Training 2026 Training Reports

[DQ 4EVER]

This won’t go down well but there is a fair argument to say that Cox is a better player than Darcy too

One Is a ruck & the other a key defender, so apples & oranges

 

[theGav56]

I'm enjoying the media distraction about Cox. Creates a bit of uncertainty.

If the ultra conservative leaning Longmuir makes the radical decision to play 3 rucks I'd be amazed. It would be a courageous move, and would put his career on the line beyond what is already the case.

A story about Darcy in the ruck, Jackson midfield, and Cox forward may be enough to distract from how our defence is transitioning the ball with the addition of McVee. Or how Amiss is being developed. Or the how the preseason of not-3-million-dollar Reid is going. Or the Epstein files.

Yes I'm hoping we are in ambush mode whichever way this plays out.

What I am actually excited about from what is happening with the rucks is there seems to be a clear push to maximise the impact Jackson can have. He's a game changer.

 

[s_wd6]

Worst part about Cox on the team is that I always assume we’re talking of the Brennan kind. As someone who does not care about Mason but would like updates to how Brennan is tracking this upsets me greatly

 

[Docker82]

I'm enjoying the media distraction about Cox. Creates a bit of uncertainty.

If the ultra conservative leaning Longmuir makes the radical decision to play 3 rucks I'd be amazed. It would be a courageous move, and would put his career on the line beyond what is already the case.

A story about Darcy in the ruck, Jackson midfield, and Cox forward may be enough to distract from how our defence is transitioning the ball with the addition of McVee. Or how Amiss is being developed. Or the how the preseason of not-3-million-dollar Reid is going. Or the Epstein files.

Yes I'm hoping we are in ambush mode whichever way this plays out.

What I am actually excited about from what is happening with the rucks is there seems to be a clear push to maximise the impact Jackson can have. He's a game changer.

The same coach made the decision to play three tall forwards and two rucks in the same team last year when most on here would've called that stupidity.

He clearly rated Cox enough to bring him over as a 35 year old when there was younger delisted rucks available.

The three talls and two rucks clearly worked but I doubt even that works if it's Cox instead of Jackson, which I'd expect them to do if Jackson was injured.

Team selection wasn't why we lost a few games we shouldn't have last year but I feel there was a few losses early before we realised exactly how we wanted to play. Winning even one of those games and we're top four after the home and away season.

Don't want to take unnecessary risks that could result in that not happening again - This list can compete in finals if given it's best possible chance IMO. Feel if we have say 25 of our best 30 available and have the gameplan and/or structure sorted all season we can have a very good season.

 

[Sherriff Incorporated]

Worst part about Cox on the team is that I always assume we’re talking of the Brennan kind. As someone who does not care about Mason but would like updates to how Brennan is tracking this upsets me greatly

Brennan looks terrific. He was out there Monday and hasn't missed a session from what I can tell. He's done a ton of extra laps and looks fitter than ever. Hasn't joined in a fair bit of match sims because he's been doing extra laps. Him and Ryan look way fitter than a year ago. Before the Christmas break Ryan was also running a ton of extra laps and hating every minute of it.

 

[s_wd6]

Brennan looks terrific. He was out there Monday and hasn't missed a session from what I can tell. He's done a ton of extra laps and looks fitter than ever. Hasn't joined in a fair bit of match sims because he's been doing extra laps. Him and Ryan look way fitter than a year ago. Before the Christmas break Ryan was also running a ton of extra laps and hating every minute of it.

Thanks mate appreciate the updates

 

[gungho]

The ruck situation is an interesting one because Riedy could not get a look in (if Jackson or Darcy was injured) and now there is talk of playing 3 rucks…

On another note, has a rule change (5 on the bench) just extended cox’s career by 2 years.

 

[anchor man]

Im going to be the first to call Adam Sweid as being ready to go from Day 1 of the season and right in the frame for early selection. It will be very tough to debut early as I think Dudley and Murray both look fantastic but make no mistake I think Sweid will be right in contention for an early debut. My friend with contacts at the club has told me Sweid was told to ease up on his training as he was pushing himself to the limits with personal training sessions over the break. Possibly why he sat out Mondays session.

In the AFLs Fantasy footy list, Sweid is the most expensive of our new recruits.
I never play FF or any other make believe footy games, so not sure if that means much.

 

[anchor man]

The ruck situation is an interesting one because Riedy could not get a look in (if Jackson or Darcy was injured) and now there is talk of playing 3 rucks…

On another note, has a rule change (5 on the bench) just extended cox’s career by 2 years.

There was a damn good reason Reidy couldn't get a look. He was not up to AFL level. At best, a WAFL ruckman.

 

[Big Animal]

now my mind is full of team stats, what do we hope to achieve by becoming the land of the giants by using up our 5th bench spot for another ruck/tall?

In 2025, we had Voss, Amiss, Tracy, and Jackson as excellent marking talls and the team stats show we were:
I50 Marking rate - 18th
In50 marks - 15th
marks on lead - 13th

so Cox is suddenly going to improve that? I would have thought maybe we should bring in an extra player who is good at kicking to leads so we can actually use the talls we already have for better result, like just about everyone else is doing.

 

[Barnabus]

In the AFLs Fantasy footy list, Sweid is the most expensive of our new recruits.
I never play FF or any other make believe footy games, so not sure if that means much.

Means nothing except he was a draft pick inside 30 or so.

Having said that, from what I have been told Freo rated Sweid far higher than pick 25 and even near the top 10. Might be they see him as closer to best 23 than would be expected.

 

[BettercallSaul]

Means nothing except he was a draft pick inside 30 or so.

Having said that, from what I have been told Freo rated Sweid far higher than pick 25 and even near the top 10. Might be they see him as closer to best 23 than would be expected.

Joe Brierty told me that we were taking Sweid with our first pick regardless and Murphy with our second pick if available. If we had a top 10 pick I’m assuming that would be a different story but we didn’t.

 

[Taylor]

now my mind is full of team stats, what do we hope to achieve by becoming the land of the giants by using up our 5th bench spot for another ruck/tall?

In 2025, we had Voss, Amiss, Tracy, and Jackson as excellent marking talls and the team stats show we were:
I50 Marking rate - 18th
In50 marks - 15th
marks on lead - 13th

so Cox is suddenly going to improve that? I would have thought maybe we should bring in an extra player who is good at kicking to leads so we can actually use the talls we already have for better result, like just about everyone else is doing.

That stat line reads like our ball delivery is rubbish inside fifty, and since we can't immediately fix the delivery - adding another target might make the other side of the equation balance it out.

We went into finals in 6th with bottom four set shot game in the forward line.

Huge room for improvement

 

[Dockernut]

There was a damn good reason Reidy couldn't get a look. He was not up to AFL level. At best, a WAFL ruckman.

No disrespect to the guy, I wish him all the best, but I also wish all the worst for Carlton and every one of their supporters, so yeah hopefully he stinks it up for Carnton and loses them multiple games.

 

[Tonga Bob]

Vote for your favourite game preview of 2025 here: https://www.bigfooty.com/forum/threads/season-2025-game-previews.1392502/

Or else.

 

[serial_thrilla]

Vote for your favourite game preview of 2025 here: https://www.bigfooty.com/forum/threads/season-2025-game-previews.1392502/

Or else.

Or else what?

 

[freo84]

Or else what?

 

[Tonga Bob]

Or else what?

 

[Halfbaked]

Any one know if they will be at Cockburn or Fremantle oval today.
Or have they stopped the Fremantle oval Wednesday thing?
Thanks

 

[King Huskii]

Any one know if they will be at Cockburn or Fremantle oval today.
Or have they stopped the Fremantle oval Wednesday thing?
Thanks

I tried asking this to other training watches but all they could say was main training is Friday..

Last season it was at east freo oval

 

[Halfbaked]

I tried asking this to other training watches but all they could say was main training is Friday..

Last season it was at east freo oval

Ok, thanks. Guess i will start at Cockburn and work my way down. I just had a couple appointments cancel on me.

 

[King Huskii]

Ok, thanks. Guess i will start at Cockburn and work my way down. I just had a couple appointments cancel on me.

Can you let me know where it is. I didn't want to drive down and it not be there as I have my kids with me.

Thanks

 

[Halfbaked]

Sorry just seen your post. I got there at 9.45. Walked around the oval sat down and they walked off at 10.20ish.
Watch some goal kicking and that's it. I took a few snapshots and can post them later.

New having a quick . Don’t judge me I'm old. Benny,s looks nice .

 

[Sherriff Incorporated]

No interchange in those match sims either so it's start elsewhere or not play at all (which would make no sense)

Interchanges happen at quarter, half time and three quarter time.

 

[Sherriff Incorporated]

Joe Brierty told me that we were taking Sweid with our first pick regardless and Murphy with our second pick if available. If we had a top 10 pick I’m assuming that would be a different story but we didn’t.

Im pretty confident we rated Sweid in the top 15 but thought he would still be available at a pick in the mid 20's judging by the amount of interest he was receiving from other clubs including Essendon. In my opinion that's why we did the McVee trade so easily. Considering the pick we downgraded in that trade started at 12 but was taken at 19 there would appear to be a very good chance we would have bid on (and recruited) Sweid if we didn't downgrade.

Interestingly in regard to Murray with our second pick something that makes me think Walls holds him in very high regard is how he was one of 5 players (Two of whom were SSP contenders in Harding and Scerri) who we tested outside of the official AFL combines before the draft. I think Murray tested so well they decided to take no chances with his recruitment and take him in the main draft.

Either way I think it looks like Walls got his desired players from our draft positioning while also getting McVee. Considering his record at making good decisions with draft picks Im currently low key excited by the new player5s at the club for the 2026 season. Kicket, Whan and Luke also have excellent potential for late picks from what Ive seen at training.