Training 2026 Training Reports

[DuckYeah]

Flicks!

has monkey dropped a couple?

 

[The Dingrel]

Used to call a mate of ours Darrell Lea after he had a few loose years, rocky road..

I have a Singaporean mate whose name IS Darrell Lee! And he is a bit loose too.

 

[DuckYeah]

CBA bull

You are joking arent you? The campaigner doesn’t chase when he is playing forward, we dont need more players in the middle of the ground that dont work defensively.

 

[The Nostradamus]

Initially we were scheduled for 7 period match sim vs dees now back to 4 quarters

Friday feb 20
Melbourne v North Melbourne, Casey Fields at 4.30pm (4 x 25-minute quarters, no time-on + 2-minute scenarios at the end of both Q3 and Q4)

 

[Ura]

Initially we were scheduled for 7 period match sim vs dees now back to 4 quarters

Friday feb 20
Melbourne v North Melbourne, Casey Fields at 4.30pm (4 x 25-minute quarters, no time-on + 2-minute scenarios at the end of both Q3 and Q4)

I wonder if they are just doing a vfl game after

 

[kool kangas]

Initially we were scheduled for 7 period match sim vs dees now back to 4 quarters

Friday feb 20
Melbourne v North Melbourne, Casey Fields at 4.30pm (4 x 25-minute quarters, no time-on + 2-minute scenarios at the end of both Q3 and Q4)

Will it be streamed?

 

[King Corey]

Do we contractually have to play Melbourne or Collingwood every preseason?

 

[Kanga Glory]

 

[DuckYeah]

View attachment 2513856

He has to play, lets see what he’s got. If he has a couple of mares then he can go to the scoobs. Two of Dovaston, Banshee and The shusher play. I would probably prefer to start with Banshee and Dova.

The Shusher can run around in the VFL and shush his heart away

 

[New_Roo]

Agree with everything in this post.

Cam is far from perfect, but he has 100% deserved his spot in the team these past few years and I doubt anyone will be good enough to take it from him in '26 (whether certain posters like it or not).
Which is why, in my mind, I don't see it as a straight Cam v BGZ contest for one spot. I'm hoping those 2 and Curtis can play in the same side (just requires one of them to have an impact outside the F50 as well as inside it - likely Cam as the occasional CBA bull or BGZ pushing up the field).

it is a straight swap if they are looking at playing 2 talls, 2 meds and 2 smalls though... even some talk of 3 smalls.... the 2 meds will be PC, Bull and Duurs... and PC you would think is a lock, and Bull has to be ahead of Duurs at this pt... cant see Bull pushed outside and there are 2 others in FOS and Kerch trying to get into that middle too...

all in all it has to be a good position to be in

 

[Chadwiko]

View attachment 2513856

Not mentioned: Zane Duursma.

Hmmm. If Dovastan, Curtis, Trembath, Konstanty, Zurhaar, and Larkey are all in the round 1 team... not sure where ZD fits.

 

[The Nostradamus]

Not mentioned: Zane Duursma.

Hmmm. If Dovastan, Curtis, Trembath, Konstanty, Zurhaar, and Larkey are all in the round 1 team... not sure where ZD fits.

would be rotating off the bench

 

[Big_H]

Based on what I saw at training yesterday, Konstanty is far ahead of Dovaston.

In the congestion drills trying to handball through a press JK looked strong and fast, breaking through a lot of tackles and charging with his legs. Dov wasn't as involved but looked clean and was handballing well.
Konstanty's kicking for goal was strong, and didn't miss a shot that I saw. On the other hand, havent been impressed with Dovaston's foot skills. His kicking style looks a bit dinkey and he missed all the shots I saw. They were taking snaps from the right hand side boundary (Darling, PC, Dov, and Spargo) and everyone was missing but Dov was spraying them. One of the coaches said: "you've been 'centering' a lot today Dov"

On the three trainings I've seen so far, JK looks fit and fast, Dov looks slower than expected and not as silky as I'd hoped. My money is on JK as a lock for round 1, and if we play 2 small forwards it will be either Dov or Banch.

This doesnt mean I'm riding off Dov by any means. He's 18 and would love to see his craftiness and game sense in the match sims. But he might be a slower burn than many of us hoped.

 

[Big_H]

I like spargo

His kicking at training was elite. Didn't miss a target. Will play a lot of games if he stays fit.

 

[New_Roo]

View attachment 2513856

no mention of Banshee

 

[Sticksphat]

I like chocolate bullets

Is this the "Things I like that aren't really any good for me" thread.

 

[Loose_Cannon]

Based on what I saw at training yesterday, Konstanty is far ahead of Dovaston.

In the congestion drills trying to handball through a press JK looked strong and fast, breaking through a lot of tackles and charging with his legs. Dov wasn't as involved but looked clean and was handballing well.
Konstanty's kicking for goal was strong, and didn't miss a shot that I saw. On the other hand, havent been impressed with Dovaston's foot skills. His kicking style looks a bit dinkey and he missed all the shots I saw. They were taking snaps from the right hand side boundary (Darling, PC, Dov, and Spargo) and everyone was missing but Dov was spraying them. One of the coaches said: "you've been 'centering' a lot today Dov"

On the three trainings I've seen so far, JK looks fit and fast, Dov looks slower than expected and not as silky as I'd hoped. My money is on JK as a lock for round 1, and if we play 2 small forwards it will be either Dov or Banch.

This doesnt mean I'm riding off Dov by any means. He's 18 and would love to see his craftiness and game sense in the match sims. But he might be a slower burn than many of us hoped.

A lot of chatter has been we should have taken Watson over Duursma, and that's now changed to "thank goodness we took Dovaston, he can be our Watson". I think people need to remember that it wasn't until the last third of 2024 before Watson actually hit his straps.

Kids take time, even small forwards where their differential attributes (speed and agility) are already close to their peak. It won't be the worst thing if he gets some experience in the VFL to start the year.

 

[New_Roo]

would be rotating off the bench

plus JD, plus Banch, plus Spargo... good competition for once...

 

[zoomba23]

His kicking at training was elite. Didn't miss a target. Will play a lot of games if he stays fit.

Was it elite in the way that Daniels' kicking last preseason was elite, subsequently coming to rather little because he was suddenly up against big scary opponents rather than North Melbourne?

 

[The Nostradamus]

Was it elite in the way that Daniels' kicking last preseason was elite, subsequently coming to rather little because he was suddenly up against big scary opponents rather than North Melbourne?

Also helps he is in the non contact hat so no one allowed to tackle him

Unfortunately that hat can’t be used in games

 

[ferball]

He has to play, lets see what he’s got. If he has a couple of mares then he can go to the scoobs. Two of Dovaston, Banshee and The shusher play. I would probably prefer to start with Banshee and Dova.

The Shusher can run around in the VFL and shush his heart away

The shusher does everything we wish the Honky would do. Last year repeatedly in games (and across the season) his work and pressure across the whole ground caused turnovers. Maybe not directly but because the player he was after knew they were under pressure they made errors and as a result the opposition chain broke down one or two p[ossessions down the track. If the other two can bring the same pressure then I don't mind them playing but if they can't we're shooting ourselves in the foot.

 

[shinboner magic]

The shusher does everything we wish the Honky would do. Last year repeatedly in games (and across the season) his work and pressure across the whole ground caused turnovers. Maybe not directly but because the player he was after knew they were under pressure they made errors and as a result the opposition chain broke down one or two p[ossessions down the track. If the other two can bring the same pressure then I don't mind them playing but if they can't we're shooting ourselves in the foot.

The guy can’t kick for goal to save himself

 

[kanga kanga kanga]

Some of you idiots are about to be proven wrong about jk.

 

[DuckYeah]

Some of you idiots are about to be proven wrong about jk.

Nah. Dont think so. No one questions his tenacity. He’s just not great with ball in hand or making good football decisions. Shushing the crowd when 15 goals down is on point

 

[Krakouer Bonar]

Image: Krakouer Bonar finally erupts after years of mentally one upping on North Melbourne forum posters

Mentally one upping on North Melbourne forum posters. Oh boy.......what an ambition and chievement THAT would be.