Training 2026 Pre Season Training Thread

[Bloods86]

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.

I don't have Rampe in my 23, but if he is in better form, he should play until he's not or we're out of finals contention.

 

[Cadsky]

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.

Sounds like Edwards is in front of him also.

TMac, Melican, Rampe, Serong, Hamling, Edwards, Snell, Andrew.

You could switch a couple of those around based on preference but even if we lose Rampe and Hamling end of the year I still have him 5th in line.

 

[Bloods86]

Since we're on the topic:

FB: Harry McCartin Melican
CHB: Wicks Hamling Blakey

Mills the 7th, probably starts on field though.

Serong (or Bice) could be on the 5 man bench too, can play anywhere along the flanks really or Serong as lockdown.

 

[Bloods86]

Sounds like Edwards is in front of him also.

TMac, Melican, Rampe, Serong, Hamling, Edwards, Snell, Andrew.

You could switch a couple of those around based on preference but even if we lose Rampe and Hamling end of the year I still have him 5th in line.

I'll be waiting to see Edwards outperform Snell in matches before I assume that.

 

[Jewelsbon]

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.

VERY glad to see the asterisk there!

 

[Callipygian]

The problem is that if Rampe isn't playing then i don't trust the others to organise the defence. We have a problem with his diminishing returns as a player but his experience is desperately required.

Mills can organise the defence. Especially when most of them are pretty experienced now.

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.

Are you counting Serong as a tall? Serong is touted as being a versatile type that can "play on talls and smalls" - not really a KPD.

 

[Dan87]

Guys like Serong and Bowman are being lauded for their ability to play tall and small so I think it's fair to look at the overall mix instead of rigid roles a little bit.

I can see both in come Rd 0

That overhead ability, with ground level athleticism is what it's about and they're the modern defender in that way imo

 

[zyzzbruh]

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.

You can take it to the bank Melican is first picked on the team sheet in defence. Absolute lock and arguably our best key defender.

I'd be looking at Bowman freeing Blakey up the ground. Bice would also be stiff to miss he's such a weapon, and imo is ahead of Bowman.

We're in a weird spot with our defence. We seem weak there on paper but have 10 players with specific strengths who you can make an argument for. I don't think Serong is a walk up start he has to earn it, don't think he starts round 0, he's yet to prove anything. And I just can't see how Edwards, Snell or Bowman get a gig down there unless we have serious plans to shake things up. Roberts is the other unknown, would be a lock in his 2024 form, but would struggle to get a gig in the seniors at Langhorne Creek on 2025 form.

Nice to have a bit of depth there tho, Stark comparison to last season where we looked scant everytime mccartin or Melican went down. We will have much more optimism replacing with Hamling, Serong, Rampe and Edwards. I worry for Snell tho, hard to tell where he's at and would've hoped to hear a bit more hype internally by now.

 

[Dan87]

Important to remember Rampe genuinely add(s)ed once the ball hit the ground.

Loves a ground ball get and don't argue

He's exactly the bloke you want two of in defence

 

[zyzzbruh]

Guys like Serong and Bowman are being lauded for their ability to play tall and small so I think it's fair to look at the overall mix instead of rigid roles a little bit.

I can see both in come Rd 0

That overhead ability, with ground level athleticism is what it's about and they're the modern defender in that way imo

I like the idea of using the extra on the bench with another defender. Feel like we've got more options to change our look up the ground by pushing Blakey, bice, roberts etc up and replacing them defensively off the bench with worthy defenders.

I think that would give us more than shifting extra talls or high flankers in an attempt to change the game.

 

[Punts]

Bice was found out big time after 2 or 3 games then got caught out numerous times on his defensive game

Imo he isn’t anywhere near a lock

 

[Dan87]

That's why I give Kyle a chance to get in as the 23d player if he shows a bit in the pre season games

There are spots up for grabs imo

 

[ErrolisGoldun]

Bice was found out big time after 2 or 3 games then got caught out numerous times on his defensive game

Imo he isn’t anywhere near a lock

Keen to see him after a full preseason with us.

Agreed, did lose his way a bit after his early impact last season.

Hoping that a solid preseason will set him up well. Not expecting him in from the start but will be called upon and hope he continues to take the game on.

 

[dosser]

That's why I give Kyle a chance to get in as the 23d player if he shows a bit in the pre season games

There are spots up for grabs imo

He may surprise me and tear it up in the VFL, but there is a long list of players ahead of him before he gets a call up. Still at least 12 months away.

 

[Edmund hunt]

Hamling has been getting praise from all the coaches. Sounds like he has a starting spot almost locked up.

 

[Kiama Chris]

Just play the best team.

I hope the Match Committee can reach a better consensus on who that is than we can!

 

[Kiama Chris]

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.

Snell and Serong are both slightly on the smaller side in height, weight and physical maturity to throw on the big forwards. Serong has displayed a fair bit of versatility at Box Hill and has played a fair bit more quality footy but Snell has worked hard and I wouldn't write him off. Both are about the same size as Idun at GWS who plays very effectively on mediums. Edwards is the guy we want to come on to play on the bigs at 198 and 100kg+. Hopefully he has a cracker season in VFL and really pushes for a spot.
Mills can move into the midfield and Serong take a quality medium. Winner winner.

 

[RedBloodBlackSwan]

For a fringe player, Corey seems to be featuring a bit in our preseason socials. Could it be that the club thinks he might have a breakout year? He certainly has the physical and athletic attributes to be a good player but has lacked the football sense to date.

I suspect they are targeting a specific demographic of the fan base.

The clip is called 90 seconds of interrupted Corner Warner and the song starts off with “what a man”.

They aren’t doing that with his brother for a reason

 

[joeykanga]

Snell and Serong are both slightly on the smaller side in height, weight and physical maturity to throw on the big forwards. Serong has displayed a fair bit of versatility at Box Hill and has played a fair bit more quality footy but Snell has worked hard and I wouldn't write him off. Both are about the same size as Idun at GWS who plays very effectively on mediums. Edwards is the guy we want to come on to play on the bigs at 198 and 100kg+. Hopefully he has a cracker season in VFL and really pushes for a spot.
Mills can move into the midfield and Serong take a quality medium. Winner winner.

What are you doing up at 330 am. I know things get started late. Having supper at 12 or even 1 am is Spain wasnt an uncommon occurrence for me

 

[ashep]

I suspect they are targeting a specific demographic of the fan base.

The clip 90 is called seconds of interrupted Corner Warner and the song starts off with “what a man”.

They aren’t doing that with his brother for a reason

He's a good lookin' rooster.

 

[dosser]

I suspect they are targeting a specific demographic of the fan base.

The clip is called 90 seconds of interrupted Corner Warner and the song starts off with “what a man”.

They aren’t doing that with his brother for a reason

Something to be proud of

 

[Kiama Chris]

What are you doing up at 330 am. I know things get started late. Having supper at 12 or even 1 am is Spain wasnt an uncommon occurrence for me

In Colombia it was 11.30am yesterday.

 

[anotherletdown]

That's why I give Kyle a chance to get in as the 23d player if he shows a bit in the pre season games

There are spots up for grabs imo

That last bit. We probably say it most years but it's been a one in one out choice. We could replace one with 2 or 3 different players this year, it seems.

I'm not sure I can remember us ever having this much depth, and it's relatively evenly spread too.

 

[liz]

That last bit. We probably say it most years but it's been a one in one out choice. We could replace one with 2 or 3 different players this year, it seems.

I'm not sure I can remember us ever having this much depth, and it's relatively evenly spread too.

My recollection is a collective belief in our depth in February that dissipates by May or June.

 

[Kiama Chris]

My recollection is a collective belief in our depth in February that dissipates by May or June.

I think the depth is probably as good as we think it is but we too easily forget that young players get found out and struggle to get through a season. For example, Bice started like a house on fire but opposition pretty quickly found how to stifle him. Then he has to work through that. Kyle will be a terrific player but he has a lot to learn, even at VFL level before he can perform consistently.
It's a real pity that Cootee has had an injury as I think he might have been one to make an immediate impact. And now King's development will be slowed as Dattoli's was.
And it's good that Bowman is perhaps exceeding expectations and Edwards is injury free.