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

 

[FatPizza]

And what a hilarious joke it is. Even after you have tried it 150 times. You should go on the comedy circuit.

Sick burn.

 

[jdisc]

And what a hilarious joke it is. Even after you have tried it 150 times. You should go on the comedy circuit.

Bender_ JUST GOT PWNED LE EPIC STYLE!!

 

[Astro7]

Looking forward to round 1, when we actually have something to talk about...

 

[Proeagle]

Looking forward to round 1, when we actually have something to talk about...

After seeing gold coast last night, I am dreading our round 1.

 

[WAFoozy]

Basically, if we lose by less than Geelong we're probably edging towards premiership favouritism.

 

[ziad]

After seeing gold coast last night, I am dreading our round 1.

They were very good, in the modern run game building on 666. But manic work rate and pressure played a real role as dog geeling being resposive. We can work hard if nothing else. The midfield is still our weakness but a team defensive effort is required. Beware the GC running half back for example. Ryan will be less missed in this regard.

 

[Avalor]

They were very good, in the modern run game building on 666. But manic work rate and pressure played a real role as dog geeling being resposive. We can work hard if nothing else. The midfield is still our weakness but a team defensive effort is required. Beware the GC running half back for example. Ryan will be less missed in this regard.

Yes, we need to be very careful at the selection table, need runners to go with the Rioli and Noble types.

 

[Proeagle]

They were very good, in the modern run game building on 666. But manic work rate and pressure played a real role as dog geeling being resposive. We can work hard if nothing else. The midfield is still our weakness but a team defensive effort is required. Beware the GC running half back for example. Ryan will be less missed in this regard.

We also saw what happens when you don't have a ruckman. Geelong may struggle a lot more this year when they face teams with dominant ruckman.
Flynn has a hell of a job to do to stop Witts. Witts was dominant and fed the mids all night.

 

[Astro7]

After seeing gold coast last night, I am dreading our round 1.

Bring it on..let's see where we are..we'll really have something to talk about, one way or another.

 

[Elite Pete]

Champion data metrics suggests our 73pt loss should’ve been around the 30pt loss…….

 

[jdisc]

Champion data metrics suggests our 73pt loss should’ve been around the 30pt loss…….

thats what happens when you don't play Bo Allan

 

[Bender_]

thats what happens when you don't play Bo Allan

Bo Allen could technically be one of the 3 debutants as he's been delisted and rerecruited at least 3 times this preseason already.

 

[jdisc]

Going to say it Bo "Generational Talent" Allan is = Gary Ablett Jr.

Ecstatic we got this guy at pick 16, coming from my suburb in Mandurah. As I have said before in here he has elite right hand side but after the excellence I watched last year this "Ball Magician" also has an elite left hand side. Sign him for 15 years and promote the scout that found him, or send him off for testing to see how we can replicate the sheer talent and superiority this kid possesses. Seriously how such greatness make it onto our list ?

 

[Byron_Clanger]

This time next week we'll already be six goals down to Gold Coast. I'm preserving my last week of peace before I see pages upon pages of melts both on here and Twitter

 

[Boohemian]

Out until finals, AFLW etc et al

 

[Bender_]

This time next week we'll already be six goals down to Gold Coast. I'm preserving my last week of peace before I see pages upon pages of melts both on here and Twitter

You've legitimately been melting about how bad we are for the past 3 weeks solid and we haven't even played a game for points yet.

 

[Big_Birdy]

Champion data metrics suggests our 73pt loss should’ve been around the 30pt loss…….

I've alluded to some of that in the game day thread. As McQualter said, it was a strange game for a 73 point loss

 

[Shuestar13]

You've legitimately been melting about how bad we are for the past 3 weeks solid and we haven't even played a game for points yet.

Your reply intrigued me, I had to click show ignored content. I’m out of words honestly… we really need that eye roll react button.

 

[Boohemian]

I've alluded to some of that in the game day thread. As McQualter said, it was a strange game for a 73 point loss

The only strange thing about it was how accurate Port were. They took their opportunities and pulled some things out of their arse. We were putrid though.

I'm looking forward to seeing the three debutants in action though, and looking forward to the continued development of the other youngsters.

 

[Bleedblueandgold]

Happy to see we're trying to erase the mistake of drafting Allan ahead of Reid out of existence by pretending that pick never happened.

 

[Big_Birdy]

The only strange thing about it was how accurate Port were. They took their opportunities and pulled some things out of their arse. We were putrid though.

I'm looking forward to seeing the three debutants in action though, and looking forward to the continued development of the other youngsters.

Agree Ports accuracy was a big factor. but taking 12 marks inside 50 (vs their 16), having less turnovers and having maybe 26/27 shots on goal wouldn't be common for such a heavy loss either.

 

[Cuzz09]

Bring it on..let's see where we are..we'll really have something to talk about, one way or another.

Yep. Hopefully its a really positive effort

 

[FatPizza]

Happy to see we're trying to erase the mistake of drafting Allan ahead of Reid out of existence by pretending that pick never happened.

Ctrl-C

Ctrl-V

Post count goes up.

 

[Convocation]

6 games of footy, cruelled by injury early in his career and getting labelled a failure as a player, and failure by the club in making the decisions they made.
I'd be keeping ALL reciepts on comments re Bo Allan.

 

[Cuzz09]

I just want Bo to play some continuous footy before calling it.

Hes played 6 interrupted games abd I think despite making some errors his best attacking games were from defence but is there room