Training Preseason Training Reports - 2025

[Keys]

I’ve set this thread up to copy across training reports from the preseason thread so posters have easy access to them without having to wade through pages of posts. I’ll continue to copy posts over here as appropriate whilst leaving the original posts in the preseason thread for discussion purposes

This thread will not be open for replies

 

[Keys]

Small piece of vision posted by someone I follow on Twitter

 

[Convocation]

https://archive.md/bKqCC

The West Training Report

 

[Chris_6678]

.
@WestCoastEagles
training notes:- Harley Reid - managed session but moving well after ankle soreness

• Jake Waterman full session
• Elliot Yeo light handball drills, in moon boot.
• Oscar Allen continues modified program - light session. So too Duggan
• Flynn , Owies & Cripps finished session early. (Flynn with some back soreness, Cripps some discussion around right knee)

@10NewsFirstPER
#afl

 

[boondy]

Tom Gross not training outside . Maric said he is doing cardio indoors
Oscar just doing handball and was the jumping bag guy for last 15 mins
Yeo in a moonboot doing handball drill .
Pretty basic aerobic training . Ball not hitting the ground much so skills being honed .
Harley participated in everything
Waterman same .
No sign of Jamo ( I should have asked about him , sorry ) I didn't see Long or Hewett. Henderson looked Afl ready to me , nippy , hit targets . Looked better than Rawlinson who was sloppy on a drill or 2 .

 

[Keys]

Light session as is usual for a Wednesday but plenty of enthusiasm amongst the players

•No shows - Sheed, Long, Gross, Barnett, Jamieson
• Sighted briefly - Yeo, Allen
• Partial shows (left early) - Graham, Bazzo, Cole
• Partial shows (arrived late) - Hewett, Chesser, Edwards

Most of those aren’t a surprise for a Wednesday session. Gross a bit but boondy posting he was in the shed. Barnett was said to have a minor eye issue on Monday so that explains his absence

Wouldn’t read much into Flynn, Cripps and Owies being early departures - they all did the majority of the session

• Waterman and Reid did the entire session and neither looked troubled albeit it wasn’t a physically demanding session
• Got a bit of a look at Henderson - seems a pretty neat footballer who’s agile and looked nippy enough. He does look small though - won’t hurt him at WAFL level and clearly hasn’t at VFL level. Might be an issue at AFL level though - we’ll get a bit of a look at him when we play Richmond next week

Not much to report today

 

[Keys]

https://archive.is/GWGRM

FWIW

 

[Keys]

Bit of a nothing burger from training today unfortunately. Not sure what time they started because I didn’t get there until about 9.45 and by 10.45 they were basically done

Numbers seemed low with the following missing -
• Yeo and Sheed for obvious reasons
• Kelly, Ryan and Livingstone due to indigenous game commitments
• Chesser, McGovern, Gross and Jamieson I didn’t see
• I thought I saw Waterman and Cripps but it’s been reported by Steve Allen neither were there
• Barnett was running laps and Bazzo was working with a trainer on the outside oval. Had a quick look at what he was doing- was marking high balls and moving pretty well

So at least 11 missing, possibly 13 if my eyesight is shit. Probably best to go 13

There was one 10 minute period of match play - full ground 18v18 with coaches making up the numbers. No WAFL top ups today and no umpires officiating

No centre bounces - they’d just start from random positions on the ground and as far as I could tell the teams were relatively evenly matched

Aside from the 10 minute scrimmage, they split into two groups doing separate contested play in opposite pockets/flanks and some other uncontested full ground ball movement with the coaches acting as mobile witches hats

Won’t go through every player but just some random observations

• Baker does a very good job of cleaning up loose balls in D50 and his disposal coming out of defence is better than I’d anticipated- mostly short kicks which he often follows up for a handball receive
• Ginbey was (and has been) quite attacking off half back as if he’s been given a license to rebound quickly
• Hewett and Reid were matched up against each other - both moved well enough but didn’t have a significant influence. Hewett probably took the points
• Brockman kicked a very nice goal roving off a marking contest
• Long a did a couple of second takes on because he’s bigger through the upper body and not as slight as I remember so don’t recognise him as easily
• Duggan is a big part of our ball movement through the middle
• Bo Allan is very confident coming out of defence and backs himself to break free from congestion. Downside is that on occasion he runs himself into trouble and turns the ball over
• Said it before, but Grego is wonderfully composed when he has the ball. There’s a lot there to work with
• Shanahan took a really strong mark in defence but wasn’t noticeable other than that
• Henderson got involved in a couple of nice plays - linked up well with Dewar. Seems to have a good sense of where to run to get the ball
• Brock took a couple of good grabs and his kicking is becoming more noticeable. Hard to know what the club’s thinking is but I’d say he’s done enough to get a spot

Ground staff were busy cleaning up around the oval in preparation for the Richmond scrimmage. I’m hoping to be able to get there for that on Monday

 

[Keys]

https://archive.is/AyHSZ

The West’s version of training

Gov took the day off due to TB’s wedding - likely he’s in the bridal party. He’s also in good shape after a strong preseason so can afford a day off, particularly since it was a lightish session

Waterman did the warmup before doing some additional running on the outside oval with Barnett

Gross and Cripps both did some minor work early before heading inside

 

[UseR2006]

For those that missed the match and don't have fox/kayo - here's the AFL provided highlights.

 

[Keys]

Highlights package from the club

 

[UseR2006]

They uploaded highlights

 

[Keys]

For those wanting to read the matchsim report from the west

https://archive.is/kvgXF

 

[Keys]

They had a slightly later than usual start today (9.45) which meant I was there from the start. Finished up just after 11.00 although a few players did some basic skill some with coaches as others signed autographs or left the track. By 11.15 they were done, so a relatively short session

Whilst it was short, it was also pretty sharp and the energy/enthusiasm amongst the group was really positive. Good numbers on the track and as a collective they looked fit and strong - probably the best I’ve seen them at this stage of a preseason for some time. Arguably as good as I’ve seen since I started watching preseasons

After the usual warmup exercises they did what would be best described as glorified circle work - nice crisp ball movement and very few targets being missed or balls not taken cleanly. It was nice and sharp

They then split into 3 groups and rotated through 3 different ball movement drills. Two were focused on kicking and third was handballing and defending movement in a tight congested space. As this was happening the rucks rotated through a separate station working with Ryan Turnbull (ruck coach) on body positioning in a ball up - Flynn v Reid, Barnett v Livingstone and Williams v Williams

Finished off with a full ground match scrimmage for about 15 minutes which was pretty much 18v18 and was well contested.

That was pretty much it and players split off to do their own thing either individually or in small groups as they eventually made their way off

As mentioned in an earlier post, Sheed and Chesser were absentees but everyone else was present. Albeit Champion I only saw late doing some work in a training shirt, not a jumper, with a trainer as everyone else was leaving - suspect he might have pulled up sore from the intraclub so they’re holding him back as a precaution

Other players not to do full training-
• Yeo did rehab on his ankle/knee and is starting to build up his loads
• Jamieson appeared to be on the outer oval for quite a while but still looks a ways off from joining the main group
• Hewett walked laps and later did some running on the outer oval. Dom sheed pocket it looked precautionary but media tweets are suggesting he’s being managed after pulling up sore from the intraclub. Notably he was only kicking on his left foot
• Bazzo and Livingstone did all the skill drills but both sat out the contact match scrimmage. Kept my eye on Bazzo a bit and he looks to be moving fine so a return to contact work can’t be far off. Had his own private tutorial with Hurn at one point contesting high balls and then gathering a loose ball under pressure

Everyone else did the full session including Flynn and Gross - there’s an article by Eliza Reilly on code I just read that said Gross only popped his head out briefly. That’s flat out wrong as I looked for him as soon as I arrived and he was there from the outset and played in the match scrimmage

• Brockman took Harley down in a string tackle during the match sim
• Shanahan’s hands are elite - sticky one grab marks and he was good in the matchsim
• Dewar was also good and looks an almost definite R1 starter
• For the benefit of Yeahnahmate I watched Hall in the matchsim - didn’t find much of the ball but did have a nice collect in the goal square that he should’ve converted but fluffed it
• Oscar Allen was covering the ground really well
• Harley, apart from being caught in a tackle, was prominent and showed no signs of being hampered in any way
• Ginbey continues to impress as a rebounding HB
• Davis had a couple of good moments in matchsim drawing praise from Allen in helping set up a goal

Essentially preseason is now done as they head into their match against North followed 2 weeks later by their R1 match against the Suns - the season is about to start. With that in mind I’ll soon put together a summary of the preseason as a whole and go through how I feel each player has gone

When I can be ****ed doing it as it’ll take a while

 

[Farmer Lister]

Jamieson did light training away from the main group. Hewitt practiced around the corner goal kicking and jogged around the park.

Running drills the boys look fast the way they're running they look to have real momentum and drive. Good signs.

Kick to kick, gather off the ground drills. Drill where they moved the ball around the edges of the oval in a giant circle. Seemed like they had a rule that you had to dispose of it within five seconds or so. Huge emphasis on speed. It looked really nice and flowy with very few mistakes.

All the skills looking perfect except for a slight flub by Oscar allen. For all the talk of Bo Allen having poor foot skills, I haven't seen evidence of that, he does well. All the draft picks are looking nice and clean.

Elliott Yeo did stair work in the stands right next to me. He had that classic Elliot Yeo intense look on his face, ready to murder those stairs! He was really marching up those steps with vigor it was good to see. He's still pretty strong, watching him go if I did that I'd be dead. Waterman giving him some encouragement from the field which was nice.

Mini match sim Hamish Davis for the B team was everywhere. He's looking a really great find for such a late pick.

Harley moving well but not on fire. Spent a while chatting to Mini and did some extra running. He is very fast when he bursts.

Rhett bazzo was back out there and looked good, nice and smooth and quick for his size. Still couldn't beat McGovern!

Matt Flynn trained and looked in good nick. Saw Champion walking laps at the end.

It's on like Donkey Kong.

 

[Farmer Lister]

Pics Part 2

 

[Keys]

From the west, FWIW

https://archive.is/0JG3N

 

[Keys]

With our R1 match now less than a week away, it’s safe to say the preseason that started 15 weeks ago in earnest on November 25 (1st - 4th players started on the 11/11) has come to an end. Allowing for the 3 week Christmas break, Andrew McQualter in his first preseason in charge has had 12 weeks to educate the playing group on his new game plan and get them ready to take the 2025 season head on.



With that in mind, having seen roughly two thirds of the 30+ sessions, I thought I’d give a rundown on my overall thoughts on how the playing group went as a collective and individually

Having only seen the team train under the guidance of Adam Simpson, it was hard to know what to expect with a new coach in charge. Like most other supporters I suspect, there were preconceptions of a summer of gut busting running from a group of bulked up Spartans interspersed with physically intense contest work



So what was the reality?

If I’m honest, the first 3 weeks leading up to Christmas were a tad underwhelming, especially in comparison to the fanciful expectations mentioned above.

With one or two exceptions, players didn’t look to have added much bulk to their frames. There was some running/sprints incorporated into the training program but nothing that pushed players to their absolute physical limits

And there was virtually no contested work when the balls came out as players were predominantly put through a seemingly endless array of ball movement drills. Sometimes in a confined space and others using the full field or one side/half of the ground. Compared to the contest heavy program implemented by Simpson the year prior it was a stark contrast

The other issue was the high number of players on modified programs away from the main group with some players often not sighted at all. By my count at the time there was up to ~15 players, or a third of the list, not training fully. Admittedly, it was only early in the preseason but even still it was a little concerning having so many players not participating for undisclosed reasons

There was some positives to be enthusiastic about though. Shannon Hurn was taking to coaching like a duck to water and was having a heavy influence on some of the skill drills. An unexpected surprise was the presence of Harry Taylor out on the oval assisting with training and spending considerable time with players, especially those in rehab - Taylor jogging the boundary with one or two players chatting to them was a common sight

It was also clear that education was a priority as McQualter imprinted the way he wanted players to move the ball under the new game plan

Things started to turn in the last week before the group broke up for Christmas. Intensity lifted as some contested match sim style work was incorporated into the last couple of sessions. The rehab group started to thin as more players transitioned into training with the main group

It was just enough to have me feeling a bit more positive on how they were progressing

The players were eased back into training somewhat on their immediate return in the new year before everything ramped up. There still wasn’t an over emphasis on pure running but ball movement drills were being done faster and covering more ground. And match play started in earnest



Over the course of January/February in the lead up to the scratchies/intraclub/preseason game training built up considerably. It was also becoming apparent that several, indeed most, of the playing group were putting on some size and the rehab group had thinned dramatically such that what had been 15 or so was now down to as little as 5 or 6

There were some setbacks most notably Elliot Yeo sustaining a double whammy knee and syndesmosis injury in a tackle gone wrong and Dom Sheed rupturing his ACL just as he’d worked his way back to full training

Other positives was the clear impact the experienced trio of Baker, Graham and Owies were having and the more than encouraging signs being shown by the 2024 draft crop. Other youngsters like Archer Reid, Dewar, Hutchinson and Brockman to name just a few were also elevating their performance

By the end, the training has been sharp and the players as a collective look bigger, faster and fitter than I think I’ve seen during my time watching training regularly

The spirit among the group is also positive and high standards are being demanded of each other

Looking back on the preseason as a whole I can see what McQualter has set out to do. Getting the players to understand the new game plan was paramount so drilling that into them early was a priority which explained the absence of contested work pre Christmas. It also, I think, was why simply running wasn’t a big part of training- they got their kilometres in during drills and there was no time to waste having players running in circles when they could be working on ball movement

Those players who came back a little underdone due to lingering issues from late season injuries or operations were gradually and methodically built up so they were ready for the rigours of a full training load

We now have close to a clean bill of health with only Sheed, Yeo, Jamieson and Chesser certain non-starters for R1 and a couple of lingering doubts on the immediate availability of Ryan and Hewett

It’s been close to as good a preseason McQualter could have hoped for in terms of preparing the players for the season ahead.

The implementation of the game plan will continue to be a work in progress and there’ll be passages/quarters/games where it doesn’t click and we’ll get burned. But the playing group looks fit and raring to go - they’re as ready as they can be

As a final observation, we’ve rarely heard from McQualter over preseason until very recently. I’m not sure why that is, or even if it was done deliberately, but what it has done is allow him to focus on what’s important in educating a young playing group without the distraction of media obligations



Individual players to come

 

[Keys]

Thought I’d also provide my thoughts on each players individual preseasons, split into age brackets

The young pups (18-19 year olds) :

9. Harley Reid - it’s been well documented that Harley hasn’t had an ideal preseason. Didn’t come back in the best condition possible then received a concussion in the first week, followed by an aggravation of scar tissue around an old calf injury and more recently some ankle soreness that held him back in the lead in to the Richmond scrimmage. Did come back from the Christmas break in better shape and the ankle issue aside was progressing well. Will come into the season a bit underdone so might start slowly as he builds match fitness. The silver lining of a quieter preseason has been the circus that plagued his first preseason has sold far fewer tickets



22. Archer Reid - has had an impressive preseason after missing all of last preseason with a knee injury. Trained forward with some work in the ruck as he seeks to find a forwardline role supporting Allen and Waterman with stints in the ruck. Started preseason a fair way behind Jack Williams for that spot but has closed the gap to the point where a R1 debut is a possibility

24. Harvey Johnston - hurt his elbow early so spent a couple months in a brace whilst running laps and talking to onlookers at training. Has ditched the brace now, albeit with some minor strapping still, but missed a fair bit of the early contest work and likely some time in the weights room. Started being used at half back before a shift onto the wing later on. Will be a chance to play at some point but probably not early in the season



26. Bo Allan - hasn’t put a foot wrong training as a half back and looks likely to have earned himself a R1 debut. He’s big, strong and a powerful runner well prepared to back himself to break tackles to rebound out of defence. Looks a genuine talent well suited to the new game plan. (Planned R1 debut has been put on hold courtesy of an untimely illness)



27. Tom Gross - surprise packet of the preseason, for me at least. Tough, combative, clean with ground balls and excellent hands in congestion. Was a highlight of the early match sims playing for the B team and holding his own against the A team midfield. A calf strain around early February set him back though and robbed him of the momentum he was building. Expect he’ll debut at some point this season

29. Clay Hall - the angriest man on our list I think. Very combative as he seeks to earn a spot and he isn’t far off. Had some good moments in internal match sims. Might not be this year but can see him becoming a useful bash and crash body around stoppages. Understudy to Jack Graham perhaps

31. Lucca Grego - will become a cult favourite. Looks a natural defender with a good attack on the ball and plenty of composure when he has it. Also appears to be a willing learner. Surprised a little he was named as an emergency for the North game but perhaps an indication he’s not that far off a debut (especially with Allan’s sudden unavailability for R1)



35. Jobe Shanahan - easy to see why the club couldn’t call his name out quick enough on draft night. Has arguably the stickiest hands in the club and times his leap in marking contests very well. Started preseason with the forwards but was soon shifted to the backline group. Big learning curve for him and suspect he’ll get a game at some point later in the season

36. Loch Rawlinson - the anonymous Eagle. Don’t notice him much at training and hasn’t had much of an impact in matchsims. Has put on size (see photo below) and maybe he can put together a good body of work as a pressure forward. He’s a fair way back in the pecking order though in a position we have good depth in



37. Malakai Champion - the first thing you notice with Malakai is his size, or more accurately his lack of it. The second thing you notice is how clean his ball handling skills are. Has all the tricks to eventually become an exciting small forward but think he’ll spend his time in the WAFL this year.

38. Hamish Davis - he’s a very good runner. Kept up with the leaders in the running exercises so has a tank that’ll suit the wing role he’s been training for. Importantly, he’s gradually improved right through the preseason and has a good impact in the last matchsim I watched. Will debut in 2025 unless we have an extraordinary good injury run

39. Coen Livingstone - he’s a big lad but as a 19 year old ruck still has work to do to both build his tank and put on more size (he’s already added a few kgs over preseason). Very much a project player but showed some good signs when asked to lead the ruck for the indigenous all stars v Fremantle and wasn’t embarrassed. A knock to the ribs in that game that had him sent to hospital for scans on suspected internal injuries did put him in the rehab group for a brief period

 

[Keys]

The not quite as young pups (20-21 year olds :

7. Rueben Ginbey - this lad is a beast and the hardest trainer on the list - just does everything in turbo mode whether it be making sure he runs right through to the end of an exercise or giving 100% in even the most mundane of drills. Spent the entire preseason training as a half back/3rd tall and McQualter seems to have given him a license to use his run to rebound out of D50. Will be an important cog in 2025 and looks set for a breakout year



8. Elijah Hewett - after missing all of 2024 with sesamoiditis that ultimately required an operation it was a sight for sore eyes to see him on the track at the start of preseason. Did almost all of the work assigned to him but he was usually rested for the midweek session as part of carefully planned load management. When he did train he looked in great shape and moved freely with no signs of any discomfort. Importantly, he doesn’t look to have lost any of his power. Gave a slight scare when he was pulled out of training recently with what was described as quad soreness but has since resumed and is a chance to play R1



13. Noah Long - a bit like Elijah, the sight of Long back on the track following his knee injury early in the 2024 season was more than welcome. It was a more gradual introduction to training though as Noah spent most of the pre Christmas block in rehab as the fitness staff cautiously built him up to be ready for the higher workloads. Rejoined the main group post the break and has worked his way into some form. Have found myself looking twice at him as he’s put on a fair bit of size in the upper body and isn’t as instantly recognisable. Finds himself in a fight for those small forward positions and will be unlucky to miss



18. Campbell Chesser - unfortunately for a guy who needed a really good preseason he’s had the opposite. Was in the rehab group from the start with a suspected calf issue then just as he looked close to joining the main group he developed some issues with his old ankle injury that necessitated further surgery. Did virtually no competitive work and when he did play on the wing in one matchsim I watched he struggled to have an impact. Was set to be given a run with the backs before his latest setback. No clear indication on when he’ll resume training but may be out until the bye

19. Brady Hough - is becoming an ultimate professional. Was held back in the rehab group before the break, presumably as part of his recovery from a knee injury sustained in the final match in Geelong that was never detailed given it was the last game of the year. Has bulked up even further to the point when he was running with Yeo in rehab it was difficult to tell them apart from a distance. Been very good in matchsim and looks set for a big year



23. Ryan Maric - has been on a steep learning curve this preseason as the club looks to develop him in a new role as a rebounding defender. Early ball movement drills regularly used him as a distributor off half back where he showed some really good signs. My own view is he probably needs to work on his defensive skills which might explain why he seemingly drifted out of favour somewhat in the preseason games as Allan and Cole were preferred in the best 22. Will be an interesting watch as his kicking out of defence has the potential to become a real weapon

30. Harry Barnett - has quietly put together a very solid preseason. Is in very good shape physically and did well in the running exercises for his size. One of a few players given a role change, he’s been training as a KPD to good effect. Had an unfortunately timed setback when sustaining an eye injury after being hit in the face with a footy that kept him out of contact work for a couple of weeks prior to the intraclub. Still very much a work in progress but looks to have an improved attitude



33. Rhett Bazzo - it’s been a long road back for Rhett. Started preseason in the all too familiar rehab group with what I believe was groin soreness but aren’t 100% on that. Looked close to being ready to rejoining main training close to Christmas but many to break his foot that required surgery. Is close to be being ready to play in the WAFL after working his way back post Christmas. Will be behind a couple of others for a spot in the best 22 when he does return in what shapes as an important year for him

34. Jack Williams - stood out for me on the first day I attended training this preseason. Looked in great shape and was covering the ground really well. Since then, however, he hasn’t developed at the same rate as some others for whatever reason. Hasn’t had much impact when playing forward, usually for the B team, and a little surprisingly has been used sparingly as a backup ruck. Archer Reid looks to be preferred in that 3rd tall forward/second ruck role based on preseason selections. Will be an intriguing battle between those two as the season progresses

43. Tyrell Dewar - might just be the most exciting player on our list. Showed glimpses of his ability in 2024 when given opportunity late in the year and has improved further in what’s been an excellent preseason for him. Has been pushed up from high half forward to the wing where his pace and ball use are becoming genuine weapons. Deserves to play R1 and could be a genuine breakout player for us in 2025

 

[Keys]

The in-betweeners (22-24 year olds) :

10. Tyler Brockman - has been a revelation after what could only be described as a disappointing first year at the club in 2024. Was one of the several players who was in and out of training a bit in the pre-Christmas block and tbh he hadn’t stood out to me to any great extent. Which is why I was surprised to see him line up with the A team the first time they split the teams into an A v B configuration for matchsim. Almost immediately, and ever since, he showed why - he’s been engaged, willing to apply pressure and has hit the scoreboard regularly. His skills and deft touches suit McQualter’s game plan perfectly and if he can maintain his form will be a regular for us in 2025. Very much an unexpected bonus



32. Bailey Williams - gone about his business diligently without being a standout. Does look fit and maybe a tad bigger. Had a minor setback pre Christmas with a hamstring strain but has completed all the work since the break. Locked in a battle with Matt Flynn for the no.1 ruck position and looks like he’s about to come second. Was given a chance against North to play as a forward with limited success. If Flynn performs it appears Bailey will spend time toiling away in the WAFL waiting his opportunity

40. Callum Jamieson - perma injured and has spent the entire off season in rehab with ankle, knee and groin issues. Club says he’s 5-7 weeks away in the latest injury report and that seems optimistic. The below has been a rare sight



41. Sandy Brock - came across as a train on player almost as soon as preseason started hoping to fill the last spot on our list in competition initially with former eagle Coby Burgiel pre Christmas then former Saint and KPD James Van Es. There was little to separate Brock and Van Es early but as preseason progressed and the matchsims elevated in intensity it became clear Brock was the better option culminating in him being offered a 1 year contract. He improved steadily throughout and whilst Harry Edwards looks to have won the second KPD role in support of McGovern, Brock isn’t far behind. Has a very good left foot kick and looks a genuine development option for us beyond just this year. Ultimately a really good selection

42. Harry Edwards - had a setback early in preseason with signs of bone stress in his foot that saw him in the rehab group either side of the Christmas break. Since returning to the main group he’s come along nicely and played strongly against Larkey in the North game. Has the second KPD spot that is now his to lose



44. Jack Hutchinson - one of the preseason standouts albeit he was also one of the several players who had a gradual build pre Christmas. Looks really powerful with good size and endurance. Following his midfield cameo against Geelong in R24 the club has maintained that experiment using him on the wing with occasional rotations through the centre. To me he looks more accomplished in an inside role but it seems more likely he’ll start the season on a wing. Either way he’s another that could be set for a breakout season

 

[Keys]

The leaders (25-28 year olds) :

1. Liam Ryan - there’s two Liam Ryans during preseason. The one who labours through running exercises and generally looks disinterested and the one who lights up when the balls come out especially when it’s competitive/contact work. Generally speaking he’s had a good offseason notwithstanding a bit of fight club action and a late hamstring scare that hopefully doesn’t dampen the confidence he seemed to be gaining in his hammies. Had been willing to jump for his marks and retained his burst speed. Could thrive under the new game plan if his body holds up which, unfortunately, can’t be guaranteed

2. Jake Waterman - unlike last preseason when he was a standout from day one, Jake had a more subdued start to this offseason after what had been a big 2024 that left him a bit banged up once the season finished. So like others he was in and out of main training early before steadily increasing his involvement post the break. If his form v North is any indication he looks set for another big year. Has also been elevated to the leadership in a sign of his increasing standing within the club

3. Liam Baker - many fans were unhappy with the relatively high trade price paid to bring Baker to the club with some justification. However, from the first day he rocked up to training it’s been obvious why the club was so determined to secure his services. Sets a very high standard on the track and pushes others to follow. Very vocal. Very competitive. Very supportive. McQualter has earmarked him for a backline role due to his cleanliness collecting ground balls and willingness to rebound out of defence albeit his disposal can be a tad sloppy. Genuinely believe (most) fans will soon forget the trade cost once they see him play with his unconditional attack on the man and ball. Has clearly had an impact on the playing group with his elevation to the leadership group



12. Oscar Allen - it’s been an interesting preseason for Oscar who has had a modified program as he deals with a lingering and ongoing knee issue. Don’t confuse management with interrupted though. He’s done most, if not all, of the work prescribed for him which includes sitting out the midweek sessions. Showed what he’s capable of in the second period of the Richmond match when he took control of the forward line but missed the North game to attend his brothers wedding. A season of him working in tandem with Waterman is a tantalising prospect and he looks ready to go

14. Liam Duggan - some might disagree, but personally I believe he’s had a very good preseason as he adjusts to a redefined midfield role under McQualter. Has completed all the work and looks as fit and strong as he has for some time. His role seems to be as a bit of a blunt instrument whose disposals will be more gaining territory than finesse. Will be interesting how that role develops in tandem with Jack Graham especially when Yeo returns



16. Matt Owies - for a guy who was the steak knives in the controversial pick 3 trade he’s shaping as an astute pick up. Has helped drive standards and his work rate inside F50 is going to be an integral part of the McQualter game plan albeit that he’s going to have to perform to hold his place in the 22 in the most competitive spot on the list. Will be an ideal Cripps replacement as Jamie is phased out of the 22 this year or next

17. Jack Graham - won’t lie, I hadn’t watched Richmond all that closely in recent years so wasn’t totally familiar with “Fridge’s” game. First impression was just what a physical unit he was - not overly tall but built like a fridge so to speak. He then made his own impression winning the time trial on his first day. Pre Christmas he became a running pony for Ginbey as they were held out of main training to manage their loads which seemed counter productive a little given the way they pushed each other lap after lap. Once the contact work started his physicality stood out as well as his willingness to tackle. Great pickup who’ll be great support for Reid and give us a physical presence around the ball



21. Jack Petruccelle - something of a forgotten man particularly since he spent most/all of the pre Christmas block rehabbing with a few others. Rejoined the main group after the break and is actually looking good physically. Been stuck in the B team through matchsim but had a good hitout in one of the match sins as a reminder of what he can do. Needs to bide his time in the WAFL and should aim to keep pressure on those small/medium forwards currently ahead of him



25. Matt Flynn - worked really hard to get himself in shape after a 2024 that was ruined by injury. Wasn’t uncommon to see him in the front half of the group in endurance runs as he pushed himself. As mentioned earlier, he’s been in a battle with Bailey Williams for the starting ruck spot and deserves to have first crack



28. Tom Cole - unfairly maligned imo, he’s progressed his way through preseason nicely after being one of several players who worked their way through rehab in the early part of preseason. Looks to be covering the ground as well as he has since sustaining that ankle injury that’s troubled him in recent years. Will be important as a lockdown defender but won’t have much room for error with youngsters like Johnston and Grego eyeing off a spot

 

[Keys]

The veterans (29 years old and above) :

4. Dom Sheed - sadly, Dom’s season was over before it began. Worked diligently to get himself right after foot/ankle surgery late in the 2024 season then did his ACL in his first session back with the main group. It’s likely career ending and whilst the impact on the AFL side is probably minimal, his experience would have been handy for the WAFL side. Leaves a spot open for the MSD after the player we’d earmarked as a potential replacement, Jack Henderson, as a SSP signing was snatched away by Melbourne just as we seemed set to sign him



5. Jayden Hunt - after being used primarily as a half back under Simpson, Hunt has been moved up the ground to the wing to better utilise his pace and running power. One of the fittest players at the club, he’s had a flawless, if unspectacular, preseason. Needs to perform with the likes of Dewar, Hutchinson, Johnston and Davis also pushing for a spot in the wing but showed his value with a solid outing in the North game



6. Elliot Yeo - what had been developing into a solid preseason as he worked his steadily way through rehab early with several others, went pear shaped in late January when a tackle went wrong during matchsim. Was ultimately diagnosed with a MCL injury to his knee AND a syndesmosis injury that required surgery. His rehab is progressing well but best case scenario for a return would be R6 or thereabouts

11. Tim Kelly - another who was in and out of training early and a usual midweek absentee. Another who looks to have benefited greatly from the slow build that ensured he was fully recovered from knee and hip issues that plagued him through the latter stages of 2024. Is in ripping condition and arguably the best he’s looked since arriving at the club. Primed for a big year imo



15. Jamie Cripps - still one of the best runners at the club he’s been a thorough professional all preseason. That said, there’s been signs age is catching up with him a little as his pace starts to slow. Had one matchsim early that he dominated but was less noticeable in later games, including the North match. Probably gets the nod for R1 but will have a fight on his hands to keep his spot

20. Jeremy McGovern - oldest player on the list, Gov has gone about his work effectively but unobtrusively. Has kept himself in good shape and looks fit. Match form both against actual opposition and in intraclubs has been near flawless but for the occasional wayward disposal. Vitally important he stays fit because the depth behind him is inexperienced after the departure of Barrass

 

[Keys]

And that’s me done for preseason

Probably the best conditioning I’ve seen the squad in since I’ve been attending training.

There’s a bit to look forward to this season albeit we’ll lose more than we win and there’ll be the occasional shellacking when things come completely unstuck

Stay positive, take the good with the bad as the players learn the new game plan and Mini identifies what he has to work with. Some will thrive, others will fall away but one thing I’m sure of is that the effort and desire to compete and improve will be there

Onwards and upwards, enjoy the season