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

 

[Keys]

Hey guys does anyone know if the draftees have their new numbers yet, and what they are?

Heading to open training on Wednesday and it'd be way easier to spot who's who if I had their numbers.

Although last year it seemed like a lot of the numbers were mixed up sometimes even with the established players so who knows!

So far they’ve only been training in singlets/t-shirts so no numbers to help identify anyone. I’ve found it particularly difficult this year to work out who’s who unless they’re within 100m or less. Even then there’s been a couple I’ve been scratching my head over

Last year, maybe the year before, was the first time they regularly used training jumpers with numbers on which made it so much easier to pick players out. Before then it was only numbers on when they were planning full match sim in teams

Hopefully with the full squad back, the proper training jumpers with numbers get unpacked

 

[jdisc]

is "who is that red head" the new "gee venables"

 

[jdisc]

archer absolutely mogged

 

[DorothyG]

I’ve found it particularly difficult this year to work out who’s who unless they’re within 100m or less.

There's a joke somewhere in there about getting old and needing glasses.

But having had to get my 1st pair of prescription glasses a couple weeks ago, I'll let it pass

 

[Bender_]

There's a joke somewhere in there about getting old and needing glasses.

But having had to get my 1st pair of prescription glasses a couple weeks ago, I'll let it pass

Saw Keys at training a couple of weeks back and said to him I couldn't tell who some of the players were coz I didn't bring my glasses.

But seriously it's hard to tell when they're on the otherside of the ground wearing hats and no numbers. Except for Ginbey coz he's

 

[Woobla Stainz]

It’s literally the way he stands. You can see the curvature in his lower spine and it’s not just becuase he has a fat a**. He seems to naturally push his hips forward that pushes his belly out.

He’s clearly in better shape than any other time he’s been at the club. You can see it in his face and in his arm definition.

Anterior pelvic tilt

 

[bzparkes]

It’s literally the way he stands. You can see the curvature in his lower spine and it’s not just becuase he has a fat a**. He seems to naturally push his hips forward that pushes his belly out.

He’s clearly in better shape than any other time he’s been at the club. You can see it in his face and in his arm definition.

Just been practising too much for those insta shots, I reckon.

 

[Keys]

There's a joke somewhere in there about getting old and needing glasses.

But having had to get my 1st pair of prescription glasses a couple weeks ago, I'll let it pass

Already wear glasses because I can’t see distances for shit and haven’t been able to for a long time. Even wear prescription sunnies

Considering going the binoculars route but that feels a very stalkerish thing to do and not at all conspicuous

 

[Matera92]

Already wear glasses because I can’t see distances for shit and haven’t been able to for a long time. Even wear prescription sunnies

Considering going the binoculars route but that feels a very stalkerish thing to do and not at all conspicuous

Not obsessed just a fan then.

 

[Godfather32]

Already wear glasses because I can’t see distances for shit and haven’t been able to for a long time. Even wear prescription sunnies

Considering going the binoculars route but that feels a very stalkerish thing to do and not at all conspicuous

Get yourself a pair of these, they're extremely stealthy

 

[Boohemian]

Already wear glasses because I can’t see distances for shit and haven’t been able to for a long time. Even wear prescription sunnies

Considering going the binoculars route but that feels a very stalkerish thing to do and not at all conspicuous

The great thing about binoculars is that besides footy reports and bird watching, they're really handy at the beach as well.

 

[Goroyals22]

The great thing about binoculars is that besides footy reports and bird watching, they're really handy at the beach as well.

Do you like to monitor the shipping lanes?

 

[Dark Sharks]

Considering how awful Barnett is at football when he's actually fit, I can't imagine this knee brace will do him any favours with his early form this year.

Gonna be starting from a fair way back fitness wise and playing catchup now.

That contract of his, oh boy.

 

[WCErevival]

Didn't Barnett turn into Max Gawn

11

Max Gawn

Age

34

Ht

209cm

Wt

110kg

Pos.

Ruck

Career

Season

Last 5

D

14.1

4star

K

7.4

3star

HB

6.7

4star

CL

2.8

4star

HO

35.3

5star

D

18.5

4star

K

11.5

4star

HB

7.0

4star

CL

3.5

4star

HO

29.2

5star

D

8.4

3star

K

3.6

2star

HB

4.8

4star

CL

1.0

3star

HO

15.6

5star

in his final game of the WAFL or did I dream that.

 

[Dark Sharks]

He never ever did anything in the ruck.

However, he definitely had a habit of being absolutely useless for 98% of a game, then suddenly playing like prime Jason Dunstall up forward in a random purple patch


Did it in multiple games.

 

[THE A5]

He never ever did anything in the ruck.

However, he definitely had a habit of being absolutely useless for 98% of a game, then suddenly playing like prime Jason Dunstall up forward in a random purple patch


Did it in multiple games.

He literally did nothing for close to 18 months and then had like 2 ok games ana d couple games where he was on for a total of 5 minutes.

Like I can give the club some benefit of doubt for keeping if he wasn’t injured. But the fact he had to have surgery and miss some preseason meant thats he is already coming off way back. In theory should have been an easy delist.


Not say Coen should have been kept on the list but I defs can see Linvington have a very good year next season while Barnetts looks lost

 

[Keys]

He never ever did anything in the ruck.

However, he definitely had a habit of being absolutely useless for 98% of a game, then suddenly playing like prime Jason Dunstall up forward in a random purple patch


Did it in multiple games.

Bit like your quality of posting ratio then

 

[stallon]

If Barnett can figure it all out with a better development environment around him that would be massive for our rebuild.

Leaves us with probably 1 extra "good" young tall.

Shanahan or Archer would probably have to go be defenders for a while

 

[jdisc]

He never ever did anything in the ruck.

However, he definitely had a habit of being absolutely useless for 98% of a game, then suddenly playing like prime Jason Dunstall up forward in a random purple patch


Did it in multiple games.

did he though, or did he simply just start actually playing football and our expectations are so low that we thought he became prime messi

 

[Farmer Lister]

Considering going the binoculars route

That's actually a great idea and I have no issue with doing that. Going to bring a pair with me on Wednesday

 

[UseR2006]

So they new boys should be there Today, CDT mentioned on a pod linked in his thread that he and the other lads were flying in Sunday.

 

[GoEaglesGoSGIO]

Boys Iam deadass
I saw Ryan Maric and Harry ****ing Barnett at the cricket

Harry’s now in a knee brace and limping around Optus.
How’s this bloke still on our list

I think this is a good sign. Perhaps its a troublesome knee thats held him back in this entire time and now he has it fixed he is about to go prime Dean Cox on us all ?

We.Believe

 

[PremiershipNo4]

Didn't Barnett turn into Max Gawn in his final game of the WAFL or did I dream that.

I think he took some strong marks and played a decent quarter.
Barnett or Banfield, I know who I’d prefer on the eagles list.
Although WC may well have drafted Fred with our last pick, rather than matching a bid on Banfield.

 

[Byron_Clanger]

So they new boys should be there Today, CDT mentioned on a pod linked in his thread that he and the other lads were flying in Sunday.

Yeah, if I recall from last years group they all did light run-throughs off to the side while the main group did their usual training. Maybe they joined in here and there but the first week in is usually really light.

 

[WCE_Phill]

If Barnett can figure it all out with a better development environment around him that would be massive for our rebuild.

Leaves us with probably 1 extra "good" young tall.

Shanahan or Archer would probably have to go be defenders for a while

I think anyone that mention Shanahan as a KPD should be carded or have a short band. He's a forward ffs, give him another 2 years and he'll be talked in the same breathe as Dacry and Morris as one of the best young key forwards in the game