Training 2026 Preseason Thread

[Crusty Demon]

I’m not saying he will take the league by storm, but Magician Jefferson is exactly the sort of player who was doomed in Goodwin’s game plan because he couldn’t bring the pure aerial contest Goodwin demanded from tall forwards. But Jeffo could be something if played in a way that exploits his strengths and hides his weaknesses.

Tholstrup another jammed into a role at AFL level that didn’t exploit his strengths. Again I’m not sold he will make it as a top liner, but he was not the guy to be starved as a pressure half forward.

Geelong have quite a few players with obvious limitations (Humphries, Dempsey, Atkinson) who were able to be effective because they were used in a way that exploited what they were above average at. Hopefully that approach comes across with King.

I think part of the problem still is delivery. From reports at training, delivery is still a fairly big issue moving the ball forward. So if delivery improves then I can see JVR improving. He's not a great pack mark so he relies on that delivery to get into the game. I can actually see Kentfield taking his spot. He looks a better prospect in regards to contested marking from what I've seen.

 

[Jack Richards]

Hows Adams and Onley tracking?

 

[Lampers]

I think part of the problem still is delivery. From reports at training, delivery is still a fairly big issue moving the ball forward. So if delivery improves then I can see JVR improving. He's not a great pack mark so he relies on that delivery to get into the game. I can actually see Kentfield taking his spot. He looks a better prospect in regards to contested marking from what I've seen.

Of Kentfield, JVR and Jefferson the best contested and pack mark by far is Kentfield. Depending on what King wants from his tall forwards I could definitely see Kentfield as more viable than JVR.

Jefferson is a very good judge of the ball in the air but is more likely to slide in from the side or be the only one who reads a wonky ball flight to take an “uncontested” mark in a pack.

If JVR can’t get his one grab marking happening consistently he’s in trouble.

 

[Crusty Demon]

Of Kentfield, JVR and Jefferson the best contested and pack mark by far is Kentfield. Depending on what King wants from his tall forwards I could definitely see Kentfield as more viable than JVR.

Jefferson is a very good judge of the ball in the air but is more likely to slide in from the side or be the only one who reads a wonky ball flight to take an “uncontested” mark in a pack.

If JVR can’t get his one grab marking happening consistently he’s in trouble.

Yeah I totally agree. Jefferson is a different beast than the other two. If Kentfield shows signs early at Casey, JVR is in trouble unless he can improve his contested marking. He looks fit from all reports, but still not convinced he's our FF moving firward.

 

[I Love Lamb]

Alright fellas whose our whipping boy(s) looking like for 2026

Viney? Tholstrup? Lever? Sharp? Laps Mcadam?

 

[PerfectFooty]

Alright fellas whose our whipping boy(s) looking like for 2026

Viney? Tholstrup? Lever? Sharp? Laps Mcadam?

Laurie

 

[MarcMaverick]

Alright fellas whose our whipping boy(s) looking like for 2026

Viney? Tholstrup? Lever? Sharp? Laps Mcadam?

Nobody. For now.

 

[danster168]

Yer, sounds terrible... "Kysaiah Pickett was also at his damaging best, also kicking three goals including a flying mid-air soccer goal from nothing."

oh, was the article referring to the casey training session? i thought the article was referencing the gosch's training session?

 

[Demon 16]

Alright fellas whose our whipping boy(s) looking like for 2026

Viney? Tholstrup? Lever? Sharp? Laps Mcadam?

I shouldn’t buy into this as it’s not my style - but I get your point.

Potentially frustrating players this year might be McAdam and Jefferson for me. Maybe May too although I’ve got a feeling he might play a few Casey games or sit a few out this year.

Taking a positive view, it would be awesome if we get a good season out of any of these - especially Jefferson.

No pressure on Tholstrup (yet) from me but I’m not holding high hopes. If he shows something this year I’ll be super excited as well.

 

[MarcMaverick]

I hope everybody improves so there is no whipping boy.

 

[Dory_77]

I hope everybody improves so there is no whipping boy.

 

[TheBoss]

Honestly shocked this thread didn’t immediately devolve into a Tom Sparrow

32

Tom Sparrow

Age

25

Ht

183cm

Wt

85kg

Pos.

M/F

Career

Season

Last 5

D

15.0

4star

K

6.0

2star

HB

9.0

5star

M

1.0

1star

T

2.0

4star

CL

3.0

4star

D

15.0

4star

K

6.0

2star

HB

9.0

4star

M

1.0

1star

T

2.0

3star

CL

3.0

4star

D

15.0

4star

K

6.0

3star

HB

9.0

5star

M

1.0

1star

T

2.0

4star

CL

3.0

5star

pile-on once “whipping boy” was brought up.

 

[Crusty Demon]

Honestly shocked this thread didn’t immediately devolve into a Tom Sparrow pile-on once “whipping boy” was brought up.

I just assumed he was a given.

 

[Toump Ass]

Alright fellas whose our whipping boy(s) looking like for 2026

Steven King.

 

[A11dAtP0w3R]

JVR is on the path to whipping boy status if he doesnt come out of the gate looking better.

 

[A11dAtP0w3R]

Mihocek will get the "what was Tim Lamb thinking?" treatment if he looks shit in round 1 too.

 

[Grimey Sylvia]

Whipping McAdam would be more like flogging a dead horse, can't even get on the park.

He is more than guy late in the year who gets delisted and you had already forgotten he was on the list.

Potential whipping boys for me:
Lever, Jvr and a big watch will be Tommy Mac. Our slow straight ball movement allowed his kicking to look pretty solidlast year but I have not forgotten those earlier years when we played faster and his 50m switch kicks that would just hang in the air for eternity might be back on the menu.

 

[Lord Nev]

Whipping boys are the ones considered under performing for mine. Are we really expecting much from guys like TMac, Viney and Sharp? Failure to improve is the whipping boy calling card, so my eyes are on JVR and Tholstrup, and to a lesser extent Jeffo. No excuses for any of them to not get better now with Goodwin gone. JVR killed by the Goodwin philosophy of him playing both full forward and full back simultaneously, Tholstrup by the overthinking due to lack of freedom, and Jefferson due to the f***ing "bring the ball to ground" rubbish.

 

[Daemon]

I'm giving everyone a pass this year as a whipping boy because the poor buggers probably have PTSD from Goody ball.

Except Laurie, that guy sucks and is the worst.

 

[Crusty Demon]

Who's our forward coach? Probably that guy. And Tim Lamb. Sparrow and Laurie a given. Jeffo too probably. JVR and Tholstrup a close watch first few games. Lever and Salem from the old boy group.

 

[melbun]

Lever and Salem won't need whipping, if they only play for Casey.

 

[Theseventhhamster]

I forgot Sparrow existed until today. He's my first thought now though if he gets a game.

 

[mrmonkey]

Alright fellas whose our whipping boy(s) looking like for 2026

Viney? Tholstrup? Lever? Sharp? Laps Mcadam?

If McAdam is running laps and no one is around to see it, does he actually exist?

 

[danster168]

Only one whipping boy for me: Lever.

 

[Daemon]

Only one whipping boy for me: Lever.

Oh, we know.