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Training Preseason Training Thread - 2026

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I think you’ve made that up.
It was just after COVID so the workers had zero reason to stay up there. Ill see if i can dig the information out. Theirs a website somewhere spruiking it

In any sense the spot now has modular homes on it that they built down here and drove up
 
Finally we've crossed the bridge into the new year. Crickets nearly over (Ashes) and footy training recommences soon. The preseason will gear up with expectations and surprises, maybe a disappointment or two, but certainly lots of speculation here on BF. Then the scratchies will be upon us and BOOM...round 1, season proper. Bring it on.
AFL Origin - 14th Feb. Optus
Scratchie - 1st March. Port Adelaide. Mineral resources Park.
Round 1 - 15th March. Gold Coast (away)
(disclaimer: unfortunately it's exactly 2 months to the scratchie, something that gives us a real glimpse at our new team, players, coaching, gameplan and our future for 2026.)
Didn’t realise till now but AFL taking the piss by playing a game of origin in perth in mid feb. that time of the years is the hottest part of the year in Perth.

I
 
Didn’t realise till now but AFL taking the piss by playing a game of origin in perth in mid feb. that time of the years is the hottest part of the year in Perth.

I
Yep, Optus be like an air-fryer!
 

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Yep, Optus be like an air-fryer!
Playing in summer makes it that much of a novelty. Like wasn’t expecting to have that much intensity but it will very much be like a trail game like intensity with the heat.
 
The Perth temperature on 14th Feb 2025 was 16/32 deg C. (not too hot for a night game). Let's see what happen in 2026.
 
So after withering away for years in Victoria, will players like [PLAYERCARD]Patrick Cripps[/PLAYERCARD] melt in the sun or harness their Perth born sun powers?

Are we Superman?
 
Playing in summer makes it that much of a novelty. Like wasn’t expecting to have that much intensity but it will very much be like a trail game like intensity with the heat.
All big boys, surely they can handle it, there'll be spray-fans and golden gatorade showers etc - be more interested in getting a gauge on teams progress in the scratchies.
 
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The big question about the Origin game is will it be for real, or will it be like WWE with all the players agreeing not to tackle each other or put anybody at risk of an injury. Also, how many players come down with some kind of minor muscle strain in the two weeks before the game and have to pull out (because their club has told them to).

I have a feeling it will be a total farce. Most clubs are not even prepared to put their star players on for a half a game in an intra club scratchie at that time of year. Yet we are expecting them to give the green light to their best players to play in a full scale Origin game? I think most clubs will try and get late scratchings for their players. The AFL will have to have done some serious corralling of the clubs for this game to be real.
 
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The big question about the Origin game is will it be for real, or will it be like WWE with all the players agreeing not to tackle each other or put anybody at risk of an injury. Also, how many players come down with some kind of minor muscle strain in the two weeks before the game and have to pull out (because their club has told them to).

I have a feeling it will be a total farce. Most clubs are not even prepared to put their star players on for a half a game in an intra club scratchie at that time of year. Yet we are expecting them to give the green light to their best players to play in a full scale Origin game? I think most clubs will try and get late scratchings for their players. The AFL will have to have done some serious corralling of the clubs for this game to be real.

The Indigenous All Star game last year against Freo was pretty good, wasn't a farce at all. Both teams put in a decent effort, not going 100% but it wasn't like the NBA All-star game with no def.
 
Having the origin game during preseason makes sense

It doesn’t impact the season proper with teams having to release players when they’re competing. Instead they get a preseason hitout at a time when they’re trying to get conditioning and touch into their players

Each club will have somewhere between 2-6 players involved and they’ll be playing origin instead of a practice match. Injuries would be a risk in either

I’m not super invested in SOO because it no longer holds the attraction it did in the late 70’s/early 80’s but if it’s going to have any chance it f succeeding, then this timing is the best option
 
Having the origin game during preseason makes sense

It doesn’t impact the season proper with teams having to release players when they’re competing. Instead they get a preseason hitout at a time when they’re trying to get conditioning and touch into their players

Each club will have somewhere between 2-6 players involved and they’ll be playing origin instead of a practice match. Injuries would be a risk in either

I’m not super invested in SOO because it no longer holds the attraction it did in the late 70’s/early 80’s but if it’s going to have any chance it f succeeding, then this timing is the best option
Respectfully disagree.

A State of Origin Final on the Friday night before the Grand Final, built from players from clubs that aren’t in the Grand Final would be much better.

Run it as a tri-nations-style round robin in the lead-up, but with four teams: WA, SA, Vic, and Allies. Schedule it across the first three weeks of AFL finals: Week 1 WA v SA, Vic v Allies; Week 2 Vic v WA, SA v Allies; Week 3 SA v Vic, WA v Allies (fixtures can be shuffled to suit finals travel, stadium suitability etc.).

The top two "states" then play the SoO “Final” at the MCG on the Friday night after the parade. Guaranteed sellout. Melbourne would be buzzing.

Financial incentives for the players of the winning "state" to drive willing participation.

I'd much rather they introduce this than the preseason SoO or the "Wildcard".
 
Respectfully disagree.

A State of Origin Final on the Friday night before the Grand Final, built from players from clubs that aren’t in the Grand Final would be much better.

Run it as a tri-nations-style round robin in the lead-up, but with four teams: WA, SA, Vic, and Allies. Schedule it across the first three weeks of AFL finals: Week 1 WA v SA, Vic v Allies; Week 2 Vic v WA, SA v Allies; Week 3 SA v Vic, WA v Allies (fixtures can be shuffled to suit finals travel, stadium suitability etc.).

The top two "states" then play the SoO “Final” at the MCG on the Friday night after the parade. Guaranteed sellout. Melbourne would be buzzing.

Financial incentives for the players of the winning "state" to drive willing participation.

I'd much rather they introduce this than the preseason SoO or the "Wildcard".
Would potentially end up with the dregs of the clubs because guys go into post season surgery as soon as they finish up. At least the late preseason slot theoretically has everyone as fit and healthy as they could be and therefore the best availability for the stars.
 
No interest in going to the footy in the middle of ****ing February, but keen on a WA polo shirt ... If they weren't $80 or whatever they are 😩
 

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Respectfully disagree.

A State of Origin Final on the Friday night before the Grand Final, built from players from clubs that aren’t in the Grand Final would be much better.

Run it as a tri-nations-style round robin in the lead-up, but with four teams: WA, SA, Vic, and Allies. Schedule it across the first three weeks of AFL finals: Week 1 WA v SA, Vic v Allies; Week 2 Vic v WA, SA v Allies; Week 3 SA v Vic, WA v Allies (fixtures can be shuffled to suit finals travel, stadium suitability etc.).

The top two "states" then play the SoO “Final” at the MCG on the Friday night after the parade. Guaranteed sellout. Melbourne would be buzzing.

Financial incentives for the players of the winning "state" to drive willing participation.

I'd much rather they introduce this than the preseason SoO or the "Wildcard".
So players have just completed a full season and been knocked out of finals and you think they’d care about state of origin. They are crying out for a rest and recovery after a long season. They all make enough money that you’d have to offer them serious coin to remain invested.
 

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