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

 

[daddy_4_eyes]

Management techniques in all walks off life have moved on from the dark ages mate.

And for the better!

In the corporate world it's worse than it was 20-odd years ago when I was getting started. And all it does it breed anger, resentment and an attitude of prioritising yourself.

 

[We_The_West]

What makes you so sure. Hes behind waterman and shanahan. Hes competing for a 3rd tall ruck against archer and cdt

2026 is his breakout year, he's 42 games into his career and Oscar has departed leaving him space to make a KPF role his own.

Shanahan has played 9 games, let's not get ahead of ourselves and expect him to hold down a full time KPF role against mature KPDs.

 

[Yeahnahmate]

2026 is his breakout year, he's 42 games into his career and Oscar has departed leaving him space to make a KPF role his own.

Shanahan has played 9 games, let's not get ahead of ourselves and expect him to hold down a full time KPF role against mature KPDs.

I disagree with this by having eyes. Shanahan clearly up to it

 

[SAweagle]

Management techniques in all walks off life have moved on from the dark ages mate.

The key is clearly setting expectations and deliverables then holding people accountable. You can do that calmly and measured. Ranting and raving doesn't work

Correct, hence the record productivity highs across all industry and never seen before levels of job satisfaction

 

[ziad]

Correct, hence the record productivty highs across all industry and never seen before levels of job satisfaction

Sad but true

 

[Farmer Lister]

Management techniques in all walks off life have moved on from the dark ages mate.

The key is clearly setting expectations and deliverables then holding people accountable. You can do that calmly and measured. Ranting and raving doesn't work

If anything, getting emotional makes you seem weak and would make you lose respect

 

[bzparkes]

If anything, getting emotional makes you seem weak and would make you lose respect

I worked as a manager/supervisor in hospitality for 15 years before moving into IT(20 years overall). Higher end enviroments such as fine dining, luxury hotels/resorts, etc.

The managers who used to get angry, micro-manage, etc would always get the worst results, or have the most difficult finding staff to fill in shifts because nobody wanted to work for them.

It's not to say I kept my cool 100% of the time but I knew when to show I wasn't happy and also knew when to be lenient and reward people. Never had any issues with staffing and people always wanted to work with me.

I'm not saying the other managers were particularly bad people or anything but it was very clear to me which management style produced the better results, at least in that industry.

Can't speak for other industries.

 

[Marlin01]

It’s great to hear Williams has got himself fit. He’s a skilful footballer and a great kick for goal.

He’ll definitely get a chance in 26 through injury or form, so at least he should be in a physical condition to take his chance.

 

[swingdog]

I disagree with this by having eyes. Shanahan clearly up to it

Great concern are injuries to Waterman and whether he can repeat his breakout year form. Definitely need 3 rotating through there.

Archer should be down back and rucking, CDT hasn't even got on the park yet.

 

[Boots73]

We definitely have a very talented young group of tall towards.

Good to hear the likes of JW coming back in good nick

 

[Yeahnahmate]

Great concern are injuries to Waterman and whether he can repeat his breakout year form. Definitely need 3 rotating through there.

Archer should be down back and rucking, CDT hasn't even got on the park yet.

We don’t under Mini usually push it to a third banana tall unless they are rucking in the first instance & resting up there.

I mean it could be JWill but I think again barring injury it will often look like Waterman, Shanahan +- some CDT experiments and whoever is the chosen ruck (Flynn/Archer/BWill) then resting forward. Going to be tight for spots but let’s see what opportunities arise for him

 

[swingdog]

Archer can't be in the forward line with that goal kicking style.

 

[Bender_]

Did anyone find out watt Mini was yelling at the new read-headed guy?

 

[Chris_6678]

We don’t under Mini usually push it to a third banana tall unless they are rucking in the first instance & resting up there.

I mean it could be JWill but I think again barring injury it will often look like Waterman, Shanahan +- some CDT experiments and whoever is the chosen ruck (Flynn/Archer/BWill) then resting forward. Going to be tight for spots but let’s see what opportunities arise for him

Think the extra spot on the bench means we could away with playing an extra tall in CDT/Ried.

 

[MaxHunt]

Archer can't be in the forward line with that goal kicking style.

I thought his brothers kicking at chb for the dons was pretty good last season

 

[squashface]

Did anyone find out watt Mini was yelling at the new read-headed guy?

Was asking who he was

 

[Doashuey]

Did anyone find out watt Mini was yelling at the new read-headed guy?

Mattingly, I thought I told you to trim those sideburns!

 

[Cuzz09]

who is this red headed guy people are talking about?

 

[We_The_West]

I disagree with this by having eyes. Shanahan clearly up to it

Jobe as the 3rd tall target in his 2nd season would be better for his development and ideally he would kick more goals as 3rd tall.

Shanahan would be monstered by guys like Harris Andrews and Weitering etc if expected to hold down KPD role

 

[bzparkes]

who is this red headed guy people are talking about?

HoneyBadger35

They're filming the new season of The Recruit.

 

[twce13]

We need a Batman and Robin situation though. Maybe get Suma back in to demoralise them like an absolute boss. I could go down as well to be honest

 

[Mr Q]

Have you ever heard of syringage

Essendon isn't a coastal suburb.

 

[TY24]

who is this red headed guy people are talking about?

I think I found him on the website

 

[FKASC]

Essendon isn't a coastal suburb.

Maribyrnong river bank

 

[1986]

I really like the HJ > forwardline move.

He's a crafty player and clever finisher.

LeCras like? Hopefully.