2026 Pre-Season Thread

[Denno]

Could be an innocuous comment like "he needs to get confidence in his body back" that's been taken out of context.

If it's the same one I was at, the above was pretty much it. Doedee isn't/wasn't "done", but Fagan certainly wasn't brimming with confidence when TD was discussed.

Sounds like he'll be a slow build at best.

 

[Perrip]

Do we think the 5th interchange will be used for a ruck? I know it's been almost assumed that it would. But after watching Neale in the GF and remembering J Lyons coming on as a sub late in his career, is there an argument for playing another mid on the bench, maybe even giving them limited minutes until the second half? Might we see clubs doing this with their ageing veterans? Could it also be a way to bring another kid into the game, managing their minutes? Could it be a way to get Kiddy into the game in rotation with Zorko?

Someone above in the thread commented Fages said at an event that he thinks they'll go with two rucks with 5 on the bench - Fort & Draper.

 

[scoman]

Someone above in the thread commented Fages said at an event that he thinks they'll go with two rucks with 5 on the bench - Fort & Draper.

That's right, I remember that, as well as it being mentioned by a number of media types as the news broke. It seems the general consensus is the two rucks. Time will tell, I guess. I have created a thread on the main board to see if it's something that is of interest/ worthy of discussion.

 

[Lace Out]

We win flags with Tom on our list he’s our 680k pa lucky charm

 

[BuntonRules]

Just wait for the FOX (er DANZ) doco.

Real WAGS of Brisbane?

 

[carry on]

I have no inside word but I can’t imagine a more likely coincidence. Two afl players at the same club have relationships that breakdown, who f-ing cares!

This is an embarrassing affront to journalism. Lachie’s thing played out over social media and involved the breakup of a marriage. I don’t like that it is newsworthy these days but it is and Lachie’s only got himself to blame.

Payne is a nobody nationally. This was not his wife, and he doesn’t have kids. No reason this should be a story - he probably didn’t do something great but it isn’t news.

They didn’t bother to write up specific details on relationships being affected after Nashville (cough C Ray… cough).

Agree it is not newsworthy, but one of the parties seems to be socially obsessed with building a profile. Heard she dated a cricketer previously.

 

[Johnny Bananas]

Having two players at the same club have personal relationships end the same way in the same time frame, seems like more than a coincidence tbh.

More than a coincidence? What do you mean? Were Lachie and Payne having an affair with each other?

 

[p4p1]

Do we think the 5th interchange will be used for a ruck? I know it's been almost assumed that it would. But after watching Neale in the GF and remembering J Lyons coming on as a sub late in his career, is there an argument for playing another mid on the bench, maybe even giving them limited minutes until the second half? Might we see clubs doing this with their ageing veterans? Could it also be a way to bring another kid into the game, managing their minutes? Could it be a way to get Kiddy into the game in rotation with Zorko?

I’m not sure you would give anyone limited minutes until the second half. I imagine that everyone getting a. It more of a rest will be better for the team than one guy saving himself until the second half. With an extra 25% on the bench but no change in the rotations it will be interesting to see how teams manage that extra player to make sure they don’t go over the cap.
I think our issue compared to the Joe days is we don’t have a key forward who we could risk playing 20% or so time in the ruck.
If the umpires actually throw the ball up straight away as we have been told they would, rather than waiting for nominated rucks to get there, it would mean a Dunks/Gallop/Dizzy etc to take the duties. That could limit the importance of a second dedicated ruck.

 

[briztoon]

I’m not sure you would give anyone limited minutes until the second half. I imagine that everyone getting a. It more of a rest will be better for the team than one guy saving himself until the second half. With an extra 25% on the bench but no change in the rotations it will be interesting to see how teams manage that extra player to make sure they don’t go over the cap.
I think our issue compared to the Joe days is we don’t have a key forward who we could risk playing 20% or so time in the ruck.
If the umpires actually throw the ball up straight away as we have been told they would, rather than waiting for nominated rucks to get there, it would mean a Dunks/Gallop/Dizzy etc to take the duties. That could limit the importance of a second dedicated ruck.

Melbourne reportedly already training for this, using a tall midfielder as their second ruck.

 

[davemc_lions]

Melbourne reportedly already training for this, using a tall midfielder as their second ruck.

Yes you think around the ground will not always be the ruck. So yes Dunks, Allen, Dizzy maybe in defence.
Do not forget Charle can as well
You think you play one of Draper or Fort not both.
Although saying that if you want to take advantage having a real ruck, you need to keep them fresh with some bench time.

 

[Quigley]

Now that we are into the post Christmas hopefully there will be a bit more substantive training than to date. Like many I would really appreciate any reports from those attending training.

Here are a few things I am interested in which I hope people might be able to answer.

Lloyd - how is he looking and where is he training? With Ah Chee leaving we could use a replacement utility and with Lloyd playing in defence last year he could, on paper, be a nice replacement. Were I him I would have really tried to up my running power. Ah Chee gave us a good medium marker down the wing that we needed and Lloyd could do the same and if he could become a running utility he could give us cover in a large number of spots. Bit of a long shot but I do like Lloyd and wouldn’t mind seeing get a go.

Smith - I am hoping that there is a big focus on his rucking. We have put a lot of time into developing his forward craft but let’s be honest if he is going to make it it will be as a ruck and now is the time that we should be dedicating to improving his craft there.

Curtin - which end is he playing? Personally I hope it is forward. I really like his hands and I think him as a deep forward and second ruck would really balance our side. He is the first guy in a while who I have confidence would actually be pretty good in that role. Down back I worry that he might lack the pace to be truly effective.

Annable - how does his kicking looking? He improved a lot last year but I still have concerns when facing AFL players who close distance more quickly and AFL systems that give him a narrower window. Overall I am not expecting him to be the rising star this year but just come and look like he belongs.

Fletcher - I assume will still be with the backs. He was basically playing at all Australian level down back last year and with Starc leaving I think his defensive role will increase. He reads the play exceptionally well and behind the ball getting the ball into his hands more only helps the team.

Marshall - just interested in how he is going generally. He surprised me how quickly he adapted to AFL standard and it will be interesting to see if he can take another step forward this year.

Torrent - which group is he training with? There will be more onball opportunities at VFL level for him but it is hard to see him getting a chance there at AFL level so it might be better to try and breakthrough with another group. His kicking can be a real weapon and if he plays a role where he can get a fair bit of it in space he could impress.

Murphy - how does the young Irishman look and where are we looking at playing him?

 

[SpecialBruce]

Fages said TomD is unfortunately unlikely to play AFL again, has lost all confidence in his body.

Everyone shouldn't be surprised at the TD development. I was saying it last year he is done as an AFL footballer.

 

[dlanod]

Everyone shouldn't be surprised at the TD development. I was saying it last year he is done as an AFL footballer.

I don't think anyone is necessarily surprised if it's true., we're more surprised if our coach said explicitly something like that, especially given we've generally been quiet close-mouthed on player statuses since Fagan has been in charge. It's very uncharacteristic.

 

[Dalions]

When I first got to training the other day, there were 4 training together and against each other in ruck contests.
Draper, Fort, Smith and Gallop.
All other talls were with other groups.

 

[dlanod]

Pretty sure he'd be a restricted free agent under the existing rules, as this will be eight years with us and I'm sure he's in our top earners.

The FA rules have been tweaked several times though and I don't know we've had a case where someone's hitting FA for the first time after 14 years in the comp, so the AFL might have snuck in a caveat somewhere that over ten years and becoming a FA for the first time is automatically UFA.

Somewhat confirmed:

Neale is expected to be a restricted free agent, given he is coming into his eighth year at the Lions and would be in the club's top 25 per cent of paid players. The AFL will release the restricted and unrestricted bandings when it officially announces the free agency list around the start of the season.

Who's on the table? Updated list of 2026 free agents revealed

More than 100 players are eligible for free agency in 2026, including some of the biggest names in the game

www.afl.com.au

 

[Clarkythelion]

Payne’s split was back in October and wasn’t a long-term relationship. It’s a headline grab for clicks.

yes and the relationship was only 8 months long. It's a sad thing about social media - clicks = revenue. someone close to the girl released the story and it just happened to have the instagram account in it. everyone rushes to the profile to see what she looks like, clicks go up, "influencer" status is reached and they start getting advertising revenue through. same with the Courier Mail, they make is sound another marriage has blown up through cheating and being caught without crossing the line for liable. It happens, let's not be distracted about young people and short term relationships.

 

[SRH17]

yes and the relationship was only 8 months long. It's a sad thing about social media - clicks = revenue. someone close to the girl released the story and it just happened to have the instagram account in it. everyone rushes to the profile to see what she looks like, clicks go up, "influencer" status is reached and they start getting advertising revenue through. same with the Courier Mail, they make is sound another marriage has blown up through cheating and being caught without crossing the line for liable. It happens, let's not be distracted about young people and

 

[SizeMatters]

I’m sure the WAGs group chat would make for interesting reading over the last few weeks.

**** these WAGs. Every club has cheating culture. Why do Lions WAGs need to dob on each others partners!!! Let the boys be boys.

 

[carry on]

I don't think anyone is necessarily surprised if it's true., we're more surprised if our coach said explicitly something like that, especially given we've generally been quiet close-mouthed on player statuses since Fagan has been in charge. It's very uncharacteristic.

IF it is true.

 

[mighty_lions]

anyone know what time they train on Fridays Mr Ripper ?

 

[Mr Ripper]

anyone know what time they train on Fridays Mr Ripper ?

8

 

[briztoon]

IF it is true.

Welcome, Mr Payne.

 

[carry on]

Welcome, Mr Payne.

your welcome

 

[martinson]

I think we'll be trialling Kiddy in the Ah Chee role.

 

[martinson]

Payne splits from girlfriend. Whoaaa.I think I need to digest this one before commenting.

It's one thing after another now isn't it.

Let's hope it doesn't derail our pre season.