Training 2026 Pre Season Training Thread

[zyzzbruh]

Absolutely no issue with the “new” approach.

However …. (and here comes DQ the grinch again):

We attempted to play like that quite a bit last year. Occasionally it worked, but when quality teams shut down the corridor, we had no Plan B.

Don’t believe me? - look at the game day and autopsy threads from our losses in 2025.

Can we negate the “shut down the corridor” strategy of opposition coaches? Not sure.

Will Errol make all the difference? Not sure.

Can we find a viable Plan B? Not sure.

I read nothing into who is “carving it up” in match sims. Footage today had Isaac Heeney without an opponent within 10m! It’s in no way representative of an AFL game.

For me, I’m hopeful - but the jury will remain out until about Round 5.

You'd think the way around it is to in those instances pretend the wing is the middle? Slowly peel off the defensive zone the oppo has built across the middle. I feel like there's this subconscious thing where once the ball is on a wing side it automatically reverts to long ball. Really tho, it's still a straight strip of grass albeit one side blocked by the boundary. When we do successfully overlap through the middle it's not like we use much width in those instances.

Of course it won't be as fruitful as having width to your advantage, but would still rather a conscious effort to play the way we want to play rather than reverting to the dump kick.

 

[joeykanga]

Absolutely no issue with the “new” approach.

However …. (and here comes DQ the grinch again):

We attempted to play like that quite a bit last year. Occasionally it worked, but when quality teams shut down the corridor, we had no Plan B.

Don’t believe me? - look at the game day and autopsy threads from our losses in 2025.

Can we negate the “shut down the corridor” strategy of opposition coaches? Not sure.

Will Errol make all the difference? Not sure.

Can we find a viable Plan B? Not sure.

I read nothing into who is “carving it up” in match sims. Footage today had Isaac Heeney without an opponent within 10m! It’s in no way representative of an AFL game.

For me, I’m hopeful - but the jury will remain out until about Round 5.

Maybe the emphasis is more handballing and run rather than kick which can be blocked off. And sticking to it for longer patches

 

[joeykanga]

Zero video footage taken i assume :*(?

We used to get full intra club matches available to download once upon a time.

Swans v Swans practice match highlights | Inside Sydney

Go behind the scenes for our first intra-club practice match as we look ahead to our pre-season clash with the Bulldogs on the 19th of February.

www.sydneyswans.com.au

 

[bedford]

Maybe the emphasis is more handballing and run rather than kick which can be blocked off. And sticking to it for longer patches

Maybe we wait another 26 days lol and hope it's not raining

 

[Punts]

Hambling good Nic

Reckon he might line up r0

 

[Adnico26Parker]

Boys are now on a 4 day mini break, going by what was said at the end of the latest match sim video

Presuming Coxy is away for the coming week for Origin on Saturday, so one of the assistants will no doubt oversee training this week. Presumably there'll be a final intraclub sim at some point?

Then onto the Bulldogs Thursday week!

 

[Jimbo OZ]

Hambling good Nic

Reckon he might line up r0

Two questions:

1. Who’s Nic?
2. If Hamling plays round 0. Who doesn’t play? Who is your predicted back 7?

 

[ErrolisGoldun]

Two questions:

1. Who’s Nic?
2. If Hamling plays round 0. Who doesn’t play? Who is your predicted back 7?

Back 7 injury permitting should be the following:

McCartin, Melican, Serong
Lizard, Mills, Wicks, Cunningham

Seems like - Rampe battling Serong and Bowman, Bice could be included for Lizard or added additionally, Hamling would be in for either tallest 3, maybe knocks Serong off?

Rampe probs the stiffest to miss, more based on future proof I got

 

[Sausageroll111]

Back 7 injury permitting should be the following:

McCartin, Melican, Serong
Lizard, Mills, Wicks, Cunningham

Seems like - Rampe battling Serong and Bowman, Bice could be included for Lizard or added additionally, Hamling would be in for either tallest 3, maybe knocks Serong off?

Rampe probs the stiffest to miss, more based on future proof I got

I do question whether we need 3 talls plus Blakey for opening round against Carlton. Bice would give us a bit more run (suiting this supposed new gameplan), particularly if picking Wicks and Cunningham who are both strictly lockdown.

 

[Bloods86]

I do question whether we need 3 talls plus Blakey for opening round against Carlton. Bice would give us a bit more run (suiting this supposed new gameplan), particularly if picking Wicks and Cunningham who are both strictly lockdown.

Easiest solution is to not consider Blakey as a tall, in the same way our KPDs are talls. He's a half back who just happens to be above 190cm.

Wicks provides a bit of run too, and Cunningham is one of our quickest, if one of them needed to free up.

 

[Bloods86]

Back 7 injury permitting should be the following:

McCartin, Melican, Serong
Lizard, Mills, Wicks, Cunningham

Seems like - Rampe battling Serong and Bowman, Bice could be included for Lizard or added additionally, Hamling would be in for either tallest 3, maybe knocks Serong off?

Rampe probs the stiffest to miss, more based on future proof I got

Based on last year and pre-season commentary, would have Hamling over Serong, however wouldn't be opposed to Jai as the "23rd player" though, if form warrants. Can play in defence or on the wing, even forward at a pinch. Allows Mills to move up the ground if needed.

 

[Ehswan]

Based on last year and pre-season commentary, would have Hamling over Serong, however wouldn't be opposed to Jai as the "23rd player" though, if form warrants. Can play in defence or on the wing, even forward at a pinch. Allows Mills to move up the ground if needed.

I will be absolutely surprised if Hamling is in round 1. Warner said Serong flogs whoever he has played on. I think Hamling is solid backup. If we are going into this season with Hamling first choice back six we are going backwards. Hopefully Rampe is solid backup too. We ..need these younger guys to step up to get better..in my opinion..Excited by Serong and the Bowman

 

[Kiama Chris]

Back 7 injury permitting should be the following:

McCartin, Melican, Serong
Lizard, Mills, Wicks, Cunningham

Seems like - Rampe battling Serong and Bowman, Bice could be included for Lizard or added additionally, Hamling would be in for either tallest 3, maybe knocks Serong off?

Rampe probs the stiffest to miss, more based on future proof I got

That would be my back 7 too given what Cox has said about Mills (though I would prefer him in midfield). McCartin and Melican were core all last season (when available), Wicks and Cunningham were ultra reliable, Lizard and Mills will be the exit players, playing as mediums, probably with some assistance from Wicks. Serong is handy in that, like Rampe used to, he can play on tall or medium, and has a good VFL form line.
It sounds as if Roberts is being moved up the ground so Bice and Bowman will be next in line for mediums and Hamling or Edwards for talls, which all sounds about right. Snell and Andrew a ways away by the look.

 

[ErrolisGoldun]

S

Easiest solution is to not consider Blakey as a tall, in the same way our KPDs are talls. He's a half back who just happens to be above 190cm.

Wicks provides a bit of run too, and Cunningham is one of our quickest, if one of them needed to free up.

Spot on, Blakey is a HB flanker, never a key position defender.

 

[ErrolisGoldun]

Based on last year and pre-season commentary, would have Hamling over Serong, however wouldn't be opposed to Jai as the "23rd player" though, if form warrants. Can play in defence or on the wing, even forward at a pinch. Allows Mills to move up the ground if needed.

Reckon Serong needs to play, build confidence, hopefully turns into a 10yr career, just needs a run of games and experience, he should be the perfect 3rd tall, who can mix it up on mediums too

 

[Dan87]

Back 7 injury permitting should be the following:

McCartin, Melican, Serong
Lizard, Mills, Wicks, Cunningham

Seems like - Rampe battling Serong and Bowman, Bice could be included for Lizard or added additionally, Hamling would be in for either tallest 3, maybe knocks Serong off?

Rampe probs the stiffest to miss, more based on future proof I got

Looks a bit slow on paper. Feels like our weakest third. Makes me wonder if there could be some surprises. Maybe Bowman can sneak in for Melican if we're looking for leg speed or Bice gets a look for Cunningham.

 

[Heeney2Franklin]

Stoked to see Mills dominating and on his way to shutting a few up. I'm sure we'll see his spend some time in the middle at some point, but there aren't many first class interceptors who use the ball as well as he does.

I think the backline is in reasonable shape meaning the only area we're a bit thin is medium forward which was always going to be an issue letting Hayward go. If only we'd hung onto Parker he would have been perfect to slot in. Will be interesting to see if Cox tries Rowy forward of the ball again. Despite it being clear he was a novice, I liked a lot of what I saw of him there in a few games last season. I of course think his best work is in the guts but it's clear that Cox isn't quite as convinced.

Lloyd potentially?

 

[ErrolisGoldun]

Looks a bit slow on paper. Feels like our weakest third. Makes me wonder if there could be some surprises. Maybe Bowman can sneak in for Melican if we're looking for leg speed or Bice gets a look for Cunningham.

Wicks and Cunningham much more defensive than say a Bice who is more of an attacking HB flanker. Wicks/Cunningham more lockdown defenders with Wicks adding slightly more flair.

It’s an interesting one with balance, sounds as though they would be the 3 traditional smaller defenders, Bice would add a lot more creativity but may not offer the same lock down defence of Wicks/Cunningham, May depend on the opposition.

 

[Bloods86]

I will be absolutely surprised if Hamling is in round 1. Warner said Serong flogs whoever he has played on. I think Hamling is solid backup. If we are going into this season with Hamling first choice back six we are going backwards. Hopefully Rampe is solid backup too. We ..need these younger guys to step up to get better..in my opinion..Excited by Serong and the Bowman

I think Hamling showed last year that he's an AFL standard KPD (which isn't surprising as he is a premiership* KPD). Serong is yet to show that really, but of course that doesn't mean he isn't.

If we're rebuilding/resetting, then sure Serong probably gets the nod if they are close in form. But if we're going for top 4, flag, which we should be imo, then you play the best whoever that is, regardless of age.

 

[Bloods86]

Looks a bit slow on paper. Feels like our weakest third. Makes me wonder if there could be some surprises. Maybe Bowman can sneak in for Melican if we're looking for leg speed or Bice gets a look for Cunningham.

I can't think of a world where I'd want Melican replaced by anyone on our list, or us thinking Bice can do Cunningham's job. Harry is just as quick really.

 

[Bloods86]

Reckon Serong needs to play, build confidence, hopefully turns into a 10yr career, just needs a run of games and experience, he should be the perfect 3rd tall, who can mix it up on mediums too

Just play the best team.

 

[Dubai Quacker]

Looks a bit slow on paper. Feels like our weakest third. Makes me wonder if there could be some surprises. Maybe Bowman can sneak in for Melican if we're looking for leg speed or Bice gets a look for Cunningham.

Melican out?!?!

 

[Cadsky]

Shame, it doesn't seem like Snell is coming on the way we all hoped if he's still that far away. What is this, his 4th season with us now and still not looking like he's any closer to a debut?

 

[ErrolisGoldun]

Just play the best team.

Should be in it, but you do need to get games into him. 9 game AFL player. Will not be Rampe on day 1 is all I am saying, but by playing him, will build confidence and will get there.

Love Rampe and he probs is still in the best team but only has this season left, better to be used more sparingly through the season.

 

[Bloods86]

Shame, it doesn't seem like Snell is coming on the way we all hoped if he's still that far away. What is this, his 4th season with us now and still not looking like he's any closer to a debut?

Thought he's been tracking fine and was often our only KPD last year in the VFL.

Serong joining probably pushes him down a rung, but if you fast forward to September, he's possibly our 4th best KPD and next in line.