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

 

[RustyShacklefordFalcon]

That has to be photoshopped. No way that is Archer

Players usually look a bit bigger mid-handball, probably wouldn't look that jacked just standing still...but its definitely him and he's put a heap of size on, like most players this preseason. We're looking really fit and strong, good signs.

 

[Elite Pete]

JWill does appear to have the blue jumper on the same as the other defenders. Ginbey, HEdwards, Starcevich ect

Could be an interesting move if they are going that way over AReid moving back. I thought Williams ruck work and around the ground was alright.

 

[squashface]

Not sure I see JWill as a natural backman. Everything about him screams forward to me

 

[DorothyG]

Were the lads on the park this morning?

I was out in it and it was roasting very early. Would have been a tough session

 

[Proeagle]

No news is good news

No news is Eagles news.

 

[garlic munchers]

I believe he prefers the term “fire crotch”

Most don't.

My ex also took offence at being called a ginger crotch and got really upset when I took her razor away on a camping trip without asking if I could take it:

 

[Byron_Clanger]

Were the lads on the park this morning?

I was out in it and it was roasting very early. Would have been a tough session

Don't think so. Monday's, Wednesday's and Friday's have been the days since they've been back. They posted this an hour ago but it could be from yesterday.

 

[LittleFires]

JWill does appear to have the blue jumper on the same as the other defenders. Ginbey, HEdwards, Starcevich ect

Could be an interesting move if they are going that way over AReid moving back. I thought Williams ruck work and around the ground was alright.

FWIW I haven’t seen Jack Williams training with the backs at all this preseason.

The drill they posted involved our key position players going up against each other in a marking drill. It may have been that they had odd numbers and put one of the forwards as a back.

Interesting that they’d choose JWill for that, but I’d be surprised if there’s anything in that. I’ll take a closer look on Friday

 

[Keys]

JWill does appear to have the blue jumper on the same as the other defenders. Ginbey, HEdwards, Starcevich ect

Could be an interesting move if they are going that way over AReid moving back. I thought Williams ruck work and around the ground was alright.

Can’t say I’ve noticed JWill working with the backs at any stage. He has joined the other rucks doing craft work with Naitanui on occasion so that bit of vision might be him spending time as a ruck in match sim

Flynn and Reid have been the predominant players used as rucks in any match sim work - B Williams and Barnett are in rehab whilst CDT is being used solely as a forward. Means that if they want to use either Reid or Flynn as a forward rotation then JWill is the only option to play as a stand in ruck

Shanahan and Waterman are playing as the main forwards whilst Edwards, Brock, Bazzo and occasionally Young (who’s slowly integrating into contact work after shoulder surgery) are playing as KPDs

 

[TheBudgies]

Feel like Archer is the better KPB if we were to move him or JW. JW is such a beautiful set shot.

 

[southcoast]

LittleFires and Keys tag teaming in this thread.

 

[SAweagle]

Battle of the big boys is must watch this off season

Has to be a make or break for Jack Williams, he has the tools to be a read the play interceptor in defense, generally uses the ball beautifully he can ruck and get around the ground and has proven to have natural forward instincts. Confidence and fitness letting him down at times but coming back at PB fitness levels is an indicator Jilliams is about to put it all together

Interesting to see how quickly CDT handles the step up at wafl level playing as a big man, maybe he is in round 1, can work through a few different roles like Jilliams and A.Reid, has to have confidence in his own game

Archer Reid taking shit seriously with the upgraded rig, so much potential in multiple roles

Flynn and Billiams have to improve if they want to stay on the list let alone play regularly

In the defensive KP mix Young Brock Hedwards, Starce Ginbey and Hough are elite defensively and have offensive capabilities, rangy runners in Durrsma McCarthy & Allan/Grego, pressure for spots finally a thing again

 

[RustyShacklefordFalcon]

LittleFires and Keys tag teaming in this thread.

You rang?

 

[RustyShacklefordFalcon]

Feel like Archer is the better KPB if we were to move him or JW. JW is such a beautiful set shot.

I think Arch RUC/FWD is what we're gonna get...Arch KPD doesn't look like eventuating.

JW is a beautiful set shot, you're 100% right about that. Squeeze for talls up front now, I hope we manage to find a spot for him where his forward craft isn't wasted.

 

[squashface]

I think Arch RUC/FWD is what we're gonna get...Arch KPD doesn't look like eventuating.

JW is a beautiful set shot, you're 100% right about that. Squeeze for talls up front now, I hope we manage to find a spot for him where his forward craft isn't wasted.

JWill should just be next one up imo.

Waterman and Shanahan the KPFs, Flynn and AReid the rucks. There are always going to be injuries and JWill can slot into either ruck or forward so he has that going for him. Obviously JWill may seek opportunity elsewhere if he is playing WAFL most weeks with a fit list.

In time post Waterman, we could see Shanahan and JWill as KPFs with AReid and CDT as the rucks.

 

[FKASC]

Feel like Archer is the better KPB if we were to move him or JW. JW is such a beautiful set shot.

Yeah… let’s move our best set shot into the backline lol

 

[RustyShacklefordFalcon]

JWill should just be next one up imo.

Waterman and Shanahan the KPFs, Flynn and AReid the rucks. There are always going to be injuries and JWill can slot into either ruck or forward so he has that going for him. Obviously JWill may seek opportunity elsewhere if he is playing WAFL most weeks with a fit list.

In time post Waterman, we could see Shanahan and JWill as KPFs with AReid and CDT as the rucks.

I can't really argue with that. I guess we'll know more as the pre-season progresses.

 

[FKASC]

Harry looking absolutely awful and likely to be discarded at first opportunity based on that clip

 

[Bender_]

Harry looking absolutely awful and likely to be discarded at first opportunity based on that clip

He and Bo in a race to be delisted before Christmas.

 

[Keys]

Rueben being Rueben



Jobe looking swole

 

[Keys]

Harry looking absolutely awful and likely to be discarded at first opportunity based on that clip

This clip?

 

[gravy_86]

Jack graham

17

Jack Graham

Age

28

Ht

181cm

Wt

85kg

Pos.

M/F

Career

Season

Last 5

D

14.7

4star

K

8.0

3star

HB

6.8

4star

M

2.1

2star

T

6.3

5star

CL

1.8

4star

D

11.8

3star

K

5.3

2star

HB

6.5

4star

M

2.8

3star

T

4.2

5star

CL

1.2

4star

D

14.0

4star

K

6.0

3star

HB

8.0

5star

M

1.8

2star

T

7.0

5star

CL

3.2

5star

so fast he’s got the motion blur going on

 

[Bender_]

This clip?

Like seeing CDT know he's been beat and go the fist instead of an unrealistic marking attempt.

 

[RanaNaved]

You can really see in the marking drill how much more dynamic and fleet footed CDT and Archer are than JWill

 

[bzparkes]

This clip?

A pisstake based on DSP's recent comments, methinks.