Training 2026 Training Reports

[marklovesbeer]

marklovesbeer your thoughts?

Personally haven’t watched a heap of him. I don’t catch a lot of SANFL outside of South games these days, but runner up B&F in a premiership year (to the Magarey Medalist no less) is impressive & my Sturt supporting mates are pissed off if this goes through, but ‘not surprised & kind of expected it in the mid season draft.’

 

[My Left Foote]

I shouldn't be surprised with our luck. It's seemingly standard operating procedure for us to have draftees spending big blocks of time on the sidelines during their key development periods.

Silver lining is he’ll be able to spend a lot of time in the gym, hopefully it will have the “Riley Thilthorpe” effect.

 

[Passmore]

Personally haven’t watched a heap of him. I don’t catch a lot of SANFL outside of South games these days, but runner up B&F in a premiership year (to the Magarey Medalist no less) is impressive & my Sturt supporting mates are pissed off if this goes through, but ‘not surprised & kind of expected it in the mid season draft.’

So their 2 back flankers could be picked up...the CHB would be feeling unloved...

 

[TennisPlayerAndy]

I shouldn't be surprised with our luck. It's seemingly standard operating procedure for us to have draftees spending big blocks of time on the sidelines during their key development periods.

Set your watch to it.

 

[shintemaster]

Write up from GL

Managed to get down to see the first half of match sim training this morning.

You'll notice in a few of the pics the sheer talent we have around the ball. It was exciting to watch them work together to feed the ball out quickly and surge forward.

If there was one clear statement being made during this session it was "move the ball on fast, always".
Lot's of players running for the follow up possession.

the game was heavily weighted towards kicking rather than instinctive handball with players preferring to run, dodge and crash into opposition players rather than give a handball that would just put someone under pressure. This was very evident in LDU's game. He was electric and constantly moving. Kicked a sweet goal from the pocket too.

Some of the other stand outs were to be expected.

Sheez and Colby were dynamic with both hitting the scoreboard from fast, decisive crumbing work in the forward 50.

Early on Souv was marking everything and gave Shotgun Dawson a great battle.
But some of the others were also looking great.

Stephens was fast off the half back / wing making decisive, accurate disposals.

FOS was the cleanest with his hands and looks ready to show the AFL world why we rate him so highly.
Hardeman has added some solid muscle to his arms and shoulders and was very busy running from half back all the way into the forward pocket hitting targets.

Goad held his own well against Xerri and at times looked ready to grab the ball and charge forward using his electric speed. Had a couple of scoring opportunities too.
LMAC was very solid, some great spoils.

Curtis did Curtis things from strong marking, great tackling, accurate short hit up kicks and hitting the scoreboard also.

Chom was spoiling well and taking some good intercept marks too and Logue was mobile and seems to have got his leap back allowing him to impact packs better.

George Wardlaw came off at the end of the first quarter and went into the rooms with a trainer and from what I could hear he "felt something". He rejoined the sim in the second quarter but then came off and was running laps. EDIT: Being reported as a hamstring issue and going for scans however he did come back on and play so I am not sure how accurate that reporting is.

No sign of Thredgold or Brayden George but Archer was there with crutches.

All in all a good workout for the boys, it's always hard to gauge how well they are really going when both teams are playing the same game plan but we looked decisive and our kicking accuracy was pretty good.

Brayden was definitely there, saw him on the sidelines later in the day. Was in full kit so must be close to fully available. Not sure if he got mins, but might have been in the group with Goater / CCJ running drills at the halfway mark.

 

[maddiemelb]

MEDIA DAY

 

[speedy]

Basically going for short term gain now bc everyone is over losing.

That change in philosophy started last year.

 

[FootySmartSimpson]

MEDIA DAY

That’s a great shot of Hansen.

 

[muttley45]

MEDIA DAY

Nice work Maddie, if the media dept. were smart, they would be offering you a contract ( if you were interested )

 

[Samsquanch]

Corey Jones was a superstar.

Maybe not a Coleman one but a bloody good player.

Part of the 2000s lost generation along with Petrie, Spud, S.Thompson who never got the rewards.

You're obviously biased, being King Corey and all.

Last time I saw Corey he was sitting on the roof of a house being built up the street from where my in-laws lived at the time.

At least he had a trade to follow up football.

I thought he was a decent player. Definitely gave it all he had I reckon.

 

[Harvey Manfrenjensenden]

Tom Blamires (Frankston)
Defender | 181cm | 13/08/2002

2025 averages: 24.5 disposals, 3.4 marks, 4.1 tackles

Arguably the face of draft hopefuls out of the VFL this year, Blamires has the backing of his Fothergill-Round-Mitchell Medal win – the last 18 recipients have gone on to make the top level. He played a variety of roles this season but earned his Team of the Year spot at half-back, where his running capacity shines. He has now brought his ball use and decision making up to a similar level. Blamires played every game for Frankston in 2025 after crossing from Sandringham Zebras, averaging 24.5 disposals. He’s a graduate of the prolific Sandringham Dragons program, where he was an over-ager in 2021.

 

[rickety]

You're obviously biased, being King Corey and all.

Last time I saw Corey he was sitting on the roof of a house being built up the street from where my in-laws lived at the time.

At least he had a trade to follow up football.

I thought he was a decent player. Definitely gave it all he had I reckon.

Kicked about a million goals playing in a granny for Whycheproof or wherever as well. Bloke deserves a statue, sunk that far ked Roos and his sooky mob that Saturday night oh so long ago.

 

[Kangaroos4eva]

Tom Blamires (Frankston)
Defender | 181cm | 13/08/2002

2025 averages: 24.5 disposals, 3.4 marks, 4.1 tackles

Arguably the face of draft hopefuls out of the VFL this year, Blamires has the backing of his Fothergill-Round-Mitchell Medal win – the last 18 recipients have gone on to make the top level. He played a variety of roles this season but earned his Team of the Year spot at half-back, where his running capacity shines. He has now brought his ball use and decision making up to a similar level. Blamires played every game for Frankston in 2025 after crossing from Sandringham Zebras, averaging 24.5 disposals. He’s a graduate of the prolific Sandringham Dragons program, where he was an over-ager in 2021.

Reads like a versatile ball pig, can't go wrong with him or Becker.

Probably prefer Becker for needs and his kicking, but happy with either.

 

[tales129]

marklovesbeer your thoughts?

His old man is a ****ing legend - well known around the traps as a beer rep for at least 2 decades in Adelaide

 

[Passmore]

His old man is a ****ing legend - well known around the traps as a beer rep for at least 2 decades in Adelaide

Good enough. Sign him up. Yes, the old man.

 

[tales129]

Good enough. Sign him up. Yes, the old man.

He’s built like a ****ing brick shithouse too

 

[Passmore]

He’s built like a ****ing brick shithouse too

Be still my beating

 

[Fish Sticks]

Awesome!
I didn’t realise that was Boomer & Stevo up there.
The guy in the white t-shirt (who I now know was Boomer) called something out to Wardlaw when he was running past & George looked up & called back ‘a coupla legends right there’ with a big smile on his face!
Surely that means his hammy is fine!?

 

[RightWingRoo]

How'd Hugo and River go?
Only 2 who haven't been mentioned much so far.

 

[Roos1991]

How'd Banch go today? Really think he can become a star small forward for us.

 

[Passmore]

How'd Banch go today? Really think he can become a star small forward for us.

"Star" might be a bridge too far, but he certainly works hard.

 

[winalotroos]

Awesome!
I didn’t realise that was Boomer & Stevo up there.
The guy in the white t-shirt (who I now know was Boomer) called something out to Wardlaw when he was running past & George looked up & called back ‘a coupla legends right there’ with a big smile on his face!
Surely that means his hammy is fine!?

You must of been standing right next to me, because I saw that too.

 

[Caracas]

LDU is a genuine bullock now! Be the player you were destined to be, man.

 

[ferball]

Photos from GL

Some great leaps in these photos but this one from Whitlock is unreal.

 

[Marksup]

I have really tried to temper my optimism this year to avoid disappointment.

But I can’t help it.

I wasn’t there today, but watching that b-roll in the Hardeman video and even looking at the photos, I can’t exactly put my finger on it but something looks and feels different about this group.