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Training Pre-season training updates 2026.

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Scodog10 said:
Me too. Zorko’s shown that smart, creative and experienced types don’t need to be defensively minded or quick to do damage off HB. Jaicos is another in the sense that he thrived down back despite being roughly on par with Noble defensively (he obviously has the wheels Zorko doesn’t).

It’s a no brainer move to release Perryman to become the next 2020’s Pendles replacement, IMO. No superstar just a rock solid 22-23 possession, 4-5 clearance, 4-5 tackle and 3-4 I50 mid.
Click to expand...
I think Pendles will be a patch it player this year. I can't see Josh, Houston and Pendles all in defence.
 
Scodog10 said:
Me too. Zorko’s shown that smart, creative and experienced types don’t need to be defensively minded or quick to do damage off HB. Jaicos is another in the sense that he thrived down back despite being roughly on par with Noble defensively (he obviously has the wheels Zorko doesn’t).

It’s a no brainer move to release Perryman to become the next 2020’s Pendles replacement, IMO. No superstar just a rock solid 22-23 possession, 4-5 clearance, 4-5 tackle and 3-4 I50 mid.
Click to expand...
I see many comments call Perryman average or overpriced. I like the cost and player. In the transition from our veterans I can see him supporting through football IQ and leadership. Also hoping for midfield time and a step up.
 

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Jen2310 said:
Click to expand...

In last week’s first to fourth years edition, 2025 mid-season draftee Roan Steele took out the test, while today’s pack was headlined by last pre-season’s champion Isaac Quaynor.

Going up by 0.5km/h every 30 seconds, the assigned squad ramped up their cadence and subsequent breathing rate as the minutes begin to stack up, with players eventually dropping out to reveal a final five of Harry Perryman, Quaynor, Long, Sidebottom and Harrison.

Harrison saw off Perryman and Sidebottom, before succumbing to the demands of the test shortly after himself, leaving only Long and Quaynor to battle it out.

Despite digging deep, Long can’t quite hold on as reigning champion Quaynor took out the title again, surviving until the 23km/h stage.

Remarkable effort by Sidey to still be in the final mix of the test. I eagerly await HHH (Harrisons) return to senior football, he's a real talent and should allow McCreery to continue to build midfield minutes as HHH resumes a half forward role.

I would like to read more on the forgotten man, #28,2022 Draftee Jaykob Ryan. His contract runs out this year, so surely, he's going to be banging down the door to reclaim a starting senior spot. I'd love to see him trialled on the wing.
 

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Wow that is so good from Q.

This just dropped on FB from Annabele Gee.


Conditions – training commenced around 9.45 under an unblemished brilliant ultra-blue sky with the arena bathed in sunshine with the building heat tempered by a slight breeze. It was certainly warmer on the pavilion side which was almost totally roped off due to the preparations for Hall of Fame festivities tonight. Some fans attired in black and white Magpie gear remained there possibly trying to assess how crush worthy the newbies are.



Who was in the infirmary? Houston, Moore and Howes. They all did quite a lot of running and some agility walk. Later Hill was walking laps with a trainer. Houston is recovering from hip surgery, Moore from a shoulder clean-up, and he also carried a broken finger issue for most of last year. These players are expected to eschew physical contact during the pre-Christmas phase. Nick and McStay later in the session moved to the rehab area to continue their training.



Who was missing? Beau who is not likely to be in full training until well after the festive season. Josh D. didn’t make an appearance either. Track watchers discussed his impending nuptials but it’s more likely tied to some minor niggle. He may well have been going through his paces inside.



What were the players engaged in? It was a customary Wednesday focus on skills through a variety of drills – lots of stations work wherein players were segregated into rotating groups with close-in handball, evasive work, breaking tackles and laying off to others prominent. There was also so marking of high balls kicked without some of the usual duelling between pairs. After the sporadic kicking which was part of the initial warm-up, there was quite a bit of work involved being evasive between cones while running at high speed.



There were some general whole ball movement drills which allowed onlookers to monitor the skills, pace and cohesion of the group. One suggests that ostensibly the game plan is in its inchoate stage but more will be revealed when the fitness base becomes more established and consolidated with all players on board. Maybe we will see a tweak here and there but there wasn’t the usual ingrained pattern of play evident that emerges later in pre-season and is repeated in sessions throughout the season proper.



The fitness test for the five year plus players was held with IQ who looked in sensational shape emerging as the winner ahead of Long and Harvey Harrison.



Observations of players on their return to ‘school’ or on first sighting in the flesh:



Prindable – on first viewing he looks to have a mature body and he demonstrated some speed and nifty movements while evading players during drills. Depending on the state of the seasoned personnel injury wise etc. he surely is a chance to debut.



Hayes – has discernibly built up in the upper body without sacrificing pace based on how he was moving in both the drills and the whole ground movement phase.



Swaddling – another with a reasonably mature looking body who looks to have an appetite for finding the ball. Is tipped to perhaps start up forward before rotating into the middle depending on availability of others.



Anderson – wearing the number of Checkers it struck one that he looks as big from afar and he’s a mid. Being an older addition to the list he is probably expected to make a debut and he looks a likely type moving with alacrity and looking strong in contests.



Reef – looks very fit and sound at this juncture (touch wood) and is physique bears the hallmarks of many gym sessions. He may vie with Howe for the third tall if form and fitness warrant.



Smit – looks like a young beast and strength should not be an issue for him going forward with the only concern being that he doesn’t become elephantine with his beefed up frame given that being nimble is not one of his attributes.

Steene – he also looked lean and keen and moved well in drills and ground movement stages.



Harrison – good to see him also looking in fine fettle and handling the ball with confidence and he doesn’t appear to have lost any of his zip judging from his movements today. Of course his performance in the fitness test is suggestive of a promising tank which might put him in midfield consideration if the other required traits are evident.

Saxena – looks to have a lot of toe and his kicking skills were on display. Might be a late developer in terms of being ready to graduate to the highest level but looks to have something to work with. Would be a great story if he made the grade.



Pendles – was wearing Houston’s number, is sporting a considerable tan and is moving one suspects better than most guys about to turn thirty-eight and this mobility is matched by training with the enthusiasm of the young pups just learning their trade.



McCarthy – has a lot of growing into his body to do and it’s apodictic that we won’t see him this year in the seniors. I believe he even concedes this acknowledging that he’s a work in progress.



Cochran – looks to have that wiry frame which has now put on some meat but presents as someone who could be a possibility for the third defensive tall or even as a stringy wingman.



Tew – after his late season injuries it was heartening to see him moving strongly which matched a frame slowly filling out.



Next Wednesday I will further monitor the above and add some more to the list.



Apropos the discussion today concerning who might make way for any of the neophytes, one I’d be considering is Crisp if his form tails off. He appeared to lose some kicking depth last year and maybe some of his nippiness in general terms. He rarely was the catalyst for some of our great surges and maybe slightly on the wane. Thus, Fly has to make him accountable form wise.

Membrey would certainly be another as he always struck the fans as someone recruited for the short-term.



The likes of Howe, Sidey and Pendles may even be afforded some rests during the season to preserve their bodies.



As is usual at the beginning of pre-season most look in tip-top shape and we will undoubtedly observe that some of the bulk gained in the gym will disappear when players undertake some of the gruelling running which characterises this time of the year.
 
Sea fog said:
Wow that is so good from Q.

This just dropped on FB from Annabele Gee.


Conditions – training commenced around 9.45 under an unblemished brilliant ultra-blue sky with the arena bathed in sunshine with the building heat tempered by a slight breeze. It was certainly warmer on the pavilion side which was almost totally roped off due to the preparations for Hall of Fame festivities tonight. Some fans attired in black and white Magpie gear remained there possibly trying to assess how crush worthy the newbies are.



Who was in the infirmary? Houston, Moore and Howes. They all did quite a lot of running and some agility walk. Later Hill was walking laps with a trainer. Houston is recovering from hip surgery, Moore from a shoulder clean-up, and he also carried a broken finger issue for most of last year. These players are expected to eschew physical contact during the pre-Christmas phase. Nick and McStay later in the session moved to the rehab area to continue their training.



Who was missing? Beau who is not likely to be in full training until well after the festive season. Josh D. didn’t make an appearance either. Track watchers discussed his impending nuptials but it’s more likely tied to some minor niggle. He may well have been going through his paces inside.



What were the players engaged in? It was a customary Wednesday focus on skills through a variety of drills – lots of stations work wherein players were segregated into rotating groups with close-in handball, evasive work, breaking tackles and laying off to others prominent. There was also so marking of high balls kicked without some of the usual duelling between pairs. After the sporadic kicking which was part of the initial warm-up, there was quite a bit of work involved being evasive between cones while running at high speed.



There were some general whole ball movement drills which allowed onlookers to monitor the skills, pace and cohesion of the group. One suggests that ostensibly the game plan is in its inchoate stage but more will be revealed when the fitness base becomes more established and consolidated with all players on board. Maybe we will see a tweak here and there but there wasn’t the usual ingrained pattern of play evident that emerges later in pre-season and is repeated in sessions throughout the season proper.



The fitness test for the five year plus players was held with IQ who looked in sensational shape emerging as the winner ahead of Long and Harvey Harrison.



Observations of players on their return to ‘school’ or on first sighting in the flesh:



Prindable – on first viewing he looks to have a mature body and he demonstrated some speed and nifty movements while evading players during drills. Depending on the state of the seasoned personnel injury wise etc. he surely is a chance to debut.



Hayes – has discernibly built up in the upper body without sacrificing pace based on how he was moving in both the drills and the whole ground movement phase.



Swaddling – another with a reasonably mature looking body who looks to have an appetite for finding the ball. Is tipped to perhaps start up forward before rotating into the middle depending on availability of others.



Anderson – wearing the number of Checkers it struck one that he looks as big from afar and he’s a mid. Being an older addition to the list he is probably expected to make a debut and he looks a likely type moving with alacrity and looking strong in contests.



Reef – looks very fit and sound at this juncture (touch wood) and is physique bears the hallmarks of many gym sessions. He may vie with Howe for the third tall if form and fitness warrant.



Smit – looks like a young beast and strength should not be an issue for him going forward with the only concern being that he doesn’t become elephantine with his beefed up frame given that being nimble is not one of his attributes.

Steene – he also looked lean and keen and moved well in drills and ground movement stages.



Harrison – good to see him also looking in fine fettle and handling the ball with confidence and he doesn’t appear to have lost any of his zip judging from his movements today. Of course his performance in the fitness test is suggestive of a promising tank which might put him in midfield consideration if the other required traits are evident.

Saxena – looks to have a lot of toe and his kicking skills were on display. Might be a late developer in terms of being ready to graduate to the highest level but looks to have something to work with. Would be a great story if he made the grade.



Pendles – was wearing Houston’s number, is sporting a considerable tan and is moving one suspects better than most guys about to turn thirty-eight and this mobility is matched by training with the enthusiasm of the young pups just learning their trade.



McCarthy – has a lot of growing into his body to do and it’s apodictic that we won’t see him this year in the seniors. I believe he even concedes this acknowledging that he’s a work in progress.



Cochran – looks to have that wiry frame which has now put on some meat but presents as someone who could be a possibility for the third defensive tall or even as a stringy wingman.



Tew – after his late season injuries it was heartening to see him moving strongly which matched a frame slowly filling out.



Next Wednesday I will further monitor the above and add some more to the list.



Apropos the discussion today concerning who might make way for any of the neophytes, one I’d be considering is Crisp if his form tails off. He appeared to lose some kicking depth last year and maybe some of his nippiness in general terms. He rarely was the catalyst for some of our great surges and maybe slightly on the wane. Thus, Fly has to make him accountable form wise.

Membrey would certainly be another as he always struck the fans as someone recruited for the short-term.



The likes of Howe, Sidey and Pendles may even be afforded some rests during the season to preserve their bodies.



As is usual at the beginning of pre-season most look in tip-top shape and we will undoubtedly observe that some of the bulk gained in the gym will disappear when players undertake some of the gruelling running which characterises this time of the year.
Click to expand...
Just do good. The reporting and the players. Thank you.
Houston explained at least; Houston is recovering from hip surgery
Moores shoulder and finger.
Forget this best 23, maybe 33.
 

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Training Pre-season training updates 2026.

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