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

 

[RanaNaved]

I’ve always said we need more rock hard and seasoned blokes in their mid to late 20s

Preferably with 12 inch penises to intimidate the opposition

 

[Bender_]

Really strong through the arse area.

 

[DorothyG]

 

[THE A5]

I’ve always said we need more rock hard and seasoned blokes in their mid to late 20s

Last time I was rock hard watching the eagles, I too was in my mid to late 20’s. Reckon it was when we were on that 8 game spree in 2020 and we basically goaled from every centre clearance cause of Nic Nat.

 

[Mighty Eagles]

View attachment 2524806

Was a very good player while we were in transition in the early 2000s.

Played while having CFS which is no mean feat.

 

[Goroyals22]

Was a very good player while we were in transition in the early 2000s.

Played while having CFS which is no mean feat.

Also the fact the bloke played whilst having no bloody clue who his team mates were at anytime during his career is to be admired…

 

[fullbull]

Was over 10 goals though wasn't it?

Yep - 14.17.101 to 5.9.39. Pretty much an annihilation if you ask me.

 

[Rowan18]

Was over 10 goals though wasn't it?

Yep - some ******* on here actually quit following the Eagles over it (I think jumped on Gold Coast or Freo). What a sucker

User name is 88MPH or something like that.

 

[bzparkes]

Yep - some ******* on here actually quit following the Eagles over it (I think jumped on Gold Coast or Freo). What a sucker

User name is 88MPH or something like that.

He headed over tot he Freo board, still posts there from time to time.

Some people really don't like to admit when they're wrong.

 

[jesterwester]

I remember Simmo talking about that period and being a bit worried after that match but it was Shuey that assured him things would all work out ok.

The rest as they said was history.

Those melts post match were particularly melty though. Always a good reminder to not trust pre-season form too much.

 

[bUCKET__]

Yep - 14.17.101 to 5.9.39. Pretty much an annihilation if you ask me.

Pretty competitive compared to last few years, really

 

[FKASC]

Those melts post match were particularly melty though. Always a good reminder to not trust pre-season form too much.

I remember being at a camping festival and couldn’t get much phone reception. Once it finally kicked in again I saw the final score and the aftermath on this board - it honestly felt like a funeral

 

[Elite Pete]

 

[EagleMan87]

I remember Simmo talking about that period and being a bit worried after that match but it was Shuey that assured him things would all work out ok.

The rest as they said was history.

Those melts post match were particularly melty though. Always a good reminder to not trust pre-season form too much.

Didn't they go into that match saying 'play your natural game'; not having a proper game plan?

 

[Proeagle]

Yep - some ******* on here actually quit following the Eagles over it (I think jumped on Gold Coast or Freo). What a sucker

User name is 88MPH or something like that.

Good. We don't want supporters that can't handle a bad period. We have been so successful since we joined the AFL that we are spoilt as a supporter base. Yes its sucked in the last few years but real supporters stick thru the tough times.

How exciting is it now. A young talented team that we know will go well in future years. At least we are not the Saints or the bombers. Bombers haven't won a final in the 2000's and saints haven't been successful since 1966 lol.

I'm so proud of our supporters though in the last few years. We have almost sold out every game, even though we probably knew it might be a flogging. No other team can boast that. It's been regularly mentioned in our games by the commentators.

 

[evans1863]

Good. We don't want supporters that can't handle a bad period. We have been so successful since we joined the AFL that we are spoilt as a supporter base. Yes its sucked in the last few years but real supporters stick thru the tough times.

How exciting is it now. A young talented team that we know will go well in future years. At least we are not the Saints or the bombers. Bombers haven't won a final in the 2000's and saints haven't been successful since 1966 lol.

I'm so proud of our supporters though in the last few years. We have almost sold out every game, even though we probably knew it might be a flogging. No other team can boast that. It's been regularly mentioned in our games by the commentators.

As Cantona once said, you can change your wife, politics, religion, but you can never change your football team.

Ex-PM David Cameron got massive backlash when he mixed up his teams in a Q&A.

Can't believe someone actually did this over a pre-season result. Makes me inclined to think it's just a troll and not a real person.

 

[ziad]

Good. We don't want supporters that can't handle a bad period. We have been so successful since we joined the AFL that we are spoilt as a supporter base. Yes its sucked in the last few years but real supporters stick thru the tough times.

How exciting is it now. A young talented team that we know will go well in future years. At least we are not the Saints or the bombers. Bombers haven't won a final in the 2000's and saints haven't been successful since 1966 lol.

I'm so proud of our supporters though in the last few years. We have almost sold out every game, even though we probably knew it might be a flogging. No other team can boast that. It's been regularly mentioned in our games by the commentators.

We are well trained my son.

 

[woosha24]

Im confused by the last few pages. Are we getting rock hard for the team this year or not? Or do we need big penises and strong arses for that?

 

[Alesana]

Most clubs seem to be doing this, some even live-streaming it.

Where did you find this info?

 

[ghostbat12]

As Cantona once said, you can change your wife, politics, religion, but you can never change your football team.

Ex-PM David Cameron got massive backlash when he mixed up his teams in a Q&A.

Can't believe someone actually did this over a pre-season result. Makes me inclined to think it's just a troll and not a real person.

That’s a bit rich by Eric Cantona given he changed his wife (multiple times) and football team (again multiple times). Very busy stuffing around with politics and as for religion, well that’s probably least controversial of the lot so he can have that one.

 

[ghostbat12]

Yep - some ******* on here actually quit following the Eagles over it (I think jumped on Gold Coast or Freo). What a sucker

User name is 88MPH or something like that.

Half of freo fans changed teams, so he will fit right in. Freo fans spend endless energy identifying those that weren’t original Freo fans and themselves convincing others that there was no other team before them. They were all virgins before marriage, so to speak.

 

[Mighty Eagles]

I remember Simmo talking about that period and being a bit worried after that match but it was Shuey that assured him things would all work out ok.

The rest as they said was history.

Those melts post match were particularly melty though. Always a good reminder to not trust pre-season form too much.

Yep, there are a lot of variables impacting results at that time of the season’s cycle.

 

[Avalor]

Don Pyke, aye, had almost forgotten about him.

 

[Forward Press]

That’s a bit rich by Eric Cantona given he changed his wife (multiple times) and football team (again multiple times).

99% (or maybe even more) of professional football players change teams. That's the nature of the job.

However, the club they have cheered on and supported since they were a boy should always remain the same, even if for some reason or another they never played professional football with them.

 

[Shueygod]

Where did you find this info?

Saw it on the SuperCoach board, think Richmond and Essendon were two of the clubs streaming it.