Training 2026 Training Reports

[Rod Stroker]

Where did I read Konstanty has also done some training in the backline? He has the attributes on face value with his speed, agility, tackling intent...

Could be an interesting option.

not the worst idea I've heard. He does have the attributes, and candidly, while he applies good forward pressure, he just doesn't hit the scoreboard enough. We have other small forward options to replace him, that would allow him to play in defense.

 

[Shinboner1]

Anyone know if we're actually looking at a SSP or we gonna take the MSD option.
Ive heard from hawks fans Mitchell is a pretty decent lock down small defender

 

[zoomba23]

Anyone know if we're actually looking at a SSP or we gonna take the MSD option.
Ive heard from hawks fans Mitchell is a pretty decent lock down small defender

Hawks fans couldn't be trusted with a plastic fork

 

[Hazey1977]

Run JK and Mikunda through the back pocket for the next couple of weeks while trying to get Seamus on-board.

Could be a good way to get early games into Mikunda before he moves forward? Or he becomes awesome at it like David Wirrpanda at the Eagles and had himself an AA career.

 

[marklovesbeer]

The club was kidding themselves not adding anyone over the off season as a small defender. Fact that now lost Archer they are absolutely kidding themselves if go into the season with what we have.

McDonald is 30 and body breaking down

Goater hasn’t played more then a handful games of AFL football and played less then half a dozen total games in 2 years

Hardeman is a kid who is unproven 1 on 1. More of a distributor

Harvey is untried and most definitely a distributor.

Corr is 31 and body been going south for 2 years and counting, also better on key position players.

Hurt is shoulder last season, so he had some surgery & disappointingly (given where we were on the ladder) didn’t quite make it back in time for finals. So, only played 15 games total in 2025.
Played every game the previous three seasons.

How is he ‘breaking down’ exactly?

 

[DuckYeah]

Hurt is shoulder last season, so he had some surgery & disappointingly (given where we were on the ladder) didn’t quite make it back in time for finals. So, only played 15 games total in 2025.
Played every game the previous three seasons.

How is he ‘breaking down’ exactly?

He’s a liability and not AFL standard. Im not worried about his body, he cant kick, he cant handball, he is second to the ball and he is pinned HTB too much.

If he plays every week, kiss the 8+ wins bye bye

Heart and soul though. Pfff

 

[perplexed]

He’s a liability and not AFL standard. Im not worried about his body, he cant kick, he cant handball, he is second to the ball and he is pinned HTB too much.

If he plays every week, kiss the 8+ wins bye bye

Heart and soul though. Pfff

He isn't a star, and ideally will get overtaken by younger and better players in time. But our backline is still a mess and Luke is one of the few who can be relied upon to play a role.

With Archer going down, Luke will play every week when fit. He was solid last year before getting injured, no reason why he won't be again.

 

[DuckYeah]

Luke is one of the few who can be relied upon to play a role.

What role? A role whereby he is exposed through other coaches? First point is Daniels and then it will be through Happy Meal. Its a mcfeast of attack for oppo coaches.

He’s useless

 

[Shazeezal]

He’s a liability and not AFL standard. Im not worried about his body, he cant kick, he cant handball, he is second to the ball and he is pinned HTB too much.

If he plays every week, kiss the 8+ wins bye bye

Heart and soul though. Pfff

he is pinned HTB too much

A quick google search reveals that Luke averaged 0.6 frees against a game - very low. That's 9 frees for the entire season. Lucky if 2 of those were holding the ball.

So you failed to apostrophize in one sentence more frequently than our Luke got caught holding the ball across a whole season.

Makes you think ...

 

[perplexed]

What role? A role whereby he is exposed through other coaches? First point is Daniels and then it will be through Happy Meal. Its a mcfeast of attack for oppo coaches.

He’s useless

Christ mate! You have a remarkable ability to zero in on exactly the wrong issue.

We had a game last year when all of CCJ, Brynn Teakle, Will Phillips, Cooper Harvey, Dylan Stephens and Caleb Daniel played. When Luke doesn't play, these are the types of potatoes that do. We are finally getting some depth in most positions (except defense) and the day that Luke is pushed out by better players we'll be flying. But whining about decent players when we have been fielding state leaguers is crazy.

 

[DuckYeah]

he is pinned HTB too much

A quick google search reveals that Luke averaged 0.6 frees against a game - very low. That's 9 frees for the entire season. Lucky if 2 of those were holding the ball.

So you failed to apostrophize in one sentence more frequently than our Luke got caught holding the ball across a whole season.

Makes you think ...

View attachment 2509613

He gets caught, and he grubbers handballs or turns it over. Its s combination of everything. Good on you for cherry picking one thing. Combine it all. He is everything thats been wrong with this football club

 

[FlyHigh18]

omg is that duursma in the gym!?

 

[Shinboner1]

Anyone down at training today?

 

[TheNorthFan]

Where did I read Konstanty has also done some training in the backline? He has the attributes on face value with his speed, agility, tackling intent...

Could be an interesting option.

Fair point. Depends on JK's DE%. There is a higher accountability moving the ball out of our D50. Don't want to plonk a player that keeps turning the ball over. But agree on the other attributes you mentioned on JK. He got speed, agility and tackling intent.

 

[Krakouer Bonar]

He’s a liability and not AFL standard. Im not worried about his body, he cant kick, he cant handball, he is second to the ball and he is pinned HTB too much.

If he plays every week, kiss the 8+ wins bye bye

Heart and soul though. Pfff

Probably the hardest bloke on the list. Sticks his melon over the pill and cops the whacks others arent prepared to. Smashes into opponents and makes them hurt when others arent prepared to.
But you know. Skills, ay!!

 

[Merlin007]

So my first training session this morning, and a couple of random thoughts (and a shout out to the wonderful maddiemelb, on patrol with the telephoto - lovely to meet you)

Logue, CCJ and Hansen on individual programs to one side, and Goater walking laps - had a brief chat to Josh; he's being managed this week and will be in full training next week.

A lot of the drills focussed on transition from D50 kick-ins, both half ground and full ground, and a high intensity contested handball drill between two teams of 8-9, with the ball always in play from one of four gates.

If I had to pick one stand-out, it would probably be Goad - super mobile and clean hands.

Having expressed some scepticism about judging S&C from photos on the internet, I might get howled down for this, but to my eye, Zane Duursma has trimmed down markedly, so if that's a gauge on his fitness, he's in a good place.

Daniel Harris at the ground watching Sam go around - there's not much of the boy atm, but he held his own in the handball contest drill

 

[The Dingrel]

Where did I read Konstanty has also done some training in the backline? He has the attributes on face value with his speed, agility, tackling intent...

Could be an interesting option.

yeah, maybe, but I'd be troubled by having 168cm AND 177cm blokes running around in defence in the same team, mind you I'd prefer that to Daniel AND Fischer in defence at the same time. Thredgold is fast, perhaps he has the versatility to play on a variety of player types. I'd hope anyone added to the list is with the view to having a long term career, not just a stop gap, and so not necessarily a medium defender unless the club truly believes they have a long term afl career. I have a feeling they'll try to fill the gap with a returning Lmac/ Goater/Hardeman/Bailey Scott/Harvey and Brayden George and Thredgold if/when when they're ready.

 

[roos_fanatic08]

So my first training session this morning, and a couple of random thoughts (and a shout out to the wonderful maddiemelb, on patrol with the telephoto - lovely to meet you)

Logue, CCJ and Hansen on individual programs to one side, and Goater walking laps - had a brief chat to Josh; he's being managed this week and will be in full training next week.

A lot of the drills focussed on transition from D50 kick-ins, both half ground and full ground, and a high intensity contested handball drill between two teams of 8-9, with the ball always in play from one of four gates.

If I had to pick one stand-out, it would probably be Goad - super mobile and clean hands.

Having expressed some scepticism about judging S&C from photos on the internet, I might get howled down for this, but to my eye, Zane Duursma has trimmed down markedly, so if that's a gauge on his fitness, he's in a good place.

Daniel Harris at the ground watching Sam go around - there's not much of the boy atm, but he held his own in the handball contest drill

Awesome to hear about Goad mate! He was always going to be a slow burn but I feel like is making incremental in roads every 4-6 months! Starting to really fill out now too!

Any other standouts from your perspective?

What was the standard of skill like?

 

[The Dingrel]

Bailey Scott wondering why he’s never seen this room at the club before.
View attachment 2509470

I hope Sheez is ok. I can't help be reminded of the "brick scene" from the movie Old School.

 

[Merlin007]

Awesome to hear about Goad mate! He was always going to be a slow burn but I feel like is making incremental in roads every 4-6 months! Starting to really fill out now too!

Any other standouts from your perspective?

What was the standard of skill like?

I thought both the standard and the energy were pretty good; there were some sharp transitions.

Banch was in everything, and Trembath took some contested grabs and moves like a mid, but perhaps my eye turned to those you want to see make an impact. Then of course you notice the positional changes, eg Harvey taking the kick-ins for his side in the transition sims.

 

[Ruckle]

Well hooray that the website has updated training times but boo to the Monday Wednesday Friday sequence. I asked my daughter if she wanted to drive down Saturday morning and she was excited. Will let her down gently at lunch time...

 

[andana]

Well hooray that the website has updated training times but boo to the Monday Wednesday Friday sequence. I asked my daughter if she wanted to drive down Saturday morning and she was excited. Will let her down gently at lunch time...

Friday is a public holiday

January 16

www.nationaldaycalendar.com

 

[Waynesworld]

So my first training session this morning, and a couple of random thoughts (and a shout out to the wonderful maddiemelb, on patrol with the telephoto - lovely to meet you)

Logue, CCJ and Hansen on individual programs to one side, and Goater walking laps - had a brief chat to Josh; he's being managed this week and will be in full training next week.

A lot of the drills focussed on transition from D50 kick-ins, both half ground and full ground, and a high intensity contested handball drill between two teams of 8-9, with the ball always in play from one of four gates.

If I had to pick one stand-out, it would probably be Goad - super mobile and clean hands.

Having expressed some scepticism about judging S&C from photos on the internet, I might get howled down for this, but to my eye, Zane Duursma has trimmed down markedly, so if that's a gauge on his fitness, he's in a good place.

Daniel Harris at the ground watching Sam go around - there's not much of the boy atm, but he held his own in the handball contest drill

Thanks for the feedback Merlin.

Although I thought Logue had come back injury free, so wondering why he's in an individual program (all feedback was that he'd come back in the best nick ever)??

Also not sure Zane could come back any trimmer than what he was...

 

[DuckYeah]

Probably the hardest bloke on the list. Sticks his melon over the pill and cops the whacks others arent prepared to. Smashes into opponents and makes them hurt when others arent prepared to.
But you know. Skills, ay!!

Hahahahahahahahahahaha

 

[The5YearPlan]

Anyone know when our Intraclub is this year?