Training Training updates 2026.

[BillyElliott]

 

[Rorzza]

Thanks for the match sim content.

Josh looked good in the middle in black...

I don't think any contending team in 2026 will allow Nick to stand alone at a centre bounce or stoppage, I don't understand why that is allowed in training.

A few players used the new standing on the mark rule well, moving the ball quickly.

Prindable-bury nice!

 

[KinderSmock]

Unfortunately Macrae didn’t have the inside game of Adams to make up for it.

I don’t necessarily think Macrae is a dud and he is criticised a lot on here. Think he’ll have a bright future at West Coast.

 

[KinderSmock]

“ regulars” Is a loose term and always in a state of flux. This year it’s not the regulars we need but an orderly transition away from over reliance on them

We need Buller not McStay
We need McInnes not Howe
We need to not overly rely on Pendles and Sidey
Etc etc

Definitely need Moore and Jordy to stay fit

And we definitely need to see great moves forward from the young players you mentioned plus one or two others.

It takes a team effort to win a flag. Competition for spots. High standards. Youth ready to play when needed. Old dogs only improving and looking more dangerous.

It takes 44 men training above the standard rather than relying on certain players to stay fit.

 

[Tadpole]

A bit squicky for me seeing so many veins popping out of arms; but clearly the strength sessions are working. Excited for the season ahead.

 

[Apex36]

Nature of the beast. McStay is a really strong contested mark, but not much else. So he's not going to get the easy kicks that balance his output. He has to be clunking them and no one does that every week.

I think you’re underselling him there. He showed at Brisbane that he was capable pushing up the ground in more of a linking role rather than as deep forward where we’ve been using him, and he’s generally a very good set shot too.
Nobody can deny he had a poor season in 2025 but it feels like there’s a lot of short memories here right now.

 

[Dtennent94]

A bit squicky for me seeing so many veins popping out of arms; but clearly the strength sessions are working. Excited for the season ahead.

I thought it was one of those joke
posts where it’s AI-enhanced when I looked at Lippa, Parker and especially McStay… but I think theyre actually just jacked as hell. Exciting to see.

 

[Granit1962]

Now I think about and watching some footage from yesterday and then rewatching the freo game, I think the only time we'll see Josh rotate through the middle is if Nick goes to half back. There would need to be some rotations with Pendles down back.

Surely we don’t have all of Houston, Pendlebury and Josh in the backline at the same time?

 

[ANewDawn]

I think you’re underselling him there. He showed at Brisbane that he was capable pushing up the ground in more of a linking role rather than as deep forward where we’ve been using him, and he’s generally a very good set shot too.
Nobody can deny he had a poor season in 2025 but it feels like there’s a lot of short memories here right now.

Maybe it's not such short memories but rather a feeling the guy doesn't have the physical resilience to contribute to a full season, along with memories of the poor performances in his final games that led to him being dropped. He is currently injured and on the sidelines which is not inspiring confidence in his body. He has proved he can produce decent football, as in the 2022 final's game for Brisbane where he was thrown early into the first ruck role. Didn't do a lot in the ruck but got over 20 possessions from memory.

 

[Jen2310]

Surely we don’t have all of Houston, Pendlebury and Josh in the backline at the same time?

You wouldn’t think so that’s why I think a bit of rotation would need to go on

 

[BillyElliott]

To all the track watchers.. haven't seen much mentioned about HDM, TJ, Ryan at training.

Any improvements? Or same old, same old?

 

[Jen2310]

To all the track watchers.. haven't seen much mentioned about HDM, TJ, Ryan at training.

Any improvements? Or same old, same old?

Not much to say right now.
Harry playing in a tough position at half forward, which I don't think is gonna help him.
TJ and Ryan has shown some signs, but training hard to stand out when you play in defence.

 

[BillyElliott]

Not much to say right now.
Harry playing in a tough position at half forward, which I don't think is gonna help him.
TJ and Ryan has shown some signs, but training hard to stand out when you play in defence.

Perhaps they're hoping HDM can improve/work on his disposal delivery training at hf?

 

[Jen2310]

Perhaps they're hoping HDM can improve/work on his disposal delivery training at hf?

Possibly. Lets hope so. But moving him around the last 12 months.
Half back. Wing. Mid and now HF.

 

[Harry O]

Possibly. Lets hope so. But moving him around the last 12 months.
Half back. Wing. Mid and now HF.

Probably his cards are marked. Swadling and Prindable gone past him already
Playing his contract out at half forward

 

[sr36]

Probably his cards are marked. Swadling and Prindable gone past him already
Playing his contract out at half forward

As if they're going to write a kid off when they have two years left on their contract. they'll be trying to develop him into an AFL player.

 

[Apex36]

Maybe it's not such short memories but rather a feeling the guy doesn't have the physical resilience to contribute to a full season, along with memories of the poor performances in his final games that led to him being dropped. He is currently injured and on the sidelines which is not inspiring confidence in his body. He has proved he can produce decent football, as in the 2022 final's game for Brisbane where he was thrown early into the first ruck role. Didn't do a lot in the ruck but got over 20 possessions from memory.

He’s had a wretched run in recent years but was considered very physically resilient whilst at Brisbane.

Hopefully his run of impact injuries is behind him now, 1 minor soft tissue injury isn’t much to get worked up over.

 

[KinderSmock]

Not much to say right now.
Harry playing in a tough position at half forward, which I don't think is gonna help him.
TJ and Ryan has shown some signs, but training hard to stand out when you play in defence.

I have been criticised in the past for my HDM bashing but if he’s been demoted to half-forward, that’s not a good sign. He’s a last choice option for the role. Not known for his goal scoring ability. But he has two more years left on his deal so it’s on him to be ready.

I wouldn’t expect TJ to feature much but it’s promising he’s added size. He has some way to develop.

Ryan will likely be delisted at the end of the season. He’d need an exceptional year to earn a new deal. The gold standard in AFL recruiting is you have four years to be a regular (with exceptions to rucks, high draft picks, injuries and off-field conduct).

 

[Mick F]

Maybe it's not such short memories but rather a feeling the guy doesn't have the physical resilience to contribute to a full season, along with memories of the poor performances in his final games that led to him being dropped. He is currently injured and on the sidelines which is not inspiring confidence in his body. He has proved he can produce decent football, as in the 2022 final's game for Brisbane where he was thrown early into the first ruck role. Didn't do a lot in the ruck but got over 20 possessions from memory.

Clearly he needs to get fit. Clearly he needs to then get his confidences up. Clearly we require him to be in good nick at CHF. Elliot, Schultz, De Goey and Co go half reasonable.

Moore and McStay, up and about, make us a lot better. Big mobile blokes, strong overhead, is what we need. Their understudies are still a work in progress.

 

[cityslick1]

Love the update Sea fog!

Maybe I’m naive but as long as Jordy is fit and healthy throughout this entire preseason, I don’t care if he’s going through match play in 3rd gear.

Tbh, he was in the wrong team to rack up stats in the midfield. Opposed to Cameron, Nick and Josh, he rarely had access to first possession, plus Cameron marking around the ground. Whilst the Daicos boys dominated the black teams midfield.

 

[cityslick1]

I have been criticised in the past for my HDM bashing but if he’s been demoted to half-forward, that’s not a good sign. He’s a last choice option for the role. Not known for his goal scoring ability. But he has two more years left on his deal so it’s on him to be ready.

I wouldn’t expect TJ to feature much but it’s promising he’s added size. He has some way to develop.

Ryan will likely be delisted at the end of the season. He’d need an exceptional year to earn a new deal. The gold standard in AFL recruiting is you have four years to be a regular (with exceptions to rucks, high draft picks, injuries and off-field conduct).

I would have to agree I’m afraid. Ryan has not progressed much from year 1 at all. Whilst HDM just looks v VFL in physical attributes, running power and skill level. Allan is the other that worries me. Long is just as quick as him in the running drills, which might tell you something. And he just doesn’t appear to have the football nous or mental application to impact. Hope I’m wrong, but all three names wouldnt have helped Derek’s exit interview imo - along with the disaster that was the Finn/ollie/poulter/reef/mcmahon draft.

 

[Bianconeri]

I don’t necessarily think Macrae is a dud and he is criticised a lot on here. Think he’ll have a bright future at West Coast.

Good luck to him at West Coast, he’s got an opportunity to cement himself at AFL level there. It won’t change my analysis of his time at Collingwood though.

 

[Dtennent94]

Good luck to him at West Coast, he’s got an opportunity to cement himself at AFL level there. It won’t change my analysis of his time at Collingwood though.

If he’s lucky he can be Lachie Sullivan.

 

[stormskye]

I would have to agree I’m afraid. Ryan has not progressed much from year 1 at all. Whilst HDM just looks v VFL in physical attributes, running power and skill level. Allan is the other that worries me. Long is just as quick as him in the running drills, which might tell you something. And he just doesn’t appear to have the football nous or mental application to impact. Hope I’m wrong, but all three names wouldnt have helped Derek’s exit interview imo - along with the disaster that was the Finn/ollie/poulter/reef/mcmahon draft.

We really needed just one of Macrae, Allan or HDM to come on. We’d be in a much better spot if they had. Taking 3 mids in the off season (one their age group) is pretty telling for the latter two

 

[ANewDawn]

Clearly he needs to get fit. Clearly he needs to then get his confidences up. Clearly we require him to be in good nick at CHF. Elliot, Schultz, De Goey and Co go half reasonable.

Moore and McStay, up and about, make us a lot better. Big mobile blokes, strong overhead, is what we need. Their understudies are still a work in progress.

Agreed. We need big men doing things that big men do best. I am Bullish on Buller, as his name insinuates we all should be. My Sydney mate liked him and is disappointed to lose him. He is not a supporter inclined to speak highly of the team's tall forwards, so Buller must have shown something last year.

It'd be nice if we could squeaze another stellar year out of Elliott, too. With Bobby looking less likely by the day to meaningfully compete, small forwards are going to have to step up. If Buller also provided a realistic target, and McCreery was up and about avoiding injury, there might be enough happening up there to cause a few sides some worry.