Training Preseason Training Thread - 2026

[Keys]

The below is the OG faux training report from nearly 9 years ago - often imitated but never surpassed

In the absence of Keys I went down for a trundle this morning to check them out on return. Just a few random notes I took down...

• A lot of running work again, clearly a focus even in the heat.
• Duggan looked on and was hitting targets left and right. Set for a huge 2017.
• Giles went up against Vardy in the ruck contests and I'd say that Giles has the inside running at the moment.
• Mitchell looked a class above the other midfielders bar Priddis. Just knew how to find the footy and wouldn't miss a target all session. Shuey was very quiet and seemed to be taking direction from Mitchell. Doesn't bode well for his captaincy credentials, maybe he doesn't want the gig?
• Won't say too much about it in case I was just reading too much into it, but Rioli looked as though he'd enjoyed the Christmas break a bit too much. A few of the coaches pulled him aside and they were having quite an animated conversation before Rioli was sent to do laps for the rest of the session. Good news for Le Cras, I suppose.
• Sheed kicked on his right foot for 80% of the session, I reckon. Nice to see players working on their non-preferred so readily.
• Petrie looked like he was doing a great job 'coaching' the younger forwards in between the drills. Darling in particular seemed to be following him around.
• Gee Venables has some skills. He mainly jogged laps before spending the last half hour or so on set shots - curled a few beauties from behind the boundary line at the end for a bit of fun. Hardly saw him miss a kick.
• What interested me the most was that McGovern split his time between the defenders and the forwards, could be seeing a swingman role in 2017. He was his usual dominant self down back in some match simulation drills before going head-to-head with Mackenzie in a forward role.
• Bayok is very fast - Cripps was in most of the drills with him and couldn't keep up.
• Nelson is pale as buggery and still doesn't really have the body shape you'd expect of an AFL player.
• There was a big bloke who pulled up next to me and I could have sworn it was Suma, but I'm sure I was wrong...
• Masto was the player picked to kick the goal at the end today and nailed it. Celebrations were huge.
• No sign of Cole, Parto or Hill. Couldn't tell you why.

Will upload pics later if I have time. Let me know if you have any questions!

You might wonder why I’ve put this up and stickied it

Because this is the standard all copies should be measured against and it’s a reminder of how high the bar was set

And to hopefully discourage sequels.

If you want to have a crack in my absence, go ahead but if it doesn’t equal the standard set (as judged by me), then expect

• A one week threadban for a first offence
• A two week threadban for a second offence
• A one year threadban for a third offence

Actual training reports, minus discussion, can become found here:

Training - Preseason Training Reports -2025/26

This thread has been setup for training reports only and won’t be open for replies Informative reports from the preseason thread will be copied into this thread so posters have access to the quality work from the likes of LittleFires without wading through pages of general posts

www.bigfooty.com

 

[Happy Mastenator]

Adelaide went alright with a mediocre log of a ruckman and (IMO) middle of the range midfield

They were second only to the Swans in hitout differential....

 

[15yearmember]

Many salaried still have contracted hours and aren't expected to work for free. Realise it happens, but it doesnt seem right to me that its expected in some industries

But probably straying too far off topic

Some people work in professions where there is the prospect of ownership and upside and they grasp old fashioned concepts such as work ethic and delayed gratification.

It’s unfortunate we’ve tended towards jobsworths who aspire to working for the govt or large corporations and measure ourselves in terms of the least amount of work possible

But yeah, probably straying too far off topic

On topic I’m certain that the greats of our game just did the minimum required under their contract and bitched about any extra sessions or managing their diets all week etc etc

 

[Bender_]

They were second only to the Swans in hitout differential....

View attachment 2518254

Hmmm, I see what you're getting at; we should spend all year debating about throwing the kitchen sink at Tim English for the 5th year in a row.

 

[Ilkka Sinisalo]

They were second only to the Swans in hitout differential....

View attachment 2518254

Gee, maybe St Kilda should've traded Rowan Marshall after all.

 

[Happy Mastenator]

Hmmm, I see what you're getting at; we should spend all year debating about throwing the kitchen sink at Tim English for the 5th year in a row.

I've never wanted English. He's rubbish.

 

[Obeanie1]

I’d say even less than that. There’s a small handful of genuine match winners then it’s a dime a dozen.

Flynn is rated 10 to 12th.

Then you look down and see a few up and comers.

Its a brutal position to play.

 

[FKASC]

They were second only to the Swans in hitout differential....

View attachment 2518254

He’s still a spud

 

[RanaNaved]

He's literally rated as average across his career in most categories, below average in hits to advantage and win% this year but he hasn't got much to tap to in his defence and was battling injury

 

[southcoast]

View attachment 2518242

Don't want to miss the start of the session Keys?

We have the board's most dedicated mod. Need to get Chief to give out the Board's Brownlow.

 

[WCE777]

They were second only to the Swans in hitout differential....

View attachment 2518254

This damning statistic is a combination of the quality of our rucks and our midfield.

You can have a BOG average ruck that can tap to a midfield group or do other things around the ground but you can't have both an average ruck and an average midfield.

These statistics show that you can't have both.

A ruck that can compete with everyone except the best 1 or 2 would be very nice, but a midfield that competes at the top is the team that should be premiership contenders.

Look at the Lions, BOG average rucks that compete with most, stacked midfield, best in the AFL.
Swans, top 5-10 ruck top 5 midfield.
Bulldogs, top 10 ruck top 5 midfield.

 

[RanaNaved]

I've never wanted English. He's rubbish.

This is what I was saying in my first post. WC fans have been used to such dominance in the ruck for so long that even an AA ruck Tim English is considered rubbish

 

[RustyShacklefordFalcon]

I'm hoping we really found one with Sam Allen.

Looks to be a specimen.

Hard running midfielder with good hands over head - definitely a position of need for us.

Excited to see him and Ginbey crush future preseasons together.

The fact that we used Banfield's list spot on Allen despite his ACL tells us all we really need to know about what the club sees in him. Already looks a consummate professional with leadership qualities, and a future board favourite.

 

[RustyShacklefordFalcon]

Also on Flynn, he's going to improve his game this year. I'm certain of that. I feel like sometimes we forget he's only played 52 games. 28 years old. Just now finally getting some continuity in his body, and (hopefully) a full pre-season.

He might not be the cheat-code tap ruckman we're used to being blessed with previous decades, but he's very good around the ground and took a ton of relieving marks to break us out of defence last year, as well as in the middle of the ground to help us transition into attack. Not a bad set shot either.

I think there's growth in him yet between now and game 100. He will become more consistent, and I think he will become serviceable until Reid and CDT take over. Far better option than Bailey Williams.

 

[Sneh]

I'm hoping we really found one with Sam Allen.

Looks to be a specimen.

Hard running midfielder with good hands over head - definitely a position of need for us.

Excited to see him and Ginbey crush future preseasons together.

 

[Ilkka Sinisalo]

This is what I was saying in my first post. WC fans have been used to such dominance in the ruck for so long that even an AA ruck Tim English is considered rubbish

Depends what you want from your ruck. English is a lousy tap ruck but is terrific around the ground. Probably not the best fit for a club which has massive clearance issues among its midfielders.

Ideally you'd want someone like Gawn who is great both at the tap and around the ground, but those guys don't exactly grow on trees.

 

[Boohemian]

Some people work in professions where there is the prospect of ownership and upside and they grasp old fashioned concepts such as work ethic and delayed gratification.

It’s unfortunate we’ve tended towards jobsworths who aspire to working for the govt or large corporations and measure ourselves in terms of the least amount of work possible

But yeah, probably straying too far off topic

On topic I’m certain that the greats of our game just did the minimum required under their contract and bitched about any extra sessions or managing their diets all week etc etc

Ahhhh yes. I am happy to be exploited, for one day I shall be exploiting others. Good old fashioned work ethic.

 

[FKASC]

Far better option than Bailey Williams.

 

[RanaNaved]

Depends what you want from your ruck. English is a lousy tap ruck but is terrific around the ground. Probably not the best fit for a club which has massive clearance issues among its midfielders.

Ideally you'd want someone like Gawn who is great both at the tap and around the ground, but those guys don't exactly grow on trees.

English was above average for hitouts and hitouts to advantage this year

 

[plays tall 1]

Flynn’s numbers may look Ok but the concern for me lies with the enormous damage his direct opponents often did. Last season it seemed a regular occurrence that his opposition ruckman played season-best games.

Maybe Flynn didn’t have the fitness base to do the requisite defensive work. Hopefully it’s an area he can improve.

 

[Chris_6678]

Alexia Pesce

@alexiapesce


.
@WestCoastEagles
defender Brady Hough’s ankle injury is worse than first thought. The 22 year-old hurt his ankle at training on Thursday and it’s likely he’ll miss the first half of the season. Huge blow to the backline, Hough played 22 games last year.

 

[MerryHell]

Last season it seemed a regular occurrence that his opposition ruckman played season-best games.

Yup, no rose coloured glasses here, it was doing my head in, as they say.

 

[Jeremy McLovin]

Alexia Pesce
@alexiapesce


.
@WestCoastEagles
defender Brady Hough’s ankle injury is worse than first thought. The 22 year-old hurt his ankle at training on Thursday and it’s likely he’ll miss the first half of the season. Huge blow to the backline, Hough played 22 games last year.

And there it is. Guess Duggan's spot is secure then, or maybe makes an early Lindsay debut more likely.

 

[RustyShacklefordFalcon]

Disagree with you, but come back to me on this one when he's had his robotic-groin installed and we'll reassess.

 

[Elite Pete]

Alexia Pesce
@alexiapesce


.
@WestCoastEagles
defender Brady Hough’s ankle injury is worse than first thought. The 22 year-old hurt his ankle at training on Thursday and it’s likely he’ll miss the first half of the season. Huge blow to the backline, Hough played 22 games last year.

20 week ankle injury. Not ideal

 

[Jeremy McLovin]

20 week ankle injury. Not ideal

About what Gulden missed last year. Maybe broken?