Training Training updates 2026.

[Jen2310]

Club said he & Saxena were managed/rested.

Club told Mccarthy when he was drafted he wouldn't play every VFL game. Imagine same for Saxena. They are the two most rawest prospects on our list - even if Jai has shown plenty so far. But when they are managed, it'll be all about getting more conditioning in them and building up in the gym.

 

[Scodog10]

Club said he & Saxena were managed/rested.

They didn’t actually say that did they? The VFL schedule to now has been ridiculous. Resting them would make absolutely no sense unless they’ve developed symptoms of glandular fever or something.

 

[Jen2310]

They didn’t actually say that did they? The VFL schedule to now has been ridiculous. Resting them would make absolutely no sense unless they’ve developed symptoms of glandular fever or something.

Yes they were managed. Was told this by the players themselves. It was also mentioned in the article when they announced the squad last week

 

[The Magnificent Seven]

They didn’t actually say that did they? The VFL schedule to now has been ridiculous. Resting them would make absolutely no sense unless they’ve developed symptoms of glandular fever or something.

We also don't know their indoor/gym training load. They could be getting smashed and unable to play to full capacity?

 

[Mick F]

Yes they were managed. Was told this by the players themselves. It was also mentioned in the article when they announced the squad last week

Which is smart. Do you really want to be playing a kid against Rhys Jones’ grumpy brother in the Magoos? Most sides have one.

Why (in lower level comps) you prefer to bring them straight from juniors into the Firsts.

 

[Scodog10]

Yes they were managed. Was told this by the players themselves. It was also mentioned in the article when they announced the squad last week

Laughable! A pre-season (where they barely played), bye, game, bye and then rest schedule is mad. The experience of playing through niggles is important to build into a player and whilst what’s done is done unless there was risk of stress reactions that’s plain weird. Manage their minutes in game if it’s required.

 

[Eastern Magpie]

Laughable! A pre-season (where they barely played), bye, game, bye and then rest schedule is mad. The experience of playing through niggles is important to build into a player and whilst what’s done is done unless there was risk of stress reactions that’s plain weird. Manage their minutes in game if it’s required.

Makes absolutely no sense for them to be managed this early into the season with the ridiculous draw we have. Getting match fit will make them better footballers.

 

[sr36]

That was sharp! There is a Josh at Hawthorn though that he moves a lot like and is much closer aligned on a talent front than Weddle and that’s Battle. McInnes needs to improve his marking and kicking to reach Battle’s level, but Battle wasn’t the player he is now 5 years ago so it’s doable.

His kicking from defence is a real issue with the way the game is heading.

 

[Dtennent94]

Makes absolutely no sense for them to be managed this early into the season with the ridiculous draw we have. Getting match fit will make them better footballers.

Their biggest barrier to becoming AFL players isn’t their skills at this stage, it’s their physiques. Isn’t nonsensical to think they could take games off occasionally to instead have a bigger load in the gym that week.

 

[unplugged]

Club said he & Saxena were managed/rested.

From what? I thought the VFL had played like 2 games so far

 

[BillyElliott]

From what? I thought the VFL had played like 2 games so far

Perhaps that's just part of their development because they're still kids.

 

[Bianconeri]

Is rested a cover up for breaking team rules?

 

[Dtennent94]

Makes absolutely no sense for them to be managed this early into the season with the ridiculous draw we have. Getting match fit will make them better footballers.

But you’re right, with the amount of byes, etc that seem to occur, they should be using those weeks to smash it in the gym.

 

[BillyElliott]

Is rested a cover up for breaking team rules?

Are you suggesting Saxena & McCarthy have messed up & that's they were managed for a game?

They're kids. I don't see it as strange that they could be managed differently to the bigger bodies of men at this stage of their career.

 

[Scodog10]

Are you suggesting Saxena & McCarthy have messed up & that's they were managed for a game?

They're kids. I don't see it as strange that they could be managed differently to the bigger bodies of men at this stage of their career.

I don’t think anyone would argue with the bolded, but to do it post a bye seems unusual. After a tough 6 week block sure our schedule at that level though has been bizarre to start the season. Of the two theories the two messing up seems more likely to me than two 18yo’s needing a rest following a bye.

 

[BillyElliott]

I don’t think anyone would argue with the bolded, but to do it post a bye seems unusual. After a tough 6 week block sure our schedule at that level though has been bizarre to start the season. Of the two theories the two messing up seems more likely to me than two 18yo’s needing a rest following a bye.

I don't know. I'm not going to pretend I know more than the club about preparing & developing teenagers for AFL footballer.

Neither come across as the messing up type to me.

It just seems logical to me they would be prepared differently. Obviously others disagree.

 

[Scodog10]

I don't know. I'm not going to pretend I know more than the club about preparing & developing teenagers for AFL footballer.

Neither come across as the messing up type to me.

It just seems logical to me they would be prepared differently. Obviously others disagree.

We can’t have a discussion on that front because few of us have those backgrounds and none are inside the club. If we extrapolate out about developing teenagers why weren’t Swadling or Prindable rested? I’ve been on this site for going on 20 years and have never seen two players (let alone one) managed under these circumstances before without there being a hint of something else going on (as way of an example West’s PF) so I think it’s fair for people to be curious.

We know about as much on the extra curricular activities of these two as we do the management program. They could be the next iteration of the rat pack for all we know.

 

[sr36]

They didn’t actually say that did they? The VFL schedule to now has been ridiculous. Resting them would make absolutely no sense unless they’ve developed symptoms of glandular fever or something.

Seems strange, but with the prior bye maybe a two week block enables Wade to load them up in the gym? That's all I can guess at.

 

[BillyElliott]

We can’t have a discussion on that front because few of us have those backgrounds and none are inside the club. If we extrapolate out about developing teenagers why weren’t Swadling or Prindable rested? I’ve been on this site for going on 20 years and have never seen two players (let alone one) managed under these circumstances before without there being a hint of something else going on (as way of an example West’s PF) so I think it’s fair for people to be curious.

We know about as much on the extra curricular activities of these two as we do the management program. They could be the next iteration of the rat pack for all we know.

I'm going out on a limb & trust my instincts on those 2 when hearing them speak, & say highly doubtful they'll be the next rat pack members.

So I guess just like you have your opinions on what the club should & shouldn't be doing in developing these 2 kids..none of us are there. Jen2310 sees more than most of us & she doesn't find it strange.

At the end of the day, they're just opinions without knowing all the facts.

As long as they develop, I don't care how the club does it.

 

[Jen2310]

This may be something not many know, but these two have been managed even through preseason very carefully. When everyone else was doing match sim, they sat out and did conditioning.
Prior to he vfl practice games, they probably started match sim a week prior. I think the club understands both are very lean in terms of their bodies so its basically managing their bodies and not getting beaten up.

Only the club would know the reasoning, its a long year and I suppose they are just taking care of them.

 

[NMBB]

...At the end of the day, they're just opinions without knowing all the facts....

Summed up BF right here

 

[Scodog10]

Summed up BF right here

The more pertinent point was actually the next sentence.

My final point though would be that if this didn’t pique the curiosity given our VFL fixture then I don’t know what would. Our VFL fixture to start the year to be generous has been unusual (to be blunt it’s been ridiculous) and to then rest TWO PLAYERS following that unusual fixture is basically unheard of.

 

[RobJD]

This may be something not many know, but these two have been managed even through preseason very carefully. When everyone else was doing match sim, they sat out and did conditioning.
Prior to he vfl practice games, they probably started match sim a week prior. I think the club understands both are very lean in terms of their bodies so its basically managing their bodies and not getting beaten up.

Only the club would know the reasoning, its a long year and I suppose they are just taking care of them.

As academy players, I assume that the club has had a significant say not only in their conditioning this year, but also in the years prior to the draft - this allows the club/players to have a more strategic development program - that could explain why the Swadling and Prindable may be more developed now as they may have followed a more tactical development path that placed a higher priority on getting drafted.

 

[Finnishpie]

If Long and Anderson can play together long term, it will be because they have a touch more pace and one can play at half-forward. It's 50/50 I'd say though.

 

[Pistol Night]

Bobby update for an ignorant flog?