what Elixuh says!

 

[scoman]

I am still backing Cam Rayner down back and I don't care what Elixuh says!

He's on his way!

 

[knaf]

Well I think we've ticked off every single player on the list now as a Starce replacement that we don't need so hopefully thats the end of it

No one’s mentioned Fort!

As he said we have to fit Annable in somewhere. Fages often picks best available to fill a position. On the other hand Annable may be seen as the AhChee replacement.

 

[Nathan Barley]

No one’s mentioned Fort!

As he said we have to fit Annable in somewhere. Fages often picks best available to fill a position. On the other hand Annable may be seen as the AhChee replacement.

Not his replacement but he'll take his spot

 

[Grasshopper17]

Not his replacement but he'll take his spot

Maybe takes some of the midfield time Zac had late in the season. And/or Neale even.

I'm more interested to see what we do to replace Starcevich. Very difficult role to replace given Starce's versatility. In a similar vein it wouldn't surprise me to fill the role across multiple personnel, Moneyball style.

Big summer coming up for Kiddy Coleman. Make or break. Had the difficult 2025 I suspected he'd have but no excuses come opening round 2026. Get the body right, get fit, be in the team. Then we get to solve the problem of who plays the lockdown role(s). With Zorko, Coleman, Wilmot and Fletcher all coming off half back and the latter two in particular having shown an ability to adapt their role to what the team needs, I think we can do it by committee.

I think that will be Plan A before we look to the likes of Doedee and Brain. Fages has shown a preference for picking the best 23 players wherever possible and finding a role for them, rather than the reverse.

 

[mpal6]

Well I think we've ticked off every single player on the list now as a Starce replacement that we don't need so hopefully thats the end of it

First round players have provided great returns for us lately when they're able to find a spot and blend into our system early. Considering Annable comes with big wraps and has excelled in every challenge in the junior level - it's worth considering him for that spot in defense.

He could play in either of Ah Chee or Starcevich spots - but I feel Starce role is more important and will give Annable a bigger challenge.

 

[mpal6]

Maybe takes some of the midfield time Zac had late in the season. And/or Neale even.

I'm more interested to see what we do to replace Starcevich. Very difficult role to replace given Starce's versatility. In a similar vein it wouldn't surprise me to fill the role across multiple personnel, Moneyball style.

Big summer coming up for Kiddy Coleman. Make or break. Had the difficult 2025 I suspected he'd have but no excuses come opening round 2026. Get the body right, get fit, be in the team. Then we get to solve the problem of who plays the lockdown role(s). With Zorko, Coleman, Wilmot and Fletcher all coming off half back and the latter two in particular having shown an ability to adapt their role to what the team needs, I think we can do it by committee.

I think that will be Plan A before we look to the likes of Doedee and Brain. Fages has shown a preference for picking the best 23 players wherever possible and finding a role for them, rather than the reverse.

Both Doedee and Coleman - defense role is their bread and butter - so before some newbie gazumps it, they better step up.

 

[Nathan Barley]

First round players have provided great returns for us lately when they're able to find a spot and blend into our system early. Considering Annable comes with big wraps and has excelled in every challenge in the junior level - it's worth considering him for that spot in defense.

He could play in either of Ah Chee or Starcevich spots - but I feel Starce role is more important and will give Annable a bigger challenge.

Do you feel we're in a position where we should give someone a big challenge instead of letting players play their best role?

 

[Happy_Neale]

Wouldn’t we just play Gardiner in the Starce role? Especially with Payne coming back

 

[Happy_Neale]

First round players have provided great returns for us lately when they're able to find a spot and blend into our system early. Considering Annable comes with big wraps and has excelled in every challenge in the junior level - it's worth considering him for that spot in defense.

He could play in either of Ah Chee or Starcevich spots - but I feel Starce role is more important and will give Annable a bigger challenge.

I think stepping up to AFL level is a big enough challenge in and of itself without also asking him to play a role he’s never played before!

 

[mpal6]

Do you feel we're in a position where we should give someone a big challenge instead of letting players play their best role?

We gave a challenge to Levi Ashcroft to learn playing wing last year rather than keep playing his best role (inside mid) in reserves. I'm just using the logic that's worked for us recently and applying the same to Annable.

 

[Nathan Barley]

We gave a challenge to Levi Ashcroft to learn playing wing last year rather than keep playing his best role (inside mid) in reserves. I'm just using the logic that's worked for us recently and applying the same to Annable.

We didnt have several wing options sitting in the reserves

 

[Grasshopper17]

Wouldn’t we just play Gardiner in the Starce role? Especially with Payne coming back

It's a fair question. I guess the thought I was trying to convey is that Gardiner would probably do fine on a Dangerfield, Cripps, Bontempelli type. However I think asking him to play on a Rankine, Papley or Stengle type would be heart in mouth areas. Obviously we could trust him to give 110% but the question mark would be on his agility when the ball hits the ground.

That's why I feel like we might try to fill the Starce position by committee, with guys like Gardiner, Lester, Fletcher and Wilmot all given jobs Starce would have got in 2024 and 2025, depending on the nature of the opponent.

 

[Nathan Barley]

It's a fair question. I guess the thought I was trying to convey is that Gardiner would probably do fine on a Dangerfield, Cripps, Bontempelli type. However I think asking him to play on a Rankine, Papley or Stengle type would be heart in mouth areas. Obviously we could trust him to give 110% but the question mark would be on his agility when the ball hits the ground.

That's why I feel like we might try to fill the Starce position by committee, with guys like Gardiner, Lester, Fletcher and Wilmot all given jobs Starce would have got in 2024 and 2025, depending on the nature of the opponent.

Until Noah is back