Training 2026 Preseason Thread

[Crusty Demon]

I guess if you are going to have a hellish offseason this is the one to do it in.

Pretty much. Was looking at a bottom 4 spot anyway. Might give us a look at a few blokes or position changes

 

[Lampers]

Bowser injury a massive blow. Was so good last season. A fair bit taller but Taylor will get his shot. As will AMW. Lindsay a good shout in the back half with his skill too.

What is odd is Bowey was doing a lot of running when I went to training last week.

If it was at the camp (which was prior to that training session) where he originally hurt the foot it seems a bit reckless to be running on it.

 

[TheBoss]

I will never tire of Danster's disgust for Lever. Almost seems personal at this point.

 

[danster168]

Why are you running 16.5 beep tests dan?

I've done multiple shuttle runs/beeps for different sports. I'm coming 2nd behind Sharp as of right now. I found it personally hilarious that people think that afl players like Trac were elite 2km runners. Like, it just tells me that whoever thinks that haven't done any elite sport in their life. There's a reason why draftees often win their teams time trial as 18 year olds with 0 pre-seasons.

 

[PerfectFooty]

On the actual preseason side of this preseason thread. Preseason games have been announced
We have a match Sim against North to be arranged
Then the Tigers in the community series at Ballarat

I feel like we've seen a lot of both of these teams in preseason

Full schedule: All the details for every pre-season game

See the full details of all the pre-season games ahead of the start of the 2026 premiership season

www.afl.com.au

 

[The Dr]

I will never tire of Danster's disgust for Lever. Almost seems personal at this point.

It’s on par with that bloke who hates Spargo and only really posts about him.

 

[MarcMaverick]

Fans are wierd, some hate some players to a visceral degree, some live vicariosly through players almost to a parasocial extent.

 

[Lampers]

I've done multiple shuttle runs/beeps for different sports. I'm coming 2nd behind Sharp as of right now. I found it personally hilarious that people think that afl players like Trac were elite 2km runners. Like, it just tells me that whoever thinks that haven't done any elite sport in their life. There's a reason why draftees often win their teams time trial as 18 year olds with 0 pre-seasons.

Isn’t the reason 18 year olds often perform well in time trials because they are 10-15kg lighter than the weight they will need to be to play AFL footy? Once they build their body up they won’t be able to do those times.

I’ve run at 85kg and at 105kg. At 85kg running was a breeze but I got bullied on the basketball court in the key. At 105kg running is a horrific ordeal but I’m the one doing the bullying on the basketball court.

 

[MarcMaverick]

Isn’t the reason 18 year olds often perform well in time trials because they are 10-15kg lighter than the weight they will need to be to play AFL footy? Once they build their body up they won’t be able to do those times.

I’ve run at 85kg and at 105kg. At 85kg running was a breeze but I got bullied on the basketball court in the key. At 105kg running is a horrific ordeal but I’m the one doing the bullying on the basketball court.

What about at 95kgs?

 

[danster168]

Isn’t the reason 18 year olds often perform well in time trials because they are 10-15kg lighter than the weight they will need to be to play AFL footy? Once they build their body up they won’t be able to do those times.

I’ve run at 85kg and at 105kg. At 85kg running was a breeze but I got bullied on the basketball court in the key. At 105kg running is a horrific ordeal but I’m the one doing the bullying on the basketball court.

That's definitely part of it. Although I don't think the players change that much in weight as a general rule. Someone like Harvey Langford for instance, will probably lose 1-2kg of puppy fat and gain 5kg of muscle. But I think ultimately whenever I look at the 2km time trial times, it's always pretty underwhelming. To finish in the top 10 at the combine, you've got to run 6:15-6:30. They're not elite times.

Hell, a 17 year old German girl ran 6:07 in the 2000m steeplechase and she's gotta jump over 25 steeples. lol. So yes, the footy players are still primarily footy players first. There's a lot of poor aerobic athletes but with the interchanges it's become more about explosive effort and then getting a break.

 

[Lampers]

What about at 95kgs?

About in the middle

 

[ray_purchase]

Another massive training update from a Demonland insider... wowee..... surely the Premiership is ours this season, just read this for yourselves!

 

[Charlie_s123]

Another massive training update from a Demonland insider... wowee..... surely the Premiership is ours this season, just read this for yourselves!


View attachment 2494045

Footballers don't get paid enough to deal with this shit

 

[PerfectFooty]

Ngl i was kind of curious and i did post about wondering what their relations were to Byron. But then after posting it i came to the realisation that it really isn't any of my ****ing business

 

[Daemon]

On the actual preseason side of this preseason thread. Preseason games have been announced
We have a match Sim against North to be arranged
Then the Tigers in the community series at Ballarat

I feel like we've seen a lot of both of these teams in preseason

Full schedule: All the details for every pre-season game

See the full details of all the pre-season games ahead of the start of the 2026 premiership season

www.afl.com.au

At least we are playing sides that are at our level. No need to drag good teams down in the preseason.

 

[Proper Gander]

Footballers don't get paid enough to deal with this shit

This is the bit that makes me shudder.

Players going to training with plenty enough to deal with, then some freak accosts them and they are stuck there being polite - so said freak can post whatever they say as big ITK stuff on Demonland.

Seriously glad I’m too shy to bomb up to people and do this stuff.

 

[MarcMaverick]

Fans are wierd, some hate some players to a visceral degree, some live vicariosly through players almost to a parasocial extent.

Another massive training update from a Demonland insider... wowee..... surely the Premiership is ours this season, just read this for yourselves!


View attachment 2494045

Footballers don't get paid enough to deal with this shit

This is the bit that makes me shudder.

Players going to training with plenty enough to deal with, then some freak accosts them and they are stuck there being polite - so said freak can post whatever they say as big ITK stuff on Demonland.

Seriously glad I’m too shy to bomb up to people and do this stuff.

I rest my case. Fans are weird. And that's putting it mildly.

 

[Charlie_s123]

This is the bit that makes me shudder.

Players going to training with plenty enough to deal with, then some freak accosts them and they are stuck there being polite - so said freak can post whatever they say as big ITK stuff on Demonland.

Seriously glad I’m too shy to bomb up to people and do this stuff.

Exactly. I can just imagine you get of the track after running a beep test until you spew and then you're confronted by this

'So what is your exact relation again ... Uncle Kozzy?'

 

[MarcMaverick]

Exactly. I can just imagine you get of the track after running a beep test until you spew and then you're confronted by this

'So what is your exact relation again ... Uncle Kozzy'

View attachment 2494175

Or this. shudders

 

[Proper Gander]

Ngl i was kind of curious and i did post about wondering what their relations were to Byron. But then after posting it i came to the realisation that it really isn't any of my ****ing business

I did too. But wondering and taking it upon yourself to sort it out by quizzing the players are different things. I’m glad neither you or me decided that was necessary.

For craps sake - they play for our team and yeah you totally hope they will have a great career. But it ends there. I don’t own these people who play for Melbourne and I’m not going to feel I’m entitled to hassle them for random personal information

 

[mrmonkey]

I think by and large fans are great and friendly. However it would be difficult being a celebrity having to come across so many people who know who you are. I've heard a few stories where some one will say I don't like (insert celebrity name) because they were rude or whatever negative you can think of. I agree that there's a chance a celebrity could be rude, equally they may have had a bad day, or a bad encounter with another fan or simply just want to be left alone. Anyway at the end of the day they are still human and everyone handles things differently.

On a side note that image above makes me think of that 'fan' that got John Lennon's autograph before assassinating him hours later.

 

[MarcMaverick]

On another topic, are we going to pick up somebody from the SPP?

 

[MarcMaverick]

I did too. But wondering and taking it upon yourself to sort it out by quizzing the players are different things. I’m glad neither you or me decided that was necessary.

For craps sake - they play for our team and yeah you totally hope they will have a great career. But it ends there. I don’t own these people who play for Melbourne and I’m not going to feel I’m entitled to hassle them for random personal information

Overzealous fans can be a real turn off.

 

[Demon 16]

I wasn’t bad at the beep test many many years ago.

I remember coming second in our under 18’s side and the coaching staff being really impressed. I think it was 15.5 but give or take, I can’t truly remember. Helped that I was good at the sprints too.

I’d actually been practicing the beep test in school sport every week which is why I ran a good score.

When they sent us to the 2km trial a few weeks later (actually I think it was a 3km trial back then), I was hopeless. Almost couldn’t finish. The coaches were disgusted..

 

[steve0908]

Bowey May Taylor


Lever Turner Howes


Langdon Rivers Steele


L. Pickett Petty K. Pickett


Fritsch Mihoceck Melksham


Gawn Langford Viney


Lindsay Thulstrop Windsor Salem


Culley


Swallow JVR Jaith