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

 

[matt_bas]

The below is the OG faux training report from nearly 9 years ago - often imitated but never surpassed



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

I'll happily take my 1 week ban once a year to give most a chuckle after a long season.

 

[Elite Pete]

Will be interesting to see what old boys turn up tomorrow.

 

[Keys]

Will be interesting to see what old boys turn up tomorrow.

Probably not many, if any, tomorrow

First day back is more settling in and assessing what shape the players are in - they possibly also do a 2km time trial or the extended beep type test they’ve done under Inness the last 2 years

Old boys maybe filtering through from Wednesday

 

[matt_bas]

Probably not many, if any, tomorrow

First day back is more settling in and assessing what shape the players are in - they possibly also do a 2km time trial or the extended beep type test they’ve done under Inness the last 2 years

Old boys maybe filtering through from Wednesday

Would be disappointed if Kelly, Cripps etc don't at least make a show. I'd expect Duggan to be there.

 

[Barrybran]

Will be interesting to see what old boys turn up tomorrow.

You mean other than Keys?

 

[Barrybran]

I would like to see Baker at training tomorrow at the very least. Set the standards from the start. Ideally Duggan and Graham turn up for the same reason.

 

[DorothyG]

Anyone going to turn up in The red jeep tomorrow?

 

[southcoast]

Aside from Yeo's performance during pre-season I'm interested to see if Waterman has overcome his 'car crash' and how he goes.

 

[eaglevision]

Aside from Yeo's performance during pre-season I'm interested to see if Waterman has overcome his 'car crash' and how he goes.

Jake was flying

 

[matt_bas]

Essendon with 35 on the track to start preseason today. Needs to be a similar showing from our senior players especially.

 

[southcoast]

I want to see Gross come back 10kg heavier and be a pure nugget midfielder.

It will be interesting to see how much work TG has been doing in the gym since last game - like you I want to see more muscle and endurance capacity on/in him. I see potential there and I hope he can make the grade for us.

 

[Bender_]

Essendon with 35 on the track to start preseason today. Needs to be a similar showing from our senior players especially.

Is Merrett one of the 35?

 

[Deepthroat]

Is Merrett one of the 35?

Reportedly not there.

 

[LittleFires]

I’ve got a feeling the “major announcement” Goss was teasing for 9:20am was announcing that we’re partnering with Allianz.

There’s a media flock on the oval now who appear to be taking photos of the goal posts, which have Allianz branded padding on them. The big electronic sign on the oval also has the Allianz logo next to the WCE logo with the catchphrase “flying higher together” on it.

 

[TY24]

I’ve got a feeling the “major announcement” Goss was teasing for 9:20am was announcing that we’re partnering with Allianz.

There’s a media flock on the oval now who appear to be taking photos of the goal posts, which have Allianz branded padding on them. The big electronic sign on the oval also has the Allianz logo next to the WCE logo with the catchphrase “flying higher together” on it.

Yeah they sent out a members first email about it this morning. They're replacing Caltex as the collar sponsor.

 

[kempy]

Yeah they sent out a members first email about it this morning. They're replacing Caltex as the collar sponsor.

What a time to be alive!

 

[MaxHunt]

I’ve got a feeling the “major announcement” Goss was teasing for 9:20am was announcing that we’re partnering with Allianz.

There’s a media flock on the oval now who appear to be taking photos of the goal posts, which have Allianz branded padding on them. The big electronic sign on the oval also has the Allianz logo next to the WCE logo with the catchphrase “flying higher together” on it.

Cmon man, focus. We need training reports from you.

 

[Chris_6678]

Steve Allen

@ScubaStv
·
30s


Elliot Yeo

6

Elliot Yeo

Age

32

Ht

191cm

Wt

91kg

Pos.

Mid

Career

Season

Last 5

D

19.5

5star

K

11.7

4star

HB

7.8

5star

M

4.6

4star

T

4.5

5star

CL

3.0

4star

D

18.9

4star

K

10.9

4star

HB

8.0

4star

M

2.1

2star

T

5.8

5star

CL

5.5

5star

D

16.6

4star

K

9.4

4star

HB

7.2

5star

M

3.6

4star

T

0.6

3star

CL

1.4

4star

, Jamie Cripps

15

Jamie Cripps

Age

33

Ht

184cm

Wt

83kg

Pos.

Fwd

Career

Season

Last 5

D

12.7

3star

K

7.9

3star

HB

4.8

3star

M

3.6

4star

T

3.9

5star

G

1.3

5star

D

10.3

3star

K

6.3

3star

HB

4.0

3star

M

2.4

3star

T

2.4

3star

G

0.4

3star

D

6.4

2star

K

4.2

2star

HB

2.2

2star

M

1.0

1star

T

2.4

4star

G

1.4

5star

, Liam Duggan

14

Liam Duggan

Age

29

Ht

186cm

Wt

83kg

Pos.

Def

Career

Season

Last 5

D

15.4

4star

K

10.1

4star

HB

5.3

4star

M

4.4

4star

T

2.1

4star

MG

283.7

4star

D

16.0

4star

K

12.0

5star

HB

4.0

3star

M

5.7

5star

T

1.1

2star

MG

283.7

4star

D

13.2

4star

K

7.8

3star

HB

5.4

4star

M

4.0

4star

T

1.2

3star

, Jake Waterman

2

Jake Waterman

Age

27

Ht

192cm

Wt

92kg

Pos.

Fwd

Career

Season

Last 5

D

11.3

3star

K

7.9

3star

HB

3.4

3star

M

5.2

5star

T

1.2

3star

G

1.0

4star

D

9.8

2star

K

7.8

3star

HB

2.0

1star

M

5.8

5star

T

0.3

1star

G

1.5

5star

D

12.2

3star

K

7.6

3star

HB

4.6

4star

M

4.6

5star

T

1.6

4star

G

0.8

4star

and Bailey Williams also training.

Steve Allen

@ScubaStv
·
3m


Harley Reid cornrows present as the Eagles 1st-4th year players return to training. Don Pyke has welcomed the wildcard round and hopes
@WestCoastEagles
can be part of it
@10SportAU

 

[Eastcoasteagle]

Saw George Hewett

29

George Hewett

Age

30

Ht

187cm

Wt

87kg

Pos.

Mid

Career

Season

Last 5

D

17.7

4star

K

7.4

3star

HB

10.3

5star

M

2.7

3star

T

4.1

5star

CL

3.3

5star

D

13.8

3star

K

4.8

2star

HB

9.0

4star

M

1.8

2star

T

3.2

4star

CL

2.8

4star

D

11.2

3star

K

7.8

3star

HB

3.4

3star

M

3.4

4star

T

4.0

5star

CL

0.4

3star

at the aths track this morning, he looked in good condition. Flying through his 100s.

 

[Chris_6678]

Saw George Hewett at the aths track this morning, he looked in good condition. Flying through his 100s.

Did he get traded to WC?>

 

[dajesmac]

Did he get traded to WC?>

It’s a typo he meant Jennifer Love-Hewett

 

[LittleFires]

Hamish Davis has outlasted all his peers and won the MAS running test for the 1st-4th year players. Clay Hall runner up.

 

[Chris_6678]

Ryan Daniels

@FootyRhino
·
4m


1-4 year players back for
@WestCoastEagles
this morning.MAS test for the players - Harley Reid started strong but has just pulled out, pointing to his calf. Could be cramp, warm conditions.

 

[FKASC]

Ryan Daniels
@FootyRhino
·
4m


1-4 year players back for
@WestCoastEagles
this morning.MAS test for the players - Harley Reid started strong but has just pulled out, pointing to his calf. Could be cramp, warm conditions.

Fold

 

[eagleskickass]

Ryan Daniels
@FootyRhino
·
4m


1-4 year players back for
@WestCoastEagles
this morning.MAS test for the players - Harley Reid started strong but has just pulled out, pointing to his calf. Could be cramp, warm conditions.

And so it begins...