Training 2026 Preseason Thread

[Dory_77]

Appreciate the report danster168

 

[Demon 16]

Training (Fri, 5th Dec).

Firstly I'll say that training is much more enjoyable to watch than under Goodie. Much more full length ground stuff. And doing match sim stuff so early on in the preseason is something that wouldn't have happened before.

The general gist that I got from King was to just get the ball moving forward. If you're getting tackled, or don't see options, just handball it forward. Get the ball moving forward.

My only criticism was no goal kicking practice in the 2 hours that I was there. It's been my major criticism for years but I'm over being annoyed by this lol.


NOTES

• Jake Bowey in a moonboot, crutches and casual clothes. Unsure on what's gone on there.
• AMW running at 90% clip around the boundary.Looks in great nick. Ripped and ready. Fingers crossed he gets opportunity this year because I think most fans love him.
• Melksham on modified training. Looks in amazing condition though. Super strong through the shoulders.
• Thomas Matthews doing rehab stuff. He is in elite condition though. Does not need any extra gym work. When his knee is ready, he is physically good to go. Strong build.
• Daniel Turner running laps at a good clip. Looks strong.
• Shane McAdam doing his usual laps. He's the only guy that is not in acceptable condition. He has some weight to lose and body fat% needs to come down. But I feel for the bloke after being injured for so long.
• Oscar Berry: super surprised with his skills . Given his bball background I expected less but his skills are probably already about average on our list which is great for a guy who hasn't even touched a footy the last few years.
• Kozzy Pickett: elite conditioning and he was the first to run to the drink station which was a good sign. But his disposal today was actually quite poor. He was busy but just sloppy by foot today.
• JVR: looks in amazing condition. A noticeable drop in weight.
• Latrelle Pickett: has what kids these days would call 'aura'. He's sure in his movements. His kicking is sound but it's his balance and agility that I'm excited to see. He was quiet in the match sim stuff but I just like the look of him.
• Xavier Lindsay: bulked up. Seems to be on a somewhat limited program. but nothing serious.
• Harvey Langford took on a tackler and hit his head and was in pain. Training looked at his jaw. He left the track early but looks to be okay.
• Gawn is in amazing shape as always. Hurt his hammy at one stage which took him from the track for a massage but did some laps afterwards so it isn't a strain or anything. I believe he left the track early but not concerned.
• Xavier Taylor: he's getting caught a bit in the match sim stuff which I actually think is a good thing. A super confident kid is now realising the level increase at afl I reckon. He'll apapt perfectly and I like his skills and size.
• Caleb Windsor was involved in a lot. His speed is noticeable. But I noticed him last pre-season and he had a poor year so I'll wait until the footy starts on him but he's looking fit and confident.
• Viney didn't train. But he took part in a fun reflexes game with Henderson, Turner and T.Matthews. It looked like a fun game and was a good way to include the guys that weren't doing the full training. Viney gave T.Matthews a joking punch in the guts so it's good to see the older and younger players connecting.
• I didn't notice Ed Langdon or Blake Howes there. Not sure what's going on there.
• Onley is a big boy. He trained hard. Disposals aren't a strength. He has penetration but seems to get the trajectory wrong sometimes. He pops them up a bit but who cares he's a 195cm mid It'll be interesting to watch him at Casey and see what sort of impact he has.
• Culley: had some really nice moments. a nice side step and goal which was one of the days highlights. Definitely would be making the coaches notice.

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Thanks Danster!

Hopefully the goal kicking practice won’t be needed so much if we start attacking from the back half and get the ball front and centre, rather than the previous slow static movement into the pockets..!

 

[A11dAtP0w3R]

Glad to see lPickett's aura was noticeable.

 

[Demon Attack]

TRELLY TRELLY TRELLY OI OI OI

 

[The Dr]

Cheers Dan.

Any insight on Tholstrup and Jefferson?

 

[Daemon]

Thanks Dan.

Is Culley looking in Brownlow form?

 

[Lampers]

Thanks Dan.

Is Culley looking in Brownlow form?

I saw someone in a suit with AFL logos on it measuring Culley’s neck for a medal ribbon.

Make of that what you will.

 

[danster168]

Thanks Dan.

Is Culley looking in Brownlow form?

I dunno. I don't follow the Brownlow. so no clue what it takes to win one of them.

 

[Demon 16]

Cheers Dan.

Any insight on Tholstrup and Jefferson?

I gave up on Jefferson a while ago, but if we can make a player out of Tholstrup it would really help us along.

 

[Lampers]

I gave up on Jefferson a while ago, but if we can make a player out of Tholstrup it would really help us along.

Each of Jefferson and Tholstrup have shown plenty in the VFL - but so did a Spargo.

IMO Jeffo and Tholstrup were done no favours with how Goodwin deployed them at AFL level.

Jefferson is a good judge of the ball in the air and exceptional for his height at collecting a ground ball at pace. But his body and game style is miles off being a key forward at AFL level. He’s not Jack Watts but I feel he suffered a bit from being the height he is and then played like his height suggests, not what his body and strengths suggest. I feel at AFL level he can only work as a third tall, or even a half forward flanker. He is pretty mobile and agile for 195cm. Right now Fritsch is clearly ahead of him as that third tall and Melksham has so much more guile but is surely in his final season.

Tholstrup has been used mostly as that defensive forward at AFL level. To me he needs to be far more involved. He thrives on being part of the action and brings lots of energy. He’s shown he has a pretty decent, low trajectory kick from the midfield into F50 when given some time and space. I don’t know he has the class or skills to be played more around the ball at AFL level but Petracca and Oliver’s departures, plus the arrival of lPickett are going to get him closer to potentially playing a better role for his strengths.

 

[Demon 16]

Each of Jefferson and Tholstrup have shown plenty in the VFL - but so did a Spargo.

IMO Jeffo and Tholstrup were done no favours with how Goodwin deployed them at AFL level.

Jefferson is a good judge of the ball in the air and exceptional for his height at collecting a ground ball at pace. But his body and game style is miles off being a key forward at AFL level. He’s not Jack Watts but I feel he suffered a bit from being the height he is and then played like his height suggests, not what his body and strengths suggest. I feel at AFL level he can only work as a third tall, or even a half forward flanker. He is pretty mobile and agile for 195cm. Right now Fritsch is clearly ahead of him as that third tall and Melksham has so much more guile but is surely in his final season.

Tholstrup has been used mostly as that defensive forward at AFL level. To me he needs to be far more involved. He thrives on being part of the action and brings lots of energy. He’s shown he has a pretty decent, low trajectory kick from the midfield into F50 when given some time and space. I don’t know he has the class or skills to be played more around the ball at AFL level but Petracca and Oliver’s departures, plus the arrival of lPickett are going to get him closer to potentially playing a better role for his strengths.

Great points.

My maximum hope for Tholstrup is the ANB sort of role, without the running capacity but maybe slightly stronger in the air.

ANB took some time to come on, and probably took longer to get noticed because of his selfless approach.

Jefferson has lots of x-factor but I think he’s a VFL level talent, and a flanker rather than a KPP.

I hope I’m wrong on Jefferson of course, and will happily eat my hat if he proves me wrong like many have before! ..I’m judging from my couch here don’t forget.

 

[Crusty Demon]

Yeah both don't look up to AFL level. Tholstrup maybe has the better chance at making it. But his decision making looks slow and lacks weapons. But he does have the drive which could see him make a fist of a forward pressure guy. Jefferson just doesn't look good enough.

But yeah,under a different gameplan they will both get their chances. My gut feel is both will be busts.

 

[Bluelegs]

 

[stEdy]

With Bowey out, McVee gone and May possibly not playing we've lost some foot-skill coming out of the back half.

 

[Scythe]

Our club's per capita Lisfranc injury rate is off the charts

 

[MarcMaverick]

Hopefully he recovers properly. Take care Bowza.

This is precisely why teams have train-ons. Hopefully we have a replacement in mind.

 

[schmuttt]

Put Lindsay down there.

 

[danster168]

I dunno why, but I always just blame Selwyn for everything. lol. Ever since he took over we've had a lot of injuries, minus 1 season.

Anyway, all the more importance to get AMW ready to go. Lindsay will be permanent down there I think now, unless they choose to go Howes on smalls.

 

[MarcMaverick]

Or nab Tom Burton from Richmonds train-on list.

Or even get Sinnema.

 

[dazzledavey36]

I dunno why, but I always just blame Selwyn for everything. lol. Ever since he took over we've had a lot of injuries, minus 1 season.

Anyway, all the more importance to get AMW ready to go. Lindsay will be permanent down there I think now, unless they choose to go Howes on smalls.

His foot was stood on by a player on camp.

Nothing to do with Selwyn.

 

[mrmonkey]

Our club's per capita Lisfranc injury rate is off the charts

Hopefully we've learnt over time to not rush him back. He's important but it's more important to get him right. Win losses aren't important next season anyway, could be an opportunity to see others playing in the backline as well.

 

[Dancing Potato]

His foot was stood on by a player on camp.

Nothing to do with Selwyn.

Was probably Sparrow with another UNFORGIVEABLE action resulting in injury.

 

[danster168]

Shoutout to Jake Lever

8

Jake Lever

Age

29

Ht

194cm

Wt

94kg

Pos.

Def

Career

Season

Last 5

D

14.6

4star

K

9.7

4star

HB

4.9

4star

M

5.4

5star

T

1.3

3star

MG

242.0

4star

D

9.6

2star

K

6.5

3star

HB

3.1

2star

M

3.9

4star

T

1.3

2star

MG

145.4

3star

D

16.0

4star

K

11.0

4star

HB

5.0

4star

M

6.6

5star

T

1.6

4star

MG

189.8

4star

who today, when doing the shuttle run, put his hands down on the grass when making one of his turns. what an absolute fruitloop lol. And we call him a leader.

 

[A11dAtP0w3R]

You should have gone out there and shown him how to do a shuttle run properly Dan. I reckon the coaches and players would have appreciated it.

 

[Dory_77]

You should have gone out there and shown him how to do a shuttle run properly Dan. I reckon the coaches and players would have appreciated it.

Or done a sHealey and bailed him up in the carpark about it afterwards. That always works