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

 

[Byron_Clanger]

Physically CDT looks ready to go, same size as most of the guys that are a few preseasons in.

It's good that we got someone like Flynn on the list so they can see first hand how he matches up against those late 20's, rugged ruck types

 

[Keys]

 

[Bender_]

CDT, Lindsay, Cripps and Duggo came past the fans for a quick cheerio. Lindsay is ripped but slight.

 

[Bender_]

Bo has spent the majority of the session with the defenders so far. Maybe a more definitive look at where he'll play with doubt around Hough.

 

[bzparkes]

Ginbey knows no other way than 100%. Everything is at top pace and full strength. Laid a bone crunching tackle on Dev earlier and the meat pounding sound was immense - from both their collision and me on the sidelines.

 

[Cuzz09]

Good recovery from Hough considering he was dead 4 days ago

Jesus mkII

 

[Byron_Clanger]

 

[Byron_Clanger]

Good recovery from Hough considering he was dead 4 days ago

Jesus mkII

 

[Cuzz09]

Hewett having shots due to injury recovery or having shots in plan of playing fwd?

 

[TwoStriders]

Hewett having shots due to injury recovery or having shots in plan of playing fwd?

Curling beauties from behind the boundary, most likely.

 

[Cuzz09]

Curling beauties from behind the boundary, most likely.

Just like old mate Flyin Ryan

then game day he misses set shots dead in front 30m

 

[Bender_]

Hewett having shots due to injury recovery or having shots in plan of playing fwd?

Looked like injury recovery. Bo had an extra 5 minutes with Harry Taylor on his own at the end too.

 

[ziad]

Good recovery from Hough considering he was dead 4 days ago

Jesus mkII

And its not even Easter

 

[JogOn234]

Went down to open training today.

A few general observations:

• Didn’t see Grossy out there today.
• Sam Allen is charging through his rehab. Lots of running on the boundary but glides along effortlessly at a hot pace. His change of direction and kicking is coming along nicely. Would be suprised if he’s not playing games by mid season.
• Mally Champion showed some flair in some drills which was good to see. If I had my way with the team I’d probably play him round 1. Looks fitter than last year.
• Hewy was on light duties but was legging multiple shots on goal from 50+ out which I’m not sure should be part of his rehab. Shows it’s not serious atleast.
• There was a transition drill which was a bit of a tough watch. I’m not sure if the boys were directed to kick long down the line and (to perhaps simulate try a rebound off the turnover) but there was a lot of that going on despite having options on which was reminiscent of last year.
• There was another drill working on quick hand passes with applied pressure which the boys looked slick with. Good to see us working on smaller fundamentals like this away from the game plan which are important on game day.
• Harley really does look so fit compared to last year. Was nailing some tough set shots from tight angles.
• Bo Allan looked great in a contested drill, taking tacklers on but his final touch needs work, often firing out handballs way too hot. More of a composure thing with him which I hope they’re working on, has the tools does Bo.
• Newton looks good, quite a reliable shot on goal. Hope he can fill the small forward role and keep Owies out lol
• Yeoy looks to be moving well and free of any complaints. An intentional slow build up to round 1 for him rather than lingering issues it seems.
• Bakes and Starcevich seem to be past their issues, or very close to.

-Dev is a great size. Awkward ball drop when kicking but is a beast in the contest and loves contact. If he can feed the ball out to the likes of Harley and Tmac and apply his intent to defensive acts he will help us a lot this year.

 

[Bender_]

You must've missed him, Gross was out there most of the session.

 

[Keys]

Stock standard report from the West

https://archive.md/gLp4u

 

[RustyShacklefordFalcon]

 

[Matele]

92, 94, 06, 18, 26.

Ruins the pattern (2,4,6,8,0) but I don’t want to wait until 2030 and it would be ****ing delicious to have some melters in Victoria.

 

[Dark Sharks]

Went down to open training today.

• Didn’t see Grossy out there today

You must've missed him, Gross was out there most of the session.

 

[Mighty Eagles]

Is there any word on where Gross has been playing during match sim? I wonder if Mini starts him as a HFF and then rotates him in the guts.

 

[Sneh]

HFF? Ew gross

 

[FKASC]

You must've missed him, Gross was out there most of the session.

Try and find the ability to nail down in your mind and then coherently communicate what it is you disagree with the other person about without spinning out into an incoherent rage

 

[NSLK]

Ruins the pattern (2,4,6,8,0) but I don’t want to wait until 2030 and it would be ****ing delicious to have some melters in Victoria.

Well then you're not going to like 27, 28 and 29

 

[Dark Sharks]

Is there any word on where Gross has been playing during match sim? I wonder if Mini starts him as a HFF and then rotates him in the guts.

He wasn't out there.

 

[Mighty Eagles]

HFF? Ew gross

There’s no way he starts in the midfield atm. Starting him on a HFF and rotating him on the ball is the most logical selection for him at this moment.