2026 Pre-Season Thread

[Dalions]

Good news about Noz if true

He was running really strongly last week.

 

[Section 5]

AFL pre-season injury check in: Who’s been hit the worst? Who’s racing the clock for round one?

Answerth for round 1 with a torn achilles suffered in early July would be a good recovery time

 

[Dalions]

Answerth for round 1 with a torn achilles suffered in early July would be a good recovery time

When did Draper do his?
Seems reasonably quick for him too, but I don’t really follow Essendon to know

 

[Perrip]

When did Draper do his?
Seems reasonably quick for him too, but I don’t really follow Essendon to know

Around middle of April I think? So a few months before Noz's injury.

 

[PattyKwasagun]

Lincoln McCarthy and Tom Doedee are progressing well with their ACL rehabilitation.

Did I miss something? When did Doedee do an ACL again? I thought his most recent one was in 2024.

No mention of Payne too - wonder how far off he is. To memory, the early prognosis was Rounds 4-7.

 

[Perrip]

No mention of Payne too - wonder how far off he is. To memory, the early prognosis was Rounds 4-7.

Patella tendon recovery time is normally around 12 months I think.

 

[Dalions]

Did I miss something? When did Doedee do an ACL again? I thought his most recent one was in 2024.

No mention of Payne too - wonder how far off he is. To memory, the early prognosis was Rounds 4-7.

Thinking back to training last week, Payne is maybe the one out of the full list that I did not see there at all.

 

[BuntonRules]

Thinking back to training last week, Payne is maybe the one out of the full list that I did not see there at all.

Probably home, cuddling the pillow, heartbroken.

 

[Saucery]

When did Draper do his?
Seems reasonably quick for him too, but I don’t really follow Essendon to know

Yes, they seem to have trouble with both injuries and rehabbing the players, might be to do with all the falling uncles landing on them

 

[Perrip]

Interesting rticle regarding rule changes this season and how clubs will approach them in game.
How clubs plan to navigate rule changes in 2026

5th on the bench:

• A de facto sub or impact player used minimally before the end of each quarter
• A second ruck if clubs have key forwards that can't be a 2nd ruck.

Quicker throw ups:

• Taller mid to take ruck duties
• Designated ruck in forward or back line

 

[Saucery]

"It's dependent on personnel, but the five on the bench will make things hard. If you've got key forwards who are good second rucks, that's what it comes down to. If you don't, you might need a second as that fifth player," said one coach.

Early trends emerge as clubs adjust to rule changes

Clubs are weighing up tactical tweaks and selection strategies as they work through a suite of new rule changes ahead of the season

www.afl.com.au

 

[Saucery]

The only genuine injury concerns for the two-time premiers are key position players Eric Hipwood

30

Eric Hipwood

Age

28

Ht

204cm

Wt

94kg

Pos.

Fwd

Career

Season

Last 5

D

10.0

3star

K

7.4

3star

HB

2.6

2star

M

3.9

4star

T

1.3

3star

G

1.5

5star

D

11.1

3star

K

8.4

3star

HB

2.7

2star

M

4.1

4star

T

1.1

2star

G

1.1

5star

D

10.6

3star

K

8.4

4star

HB

2.2

2star

M

3.6

4star

T

1.6

4star

G

2.4

5star

and Jack Payne, who are both recovering from knee surgeries and will miss the start of the season.

New Lions on track for season start as defender impresses

Key Brisbane players are recovering well from injury ahead of their crack at a third premiership

www.afl.com.au

 

[Sproj]

Great news if only two players (plus possibly Doedee pulling up stumps) not being available.

 

[mpal6]

When one of the key forwards is Daniher it makes things a lot easier. Big awkward guy to handle who's able to get it on he ground. Hipwood rucking looked half a disaster. McStay was just a prop. The guy last year from the GC was better but not really worth a spot. Tbh Gallop looks really likely in the role and has the grunt for it but why mess up his career now at his age.

Maybe Allen can ruck , but wouldn't be overkeen on risking him either.

May be we'll trial Hipwood to play as our Blicavs but more a high half forward who can provide ruck relief on wing and around the ground when our main ruck can't make it to every stoppage. Hipwood is the ideal tall forward we have with big tank, agility and capacity to cover ground. Park him on CHF and then motor him to wing stoppages when needed so this may be worth a try.

I was thinking Dunkley otherwise but he's too valuable as our defensive mid and I really hate using him on this stop-gap role. None of the other mids would play full defense (apart from Berry maybe if he plays through middle). We're thin on that front so can't really sacrifice Dunks.

 

[martinson]

May be we'll trial Hipwood to play as our Blicavs but more a high half forward who can provide ruck relief on wing and around the ground when our main ruck can't make it to every stoppage. Hipwood is the ideal tall forward we have with big tank, agility and capacity to cover ground. Park him on CHF and then motor him to wing stoppages when needed so this may be worth a try.

I was thinking Dunkley otherwise but he's too valuable as our defensive mid and I really hate using him on this stop-gap role. None of the other mids would play full defense (apart from Berry maybe if he plays through middle). We're thin on that front so can't really sacrifice Dunks.

I'm fairly sure we'll go with 2 rucks until it's conclusive that that's not working.

Agree on Dunkley ,makes no sense at all to risk him in that role. Hipwood's coming back from an ACL so it's still to be seen what he's capable of in 2026 .

Has to be Draper and Fort for mine. Or just get someone to stand there and bank on getting it when it hits the deck. Maybe Fort can clunk a few more marks as the No 2 and not exhausting himself as he has done as the No 1.

 

[Lace Out]

Be mostly horses for courses won’t it ? Assess the various opposition teams for negating/exploiting

I can’t see one strategy being a constant

 

[McLuggages]

Just had a crack at best 23 (with more focus on names than roles) - the list squeeze is real.

It's going to be very hard for a draftee, or a breakout to crack the side.

Probably one spot for one of:

• Charlie, Linc, McLachlan
• Marshall, Bruce or Kiddy (not comparable roles I know)
• Levi or Annabel - I assume Levi has it for now.

Def

1. Andrews
2. Payne (Lester)
3. Gardiner
4. Noz
5. Willmott
6. Zorko


Mid/Wing

1. Fort
2. Neale
3. Dunkley
4. Mcclugage
5. W. Ashcroft
6. J Berry


Fwd:

1. Allen
2. Morris
3. Draper
4. Bailey
5. Lohmann
6. Rayner


I/C from:

1. Fletcher
2. Levi
3. Charlie
4. Gallop
5. Kiddy

------

6. Annabel
7. Marshall
8. Bruce
9. Linc
10. Will Mc

 

[rye]

Just had a crack at best 23 (with more focus on names than roles) - the list squeeze is real.

It's going to be very hard for a draftee, or a breakout to crack the side.

Probably one spot for one of:

• Charlie, Linc, McLachlan
• Marshall, Bruce or Kiddy (not comparable roles I know)
• Levi or Annabel - I assume Levi has it for now.

Def

1. Andrews
2. Payne (Lester)
3. Gardiner
4. Noz
5. Willmott
6. Zorko


Mid/Wing

1. Fort
2. Neale
3. Dunkley
4. Mcclugage
5. W. Ashcroft
6. J Berry


Fwd:

1. Allen
2. Morris
3. Draper
4. Bailey
5. Lohmann
6. Rayner


I/C from:

1. Fletcher
2. Levi
3. Charlie
4. Gallop
5. Kiddy

------

6. Annabel
7. Marshall
8. Bruce
9. Linc
10. Will Mc

if we want apples for apples, id prefer bruce or mclachlan in the side over coleman to try emulate the ah chee role. i think they have better skills for it.

mclachlan in particular has a lot of traits that i really like. needs to find a way to stay involved in games though.

otherwise i think youve nailed it.

 

[dlanod]

if we want apples for apples

Fagan consistently picks his best four ruck/forward talls and 18/19 best available from the rest, and then shoe horns players around based off where he could get them to fit.

I don't think that's going to change now.

 

[Nuggo]

Each year at the start our opinion of best 23 is a reflection from last year, and rightly so from a certain angle, but there is always a surprise or two. Who will be the surprise this year. Or is this the year whereby there too many good players that are back from injury dictating no rookies.

 

[Section 5]

Fagan has mentioned Coleman up forward so i assume that is to fill the Ah- Chee role.
He may be just trying to find a spot for Coleman in the team.
It is much easier playing that half back role than any forward line role.

If Fagan wants an experienced player i would consider McCarthy in that Ah-Chee role assuming he does all training sessions.
Getting older being one of 5 players on our list over 32 years of age. The other 4 played in the last 2 grand final wins

McCarthy last AFL game was May 5th, 2024. No VFL games in that time.
Coleman last AFL game was May 18th, 2025. Only played 1 AFL game in 2024 round O in March. 5 VFL games in 2025

The early choice is 2 experienced players both with injury concerns since early 2024 over a younger player.
Reville is versatile so he is a big chance to retain his spot in the team and play forward if pushed out of midfield
McLachlan played 6 games last year, 3 as sub and 1 subbed off.
McKenna will be okay but i think he is on the fringe now.
We don't have many others to choose from other than the draftees. A midfielder can always play forward so maybe Annable

 

[Nathan Barley]

This photo clears up the question marks around Tay Hayes height. Must be around 190cm

 

[briztoon]

This photo clears up the question marks around Tay Hayes height. Must be around 190cm

View attachment 2512760

Who is the new sponsor on the shorts?

 

[mighty_lions]

Who is the new sponsor on the shorts?

orange juice company, tasty

 

[Mr Ripper]

Who is the new sponsor on the shorts?