Training 2026 Pre Season Training Thread

[Slingshot Footy]

Should be in the best 23 come Opening Round ahead of McLean or Green. Need him in the side so Grundy doesn't burn out mid-season again, even if he only plays 35-45% game time.

Agreed and I don’t think Green should even be in contention unless disaster strikes. Even if Pistol has the wobblies in front of goal we have to embrace the strong possibility that he will regularly butcher his chances as a resting forward.

Although, on a side note, I do hope 2026 is the year Green really stamps his name as the heir to Grundy’s throne.

His goal should be to dominate the VFL and hopefully put his name forward for team of the year honours by the end of the season.

 

[Dubai Quacker]

Definitely not Green but Pistol and Dossa are both putting their best foot forward for the second ruck role. I agree that overworking Grundy is dumb if we expect to feature in finals but I don't think it matters so much who relieves him.

McLean in the best XXIII will just never excite me.

 

[rustycrate]

McLean in the best XXIII will just never excite me.

Trouble is "who chops out Grundy?"
Signed for 2 more years too.

 

[Dubai Quacker]

Trouble is "who chops out Grundy?"
Signed for 2 more years too.

Pretty much anyone. Ruck tap-outs are basically worthless. A ruck’s real value is in general play.

 

[Kiama Chris]

Pretty much anyone. Ruck tap-outs are basically worthless. A ruck’s real value is in general play.

As long as the rucks cancel each other out. The cut out needs to be good enough to do that. We actually have 3 - Ladhams, McLean and Amartey. Sadly, none are Luke Jackson. All have shortcomings. Ladhams is like a crazy U12 forward, McLean lacking agility and mobility, Amartey lacking tank and vulnerable hamstrings. Choose your poison.

 

[Dubai Quacker]

As long as the rucks cancel each other out. The cut out needs to be good enough to do that. We actually have 3 - Ladhams, McLean and Amartey. Sadly, none are Luke Jackson. All have shortcomings. Ladhams is like a crazy U12 forward, McLean lacking agility and mobility, Amartey lacking tank and vulnerable hamstrings. Choose your poison.

Understand completely & you’re right - all the chop out options are limited.

I always recall that both of our premiership sides had 2 legitimate quality rucks (Ball & Jolly, Mumford & Pyke). We don’t have that now - but I still just don’t think McLean offers enough as a forward or as a ruck.

 

[Kiama Chris]

Understand completely & you’re right - all the chop out options are limited.

I always recall that both of our premiership sides had 2 legitimate quality rucks (Ball & Jolly, Mumford & Pyke). We don’t have that now - but I still just don’t think McLean offers enough as a forward or as a ruck.

I actually feel that despite his shortcomings McLean is the most reliable (vs Ladhams) and durable (vs Amartey) of the three. A lot depends on whether we run two or three tall forwards plus the relief ruck. I would rather the "extra" tall in defence (probably Serong). Gotta p*ss with the one you got!

 

[rustycrate]

I actually feel that despite his shortcomings McLean is the most reliable (vs Ladhams) and durable (vs Amartey) of the three. A lot depends on whether we run two or three tall forwards plus the relief ruck. I would rather the "extra" tall in defence (probably Serong). Gotta p*ss with the one you got!

McLean is signed un til 2027. That is not an afterthought. He is a valuable player who can ruck a whole game, play FF.
Why is he signed until 2027 if people on here don't think he is best 23. He just does it in some games. Some games he hits the scoreboard. For a lumbering FF he impacts games. I actually like him. I like what he does. He is our best chop out ruck. Serviceable FF.

 

[zyzzbruh]

McLean is signed un til 2027. That is not an afterthought. He is a valuable player who can ruck a whole game, play FF.
Why is he signed until 2027 if people on here don't think he is best 23. He just does it in some games. Some games he hits the scoreboard. For a lumbering FF he impacts games. I actually like him. I like what he does. He is our best chop out ruck. Serviceable FF.

I like what he can do to, 2024 he was massive but we rarely saw it last year. There was a reason why he deservedly lost his place last year, and really only gained it back because we had no other options. He has to lift.

I have no doubt his extension was based on his 2024 form. It's not a guaranteed shoe in for our best 22 unless he rediscovers it.

 

[Kiama Chris]

McLean is signed un til 2027. That is not an afterthought. He is a valuable player who can ruck a whole game, play FF.
Why is he signed until 2027 if people on here don't think he is best 23. He just does it in some games. Some games he hits the scoreboard. For a lumbering FF he impacts games. I actually like him. I like what he does. He is our best chop out ruck. Serviceable FF.

Every team has a mix of levels in its players. No club can afford even 15 stars, let alone 23. Surely (no, not Shirley!) we know* our top 6 are Heeney, Gulden, Warner, Curnow, Blakey and Grundy. After that comes a group of good performers like Papley, McInerney, McCartin, Melican, Wicks, Cunningham, Rowbottom, Mills and Jordon. Decent ceiling and high floor. Then the others good enough to make the top 23 every week McDonald, Sheldrick, Amartey, Campbell, Rampe, Lloyd. Then the fringe players like Bice, Roberts, Serong, Rosas, McLean and a few others like Corey or Ladhams, for instance.
You can argue who belongs where but every club has a player group like this. Players move up and down. The more you get out of the middle and bottom groups the further you go. Often they are role players who form the base of the pyramid.
For mine McLean is a solid role player. Reliable but not spectacular.

 

[bedford]

Trouble is "who chops out Grundy?"
Signed for 2 more years too.

So was Wayward

 

[bedford]

McLean is signed un til 2027. That is not an afterthought. He is a valuable player who can ruck a whole game, play FF.
Why is he signed until 2027 if people on here don't think he is best 23. He just does it in some games. Some games he hits the scoreboard. For a lumbering FF he impacts games. I actually like him. I like what he does. He is our best chop out ruck. Serviceable FF.

Ladhams will be number 2nd ruck

 

[rustycrate]

Ladhams will be number 2

We will see who gets picked.

 

[bedford]

We will see who gets picked.

Indeed we will , even in all positions

 

[Dubai Quacker]

Ladhams will be number 2

Nope, McLean is number 2.

Ladhams is 19.

 

[bedford]

Nope, McLean is number 2.

Ladhams is 19.

Nearly as funny as the simpsons

 

[dosser]

McLean is signed un til 2027. That is not an afterthought. He is a valuable player who can ruck a whole game, play FF.
Why is he signed until 2027 if people on here don't think he is best 23. He just does it in some games. Some games he hits the scoreboard. For a lumbering FF he impacts games. I actually like him. I like what he does. He is our best chop out ruck. Serviceable FF.

I think if the last trade period has shown us anything, it's that the length of a contract means little if they are not performing how we want them to.

 

[bedford]

I think if the last trade period has shown us anything, it's that the length of a contract means little if they are not performing how we want them to.

So we shouldn't put players that are not in the best 23 on longer than 2 year contracts , if they improve they can always be upgraded

 

[Dubai Quacker]

So we shouldn't put players that are not in the best 23 on longer than 2 year contracts , if they improve they can always be upgraded

The counter argument is that a player under contract gives us more leverage in trade negotiations, IF another club wants said player.

I just can’t see Cox running with 4 tall forwards this year. My fear is that he’s going to try and make Logan a defender - which could be a “McCartin as a forward” style train wreck.

 

[dosser]

So we shouldn't put players that are not in the best 23 on longer than 2 year contracts , if they improve they can always be upgraded

Not necessarily. Putting them on a longer contract often means paying less per year. In addition, we can still trade them, even if it's for peanuts. The problem of a longer contract is if there is significant time spent unavailable.

 

[bedford]

The counter argument is that a player under contract gives us more leverage in trade negotiations, IF another club wants said player.

I just can’t see Cox running with 4 tall forwards this year. My fear is that he’s going to try and make Logan a defender - which could be a “McCartin as a forward” style train wreck.

I agree , but i think Logan will be very mobile and not just stuck forward

 

[Kbroome]

The problem for us at the moment is that
1. Ladhams is by far the worst key forward that can ruck
2. Amartey if he has to ruck as the secondary all season is a near on 100% chance of getting injured
3. McLean has the attributes but can't put it together

I think also people just straight up disregarding Greeny's development. We all wanted Ladhams in for his goal scoring ability in the VFL, 6 goals in his last 6 games in the VFL. But Green has 6 goals in his last 7 games in the VFL. Yes Green isn't ready but he sure as hell isn't as far away as people put it.

 

[Adnico26Parker]

 

[Heeney2Franklin]

Always good to see Mills doing drills raises hope somewhat.

I wonder if Mills is doing training loads the club knows already he can do without risk of re-injury tho.

 

[Heeney2Franklin]

The problem for us at the moment is that
1. Ladhams is by far the worst key forward that can ruck
2. Amartey if he has to ruck as the secondary all season is a near on 100% chance of getting injured
3. McLean has the attributes but can't put it together

I think also people just straight up disregarding Greeny's development. We all wanted Ladhams in for his goal scoring ability in the VFL, 6 goals in his last 6 games in the VFL. But Green has 6 goals in his last 7 games in the VFL. Yes Green isn't ready but he sure as hell isn't as far away as people put it.

Amartey just leading is a chance to ping something sadly has Reid like calfs/hammy's.

Ladlams offers more in the ruck than forward i thought he was okay taking over Grundy in patches.

McLean is a better forward than Ladlams but not as good in the ruck.

All 3 playing in the same side however as we have found out last season just doesnt work really.