Training 2026 Pre Season & Training Reports

[Kanga Glory]

When I whinge they listen

You’re welcome bigfooty

The Nostrils are flaring

 

[zoomba23]

Definitely poo flavoured ice cream.

Ice cream flavoured poo is shit.

What if you closed your eyes? The consistency would end up feeling similar-ish but one would taste far better

 

[kanga kanga kanga]

How's the dov going? Haven't heard much.

Hasn’t lost kanga lotto yet

 

[hotchilli]

I found this amusing on our site atm
How do we not know when the players first day back is?

Training times

AFL​

TBC

Does it really matter though? Go enjoy your Christmas and have a look in the new year.

 

[Star]

Definitely poo flavoured ice cream.

Ice cream flavoured poo is shit.

Welcome back mate!

 

[ferball]

Cheers.

 

[Kanga Glory]

Cheers.

 

[Chip Scab1]

Does it really matter though? Go enjoy your Christmas and have a look in the new year.

Ken oath it does. How can we possibly improve if we can't even schedule training appropriately... in a timely and efficient manner.

Absolutely disgraceful conduct and makes me question everything in life.

 

[hotchilli]

Ken oath it does. How can we possibly improve if we can't even schedule training appropriately... in a timely and efficient manner.

Absolutely disgraceful conduct and makes me question everything in life.

 

[Hatchy1992]

Ken oath it does. How can we possibly improve if we can't even schedule training appropriately... in a timely and efficient manner.

Absolutely disgraceful conduct and makes me question everything in life.

Im pretty sure they're tied by the aflpa agreement.

 

[Dinkers]

I drove past the botanic gardens today and saw the Collingwood guys running up a steep hill walking back down then running back up, on repeat.

Working on stamina, I hope our guys are doing more than running laps.

Yes can confirm we are doing similar, we run down the hill and slowly walk back up it.

 

[King Corey]

Yes can confirm we are doing similar, we run down the hill and slowly walk back up it.

We also do lots of partner assisted chinups so both the chinner and the spotter get training benefits at the same time.

More efficient and cuts down total training time to satisfy the AFLPA CBA.

Innovators.

 

[shinboner magic]

Yes can confirm we are doing similar, we run down the hill and slowly walk back up it.

Can confirm Uber Roo gives the guys a lift back up the hill

 

[King Corey]

Can confirm Uber Roo gives the guys a lift back up the hill

Lol

 

[rickety]

I drove past the botanic gardens today and saw the Collingwood guys running up a steep hill walking back down then running back up, on repeat.

Working on stamina, I hope our guys are doing more than running laps.

Who’s their fitness coach, the grand old Duke of York??

 

[SMaturin]

 

[Ratdweller]

Getting parking at Ballarat is a bitch, I can see it now 35 degrees driving an hour and a half, walking 6ks just to get in the ground ( if it’s not full) and cooking on the outer, that’s what I remember about Ballarat that time of year.

Looking forward to it

Capacity at Mars Stadium will still be reduced to about 6000 due to ongoing construction, but all of the available seats will be under cover. The reduced capacity means that parking will not be as difficult. The ground has its limitations ATM because of the redevelopment works, including no large video scoreboard available ATM (The old 50 square metre board is being re-purposed for the new athletics centre next door, while a new 124 square metre board will be installed in June next year at the top of the Southern grassed hill). When it's finished around June next year it will be an excellent boutique stadium. My advice at this stage is that if you want to see the pre-season game against Collingwood, to book as early as possible.

The image below was taken two months ago and construction has moved forward significantly since then with the roofs on each stand well advanced, but half of the perimeter (The left half in this photo will be completely inaccessible in March.

 

[kanga kanga kanga]

Where’s the poster of the year thread?

 

[gokangas]

Where’s the poster of the year thread?

I've already accepted the award based on overall excellence, rather than have to waste a thread on non worthy entries.

 

[DesertRoo]

I've already accepted the award based on overall excellence, rather than have to waste a thread on non worthy entries.

 

[ansonholt]

Does anyone know when training starts again, traditionally, after the Christmas/NY break?

Keen to get down to the ground and have a look at how our men are travelling.

 

[Shinboner1]

Does anyone know when training starts again, traditionally, after the Christmas/NY break?

Keen to get down to the ground and have a look at how our men are travelling.

Usually come back around the 2nd week of jan

 

[Gasometer]

Ken oath it does. How can we possibly improve if we can't even schedule training appropriately... in a timely and efficient manner.

Absolutely disgraceful conduct and makes me question everything in life.

“Everything in life”

 

[Gasometer]

I must say how surprised I was being in Launceston recently that the ground is very close to Accomodation etc.

I had this idea from tv that it was way out of town.

No that shot of the paddocks is Launceston suburbs

Anyway had I researched better I may have gone to more games and waited outside

 

[Ratdweller]

I am going on the record here to state my opinion that I don't believe that the three Community Series games in late February and early March should be at Mars Stadium as I have a few issues with these three games and it is certainly not Ballarat bashing. Firstly, the ground ATM is nowhere near an AFL standard for spectator capacity. It will only hold around 5000 while construction works continue. In fairness, those 5000 will be comfortable and sufficiently catered for, but it's only 5000 when it's likely that demand will be for two or three times that many who will want to attend. Further, there is no adequate scoreboard ATM with the existing video scoreboard having been removed and a new larger one not being installed until June. There is the question of injuries, where I believe that the pre-season series should be played no later than at least two weeks prior to the main H&A season to make due allowance for concussion rules and any other injuries that players may sustain. But the ground cannot host these games any earlier.

There is another issue that nobody in Melbourne is aware of. That is that only two weeks before this pre-season game, Mars Stadium's surface will be covered with dirt and seats while it hosts a BMX spectacular. It begs the question of what the stadium's surface condition will be like only two weeks after that event when there will have been mounds of dirt and some 6000 seats placed on its surface before these three football games?

If Ballarat is to host these three games in compensation for losing matches for the 2025-26 seasons, then make up for it in 2027 when the stadium is actually ready to do so. Yes in 2027, Mars Stadium will be a perfect pre-season venue that is ready to showcase the best of Ballarat. That's just my opinion.

To put it in perspective for those unfamiliar with the ground, note that the photo below was taken only two weeks ago and clearly shows that half of the stadium (the forward or Southern half in this shot) is completely out of action for accommodating spectators with new stands under construction and the southern spectator hill being redeveloped. The redevelopment (including the new athletics complex) is not due for completion until June/July 2026.