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

 

[nameless]

not the best camera work but Duggan looked to lack some awareness

What are you talking about? Duggan went to fend off Gross (i.e. was aware of the player trying to get him) but Gross jumped in the air with his elbow out and hit him in the head.

Don't victim blame, it was clearly a dumb decision by Gross who in that play should be tackling at the hips, you'd think after all the talk of head high contract and the damage it can do that you'd be putting this time of action to bed.

 

[Citizen Erazed]

Came here to ask the question on why you guys didn't take him, what are the knocks on him?

This from one of our track watches today:

"BANFIELD. WOW, just wow. He does not look like an 18 year old physically , and does not play like one either. Polished performer who just ran up and down the wing all day Wood-like. He just look AFL ready. He is the complete package who WCE are going to regret not taking. He has to be in contention for Round 0. Though no easy task as there are say 30 odd players who could possibly make Round 0 at present. I would imagine our selectors will want to debut him in 2026 sooner rather than later"

I know its only been match sim so far but he's been unbelievably impressive this preseason.

We didn't have list spots at the point he was taken in the draft.

 

[Farmer Lister]

Schoenberg loves a good hearty goal celebration which I appreciate

 

[Happy Mastenator]

Came here to ask the question on why you guys didn't take him, what are the knocks on him?

This from one of our track watches today:

"BANFIELD. WOW, just wow. He does not look like an 18 year old physically , and does not play like one either. Polished performer who just ran up and down the wing all day Wood-like. He just look AFL ready. He is the complete package who WCE are going to regret not taking. He has to be in contention for Round 0. Though no easy task as there are say 30 odd players who could possibly make Round 0 at present. I would imagine our selectors will want to debut him in 2026 sooner rather than later"

I know its only been match sim so far but he's been unbelievably impressive this preseason.

Please don’t. The scars are still fresh.

We won’t know for a while if the right decision or not. We are waiting on Sam Allan to get fit from an ACL and see how he goes as that was who we prioritised at the time.

Don’t get people started on how we could have delisted an extra scrub / moved a senior player to the rookie list so we had room for both…

 

[FKASC]

Gross not a fan of the co-captain arrangement

 

[Tugga27]

Gross v Duggan for those who couldn’t watch live. Gee it doesn’t look great, he went in elbow-first with both feet off the ground

Gross by Gross.

 

[bzparkes]

Came here to ask the question on why you guys didn't take him, what are the knocks on him?

This from one of our track watches today:

"BANFIELD. WOW, just wow. He does not look like an 18 year old physically , and does not play like one either. Polished performer who just ran up and down the wing all day Wood-like. He just look AFL ready. He is the complete package who WCE are going to regret not taking. He has to be in contention for Round 0. Though no easy task as there are say 30 odd players who could possibly make Round 0 at present. I would imagine our selectors will want to debut him in 2026 sooner rather than later"

I know its only been match sim so far but he's been unbelievably impressive this preseason.

Without seeing him in the preseason, I imagine his lack of pace is something that Mini was probably critical of, as he seems to want to transition the ball as fast as possible.

I understand people on our board want to compare Williams to Banfield, as both were club-tied, but realistically it's actually Allen vs Banfield, as they both play similar roles and Allen is an insanely good athlete(ridiculous leap, sub 6m 2km and sub 3s 20m sprint), so it'll be interesting to see the comparison once Allen returns to playing.

Having said that, most expected Banfield to be on the list and feel we should've freed up a spot to do so.

 

[Tugga27]

not the best camera work but Duggan looked to lack some awareness

You're not expecting that in an intra-club TBF.

 

[bzparkes]

You're not expecting that in an intra-club TBF.

Train like you play M8.

Gross forgot he wasn't Kung Fu fighting though.

 

[RookiePick]

<--- A very retro, 80's style hit.

 

[Mighty Eagles]

Anyone see/know what Graham & Gross’ injuries are?

 

[Rowan18]

Came here to ask the question on why you guys didn't take him, what are the knocks on him?

This from one of our track watches today:

"BANFIELD. WOW, just wow. He does not look like an 18 year old physically , and does not play like one either. Polished performer who just ran up and down the wing all day Wood-like. He just look AFL ready. He is the complete package who WCE are going to regret not taking. He has to be in contention for Round 0. Though no easy task as there are say 30 odd players who could possibly make Round 0 at present. I would imagine our selectors will want to debut him in 2026 sooner rather than later"

I know its only been match sim so far but he's been unbelievably impressive this preseason.

Ross doesn't play kids, so if he's any good he'll come back home in 2 years.

 

[kane249]

Anyone see/know what Graham & Gross’ injuries are?

Wouldn't be surprised if Gross has a sore elbow

 

[Bender_]

Saints just pumping up Banfield's price so have to pay over market value for him.

 

[WCErevival]

Anyone see/know what Graham & Gross’ injuries are?

Gross went down to the rooms with an apology letter.

 

[CountryLad]

So we all like CDT now? Right?

 

[Shueygod]

Most impressive: CDT, Lindsay, McCarthy, H.Reid, Schoenberg, Dewar, Grego, B.Allan

CDT is a weapon so glad we didn’t miss out on this bloke.

Lindsay’s kicking is as good as advertised, has a bit more toe than I expected (managed to not get caught by Allan on one play who is very quick).

McCarthy is a weapon, precisely what this midfield needs. Did think his kicking was slightly off at times today, but wasn’t due to being under pressure.

Reid looks like Reid but fitter and making better decisions.

Kelly looked very good, class by hand.

Really impressed by Schoenberg, biggest thing with these rookie adds was there ability outside of the middle as we would only have room for 1 of them FT mid at best. Huge tick in that regard, hard at it, has good pace, booming kick, good goal sense.

Allan and Dewar best on for white, Allan getting involved and composed with ball in hand. Lindsay’s kicking being rightly spoken of highly but Dewar was almost as good today in that regard. Grego is a really nice kick as well.


Showed good signs:

Gross looked really good in the first before coming off.

Champion looks very good every time he touches the ball (evasiveness, decision making, ball use all )

T.Williams was involved considering he was a forward on the white team. Getting himself in all the right positions but lacked finishing today, considering that was a strength at junior level I’m happy that he showed the ability to find the ball more.

Harvey Johnston did a couple of nice things in limited opportunities.

Duurs’ touch was hit or miss but he just does things that makes it clear he’s going to be a jet.

J.Williams did well when playing forward considering supply, struggled in the ruck.

H.Edwards very good but not much comp.

Below expectations:

Love Ginbey but had a mare with his use today.

Dev Rob had some nice moments outside the contest (one very good kick in particular) but thought he was relatively poor at winning the ball in the contest - if he isn’t going to be a Mid, I’d rather Allan be in the side.

Maric missed some easy kicks

Definitely would’ve liked to have seen more balanced sides.

 

[mattyc75]

Being fit requires discipline. If you can't keep your diet in check and stop munching too many m&ms I feel that will bleed into other areas

If the coach is partying and hanging out at the TAB with the players I'd be more worried ,rather than the coach enjoying burgers a bit too much

 

[Shueygod]

Looking at team make up, unless they plan on playing one on the wing (hope not), 2 of Graham/Kelly/Hewett/Schoenberg/Robertson miss. Based on today that’ll be a tough call.

 

[Seadog]

If the coach is partying and hanging out at the TAB with the players I'd be more worried ,rather than the coach enjoying burgers a bit too much

That's before you even get to solid family man vs narcissistic root rat like a few others in the job.

 

[Astro7]

That was a refreshing sugar hit, some pleasant surprises (Schoenberg, Kelly) and others living up to the hype (albeit just a scratchie). Freo match should be another level of course. I wonder how long it will take for Duursma to put on some bulk, another preseason? CDT looks more solid and may bulk up easier. Even McCarthy could do with more around the upper body and arms. Starcevich built like a Panzer tank!

 

[Eastcoasteagle]

Gross has just attempted to murder Duggan

I shouldn't, but I love that vision...

 

[EagleEgo]

This intra club match is very free flowing. Today's practice match definitely give keen watchers a view of the players' conditions. However, it did not show us how the team is like in real situation when contest is high. (I assume the tackle count is quite low today).
The poor defensive set up was one of the reasons why we lost most of the 2025 games. I am looking forward to see more defensive matches in the next two weeks.

 

[Eastcoasteagle]

How's Addinsal going? Cause right now Lindsay is looking like a club champion I'd pick any day over another midfielder. This kid is just an unbelievable talent, how was he not a top 10 draftee. Haven't seen a better kick drafted in the last 5 years.

He is an awesome user by foot, agreed. One of best I've seen come through the draft. But Nas was best I've seen in last 5 years.

 

[Mighty Eagles]

Most impressive: ... Dewar ...

Allan and Dewar best on for white, Allan getting involved and composed with ball in hand. Lindsay’s kicking being rightly spoken of highly but Dewar was almost as good today in that regard.

Thank you for the update.

Where did they play Dewar today? I can see him being a HFF-Wingman but interested to hear where he played today.