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

 

[ghostbat12]

But do you come in peace?

They all come in peace to start…then the lecturing starts.

 

[Zim^zuM]

They all come in peace to start…then the lecturing starts.

Nah no lecturing here. We have a common love...

Big ilija grgic

Edit... also I dont think theres been a grand final that you have played in that i havent gone for you guys.

 

[Citizen Erazed]

So are we going to find out who Shueygod picked?

 

[Zim^zuM]

weltschmerz

 

[Zim^zuM]

So are we going to find out who Shueygod picked?

Ill post things at the end

 

[lmach]

Yes of course. Im not to type to bag opposition supporters. Im not the one on the field kicking goals to beat the opposition.

I also have a understanding that EVERY side gets a window, and spends time rebuilding. Its the nature of our game. Being bottom doesnt make you sh1t. Simply at the point in your journey where you need to accumulate young talent over a decent period of time. I do think you guys left it a year or two too late, and recruiting Kelly was a list management killer. End of the day all it really means is you just need maybe an extra few reasons gathering those good draft hands to come good again.

Its not often you see a club like Norf stranded at that point for so long.

So yes I come in peace, and really only came to file a missing person's report on Shueygod

I was just playing. Most oppo fans who enter this board start with "I come in peace" regardless of what they're about to post

 

[Zim^zuM]

I was just playing. Most oppo fans who enter this board start with "I come in peace" regardless of what they're about to post

Haha yes there are some ferals out there. Im using this post as a secret way to tag Shueygod that its his pick

 

[Happy Mastenator]

I come in peace, but can you ****ers who are clogging up this thread with rubbish about some draft you are doing piss of and do it elsewhere?

 

[bzparkes]

I come in peace, but can you ****ers who are clogging up this thread with rubbish about some draft you are doing piss of and do it elsewhere?

Once Shueygod takes his pick, we can all move on.

Until then...

 

[Zim^zuM]

Once Shueygod takes his pick, we can all move on.

Until then...

Fwiw when this came about..

He auto picked M. Flynn.

He then went on to select D. Rioli.

This is a category based game on the keeper platform. We have changed to categories around from the default.

It is a redraft league. You can find it in the appropriate forum. Its called Superleague. If you're keen to join a waiting list let me know.

Last season your boy had a 8-13 record finishing in 10th. Looking to bounce back this season.

 

[Citizen Erazed]

 

[Cuzz09]

ilija Grgic... theres a name I haven't heard in a while

I remember he kicked 6 in a last round upset win by the dogs over NM in 93 and when we got him I was excited but he was serviceable at best for us.

 

[swingdog]

Last season your boy had a 8-13 record finishing in 10th. Looking to bounce back this season.

This is going to be brought up every time he offers an opinion from here on in.

Just reply "8-13 (10th)" to every post.

 

[Forward Press]

But do you come in peace?

The last time I came in peas I got a lifetime ban from Woolworths...








...wait, you mean peace not peas?

 

[Zim^zuM]

The last time I came in peas I got a lifetime ban from Woolworths...








...wait, you mean peace not peas?

They meant peace...




But how good to peas feel

 

[Jeremy McLovin]

Ryan Daniels just tweeted that Long's missing the season

 

[bzparkes]

Ryan Daniels just tweeted that Long's missing the season

Not an ACL but must be seriously bad.

Not sure if that's a good or bad thing, injury-wise.

 

[MaxHunt]

Ryan Daniels just tweeted that Long's missing the season

That horrible. It was expected after that vision but still really bad news.

 

[Byron_Clanger]

Ryan Daniels just tweeted that Long's missing the season

Anyone know what his contractual situation is? Is this his final year?

 

[Happy Mastenator]

Ryan Daniels just tweeted that Long's missing the season

Do we consider signing a player now, or waiting to mid season.

 

[bzparkes]

Anyone know what his contractual situation is? Is this his final year?

He's OOC, yes.

Can see us picking him up in the RD, a la Venables, if we don't offer another year. Had a very good preseason.

 

[Jeremy McLovin]

Anyone know what his contractual situation is? Is this his final year?

Final year i believe.

 

[Zim^zuM]

Condolences Noah Long

 

[RanaNaved]

Poor guy, incredibly unlucky to have two catastrophic knee injuries at all, let alone before hitting 22. All the best Noah

 

[EaglesVille]

Needs to get a new number before his luck will change