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

 

[Byron_Clanger]

If we never got Baker (and Graham), then odds are that Harley would have left or would leave.

Oscar would have probably stayed, so no CDT...

Jagga probably asks to leave... if we even drafted him over Draper.

Too many hypotheticals.

Surrender to what is, let go of what was, have faith in what will be.

Did we also not offer the future first rounder that was going to be pick 3/Baker/Jagga to GWS so we could get Curtin but GWS went with Adelaide's offer instead? I remember seeing that story like a year ago or shortly after that draft.

Yeah we lost out on Jagga but I'll wait and see how Bo goes...Duursma, CDT and Lindsay a year later is a dream haul for us.

 

[Byron_Clanger]

For whoever's interested, the club updated all the player profile pics on the website. No more pasted head on weird bodies for the new fellas.

Official AFL Website of the West Coast Eagles

The Official AFL Website of the West Coast Eagles

www.westcoasteagles.com.au

 

[Dark Sharks]

Still haven't updated the heights though.

Mcqualter reckons Thrillem is 194 now, rather than 191.


Don't start the season until this is fixed plz.

 

[Cuzz09]

clearly the only way to win this deal is We win a flag with Bo Allan, Baker and Owies contributing a bucket load.

No other possibility

 

[bzparkes]

clearly the only way to win this deal is We win a flag with Bo Allan, Baker and Owies contributing a bucket load.

No other possibility

Why?

What if Carlton fail to win one during Jagga's tenure?

 

[Elite Pete]

Haha, fair enough, the lack of info on Ginbey is a little concerning for me, especially when it’s a foot.

Baker not going to the Captains day, so a bit of a wait and see until tomorrow when he should be named.

Hough the only one who looks certain to be off the injury list for round 1. Let’s see how the rest progress over the next couple of weeks.

 

[Happy Mastenator]

Why?

What if Carlton fail to win one during Jagga's tenure?

Well that's a given isn't it? Since the paper bags have been more heavily policed they haven't looked like it.

 

[bzparkes]

Well that's a given isn't it? Since the paper bags have been more heavily policed they haven't looked like it.

True.

No loss to us in that case. It only matters if Jagga leads them to a flag and we don't win one.

 

[RanaNaved]

clearly the only way to win this deal is We win a flag with Bo Allan, Baker and Owies contributing a bucket load.

No other possibility

What?! Chris Masten 2.0 ain't that good

 

[Cuzz09]

Id be more annoyed if Chesser wins one than Jagga TBH

 

[Cuzz09]

If JK hadnt led us to the 18 flag (with a little help from Masto) who wins the Judd trade?

Basically would've been 1 Brownlow v 2 Colemans

 

[Elite Pete]

If JK hadnt led us to the 18 flag (with a little help from Masto) who wins the Judd trade?

Basically would've been 1 Brownlow v 2 Colemans

Win/win but the flag clearly gives it to the eagles

 

[RustyShacklefordFalcon]

Haha, fair enough, the lack of info on Ginbey is a little concerning for me, especially when it’s a foot.

No moon boot = No worries

 

[Happy Mastenator]

If JK hadnt led us to the 18 flag (with a little help from Masto) who wins the Judd trade?

Basically would've been 1 Brownlow v 2 Colemans

Eagles by far. We still would have played in two grand finals (15 and 18). Something Carlton would give their first borns to achieve

 

[twce13]

Id be more annoyed if Chesser wins one than Jagga TBH

I don’t think you need to worry.

 

[Ilkka Sinisalo]

Eagles by far. We still would have played in two grand finals (15 and 18). Something Carlton would give their first borns to achieve

It's an easy call. Judd played 145 games for the Blues, probably well into the decline phase of his career for the last 40 or so.

Kennedy and Masten played near 500 games for us, Kennedy becoming one of the top key forwards in the league for the better part of a decade, and Masten played a solid if unspectacular role on the wing and finished in the top 10 of the B&F a few times.

Nobody's going to be upset about having Chris Judd, but when you can get more than 3x as many games from one elite player and one solid contributor, you take that every time.

 

[Happy Mastenator]

It's an easy call. Judd played 145 games for the Blues, probably well into the decline phase of his career for the last 40 or so.

Kennedy and Masten played near 500 games for us, Kennedy becoming one of the top key forwards in the league for the better part of a decade, and Masten played a solid if unspectacular role on the wing and finished in the top 10 of the B&F a few times.

Nobody's going to be upset about having Chris Judd, but when you can get more than 3x as many games from one elite player and one solid contributor, you take that every time.

When his kids choose to play for us under the f/s and d/s rules then i think the debate will be well and truly over.

 

[MaxHunt]

Still haven't updated the heights though.

Mcqualter reckons Thrillem is 194 now, rather than 191.


Don't start the season until this is fixed plz.

Be good if CDT ends up around the 205 mark.

 

[Luxor]

Did we also not offer the future first rounder that was going to be pick 3/Baker/Jagga to GWS so we could get Curtin but GWS went with Adelaide's offer instead? I remember seeing that story like a year ago or shortly after that draft.

Yeah we lost out on Jagga but I'll wait and see how Bo goes...Duursma, CDT and Lindsay a year later is a dream haul for us.

Yeah and if I remember correctly we also tried to use that future first to try and trade up for Caddy.
So a few knock-ons from that because if we get Caddy I'm assuming we don't also draft another Key Forward in Archer Reid.

 

[Matele]

we named co-coptains and yet neither of them went to captains day. That said my gosh this just might be a glimpse into our future.
View attachment 2534409

Which of the 4 premierships that he captained is this photo from?

 

[Convocation]

It's good to see the Preseason Training Thread - 2026 gets so rarely derailed these days into conversations like:

• Who won the Judd trade
• Pick 3, Baker and Jagga
• The Shueygod draft

Really not looking forward to the season starting and this thread becoming irrelevant

Note: I'm fully aware of there is now a link specifically for training reports - https://www.bigfooty.com/forum/threads/preseason-training-reports-2025-26.1403826/

 

[Elite Pete]

Yeah and if I remember correctly we also tried to use that future first to try and trade up for Caddy.
So a few knock-ons from that because if we get Caddy I'm assuming we don't also draft another Key Forward in Archer Reid.

Bit does show we tried to go after the right players. Bit Caddy and Curtin would’ve moved up a few spots if their drafts were done tomorrow

 

[HoneyBadger35]

Hey guys, just before we get back to the preseason training reports, I’ve heard a rumour that Tim Kelly

11

Tim Kelly

Age

31

Ht

184cm

Wt

83kg

Pos.

M/F

Career

Season

Last 5

D

23.6

5star

K

13.5

5star

HB

10.1

5star

M

3.4

3star

T

4.0

5star

CL

4.9

5star

D

19.9

5star

K

12.3

5star

HB

7.6

4star

M

3.1

3star

T

4.7

5star

CL

3.6

4star

D

21.6

5star

K

10.4

4star

HB

11.2

5star

M

2.8

3star

T

3.8

5star

CL

3.8

5star

is considering returning home to WA. What sort of deal do you think we should offer and is he the missing piece to put us over the top for b2b flags?

Farken hell you lot. Pages of Jagga discussion but not one mention of who’s out leering at our players from a Transperth bus.

 

[Farmer Lister]

It's good to see the Preseason Training Thread - 2026 gets so rarely derailed these days into conversations like:

• Who won the Judd trade
• Pick 3, Baker and Jagga
• The Shueygod draft

Really not looking forward to the season starting and this thread becoming irrelevant

Note: I'm fully aware of there is now a link specifically for training reports - https://www.bigfooty.com/forum/threads/preseason-training-reports-2025-26.1403826/

We need a dedicated 'what could have been" drafting thread where people can go and debate until the cows come home what shoulda coulda happened. Personally I couldn't give a stuff about Jagga. He's not on our list, and this is a West Coast preseason training thread

 

[Yeahnahmate]

Modern AFL players need to be versatile. If you are not then you aren't going to make it at this level

Harley, Duursma, CDT. Very talented AND versatile players. Love that for us