Training Training updates 2026.

[Hardas]

How're track watchers seeing our post-Brodie F50? (I know it's early)

I'm not expecting too much from Buller, but I do hope he can at least carry 2nd ruck duties & kick 1 (or 2), so McStay can (hopefully) focus on being a forward target, and kick some.

Who's the alternative?
Buller/Steene;
West/Membury;
McStay/?

(Howes?)

At least we have Elliott & Shultz with McCreery & Harrison too.

Plus, Bobby some day & Hayes...

 

[Soups]

I am open to where we finish.

I have us Between 1st to 14thish

It was the 14thish bit that got me

 

[satty]

I am open to where we finish.

I have us Between 1st to 14thish

Jeez I missed your doom TD.

I have us finishing somewhere between 5-9.

What I really want is our side to have at least 4-5 new players cement their spot in the side.

 

[ANewDawn]

Yes,we’ve had a few injuries already,but it’s only mid January and the first game of the season is almost two months away.All the players currently injured should be right to go by round one.So there’s no need to panic or be pessimistic just yet.There’s plenty of time for that.

You make it seem very finite. The current crop of missing players will be back by the first game of the season. Meanwhile everything else will continue as normal. No injuries. Just a steady build up to a desired fitness base. Bobby back!

Then there's the flipside. The same currently injured players are just as likely to succumb to further injuries upon return. Meanwhile other players will have training mishaps - something will suddenly go pop in a tendon or some other disaster will befall someone important. Older players will shed their spring and speed before our eyes. Some young hopeful who looks to be stepping up will instead do an ACL and become all but a memory for a year. There'll be our usual run of concussion cases.

But you may be right and let's hope you are.

 

[Obese Arachnid]

You make it seem very finite. The current crop of missing players will be back by the first game of the season. Meanwhile everything else will continue as normal. No injuries. Just a steady build up to a desired fitness base. Bobby back!

Then there's the flipside. The same currently injured players are just as likely to succumb to further injuries upon return. Meanwhile other players will have training mishaps - something will suddenly go pop in a tendon or some other disaster will befall someone important. Older players will shed their spring and speed before our eyes. Some young hopeful who looks to be stepping up will instead do an ACL and become all but a memory for a year. There'll be our usual run of concussion cases.

But you may be right and let's hope you are.

 

[Vicky Park]

You make it seem very finite. The current crop of missing players will be back by the first game of the season. Meanwhile everything else will continue as normal. No injuries. Just a steady build up to a desired fitness base. Bobby back!

Then there's the flipside. The same currently injured players are just as likely to succumb to further injuries upon return. Meanwhile other players will have training mishaps - something will suddenly go pop in a tendon or some other disaster will befall someone important. Older players will shed their spring and speed before our eyes. Some young hopeful who looks to be stepping up will instead do an ACL and become all but a memory for a year. There'll be our usual run of concussion cases.

But you may be right and let's hope you are.

Geez, your ‘flipside’ makes for grim reading. Not enjoying my brekky at all now.

 

[SchuPie]

I think it's fair to be both optimistic and pessimistic in regard to our finishing position in 2026
I can appreciate the arguments for making Top 4 or finishing out of the 8

IMO

• fully fit, we're a 5-8 team
• A couple key injuries and it could be 2021 all over again

So rather than focus on results, I really hope we see the emergence of a number of young players

 

[Eric Shin]

It’s not all doom and gloom.

If we finish anywhere from 1st-10th we play finals. If we finish anywhere from 8th-18th we get a top 10 pick in the draft.

That’s the way I’m approaching this season.

 

[Big Bryza]

Seems to be a fairly common occurrence in the week back after the Xmas break.

I recall similar last year too.

Every year it's questioned whether players have too much time off & whether this is why so many injuries occur early in the new year.

Players get around 10 weeks off post season, into roughly 5 weeks of training pre Christmas. They then have 2-3 weeks off before hitting the ground running with 5 week lead up to Pre Season games. It's a lot of stop start and no wonder you see numerous soft tissue injuries. Of course they have their own program but having seen a few of these, the workload is very light. Hence, why a number of players seek out their own SnC coaches.

Listening to Titch talk about it. He said you can train hard in pairs or small groups, but nowhere near the intensity of proper club training.

 

[Big Bryza]

Sadly, McStay, Moore and Howe all have histories where seasons were significantly disrupted by repeated minor injuries. Unfortunately for those guys, it’s rarely a case of one and done.

The upside from a development point of view is that Buller, West, McInnes and maybe even Smit will get plenty of opportunities - but that won’t help us win matches this year.

A 9th-14th place finish seems most likely to me now but I’m looking forward to seeing some fresh faces as we transition our list.

That's why this season i think it's all about that next crew coming through, to dare i say it 'retire the old guys'.

If we're still at a stage at the end of 26 where we are relying on Pendles, Sidey, Howe etc then we haven't seen enough of the next core come through to take their spot, and that will be a time for concern. We had Longy break through last year. We need at least another 3-4 to come through this season.

There's still plenty of talent in the senior lineup, a sprinkling of youth coming through to the senior group could be exactly what we need this season.

 

[domus]

I think I'm objective when it comes to assessing our potential each year and I'm not understanding the gloom and doom. Our best is excellent and I think our depth is better than most pundits believe. Time will tell.

 

[Big Bryza]

Lots of doom and gloom in here. Some minor injuries in January means we won't be playing finals?

McStay, Howe, Moore and IQ should be training again by Australia Day. It sounds like Josh and Houston will be back very soon too? I know an interrupted preseason is never ideal though it could be so much worse. There are clubs with key players missing very large training blocks.

It's commonly accepted that if you have an injury interrupted pre season, you can still have a good season but rarely a great one. Especially when pre season is a shorter duration due to the earlier start to the season.

 

[Peters_Nuts]

That's why this season i think it's all about that next crew coming through, to dare i say it 'retire the old guys'.

If we're still at a stage at the end of 26 where we are relying on Pendles, Sidey, Howe etc then we haven't seen enough of the next core come through to take their spot, and that will be a time for concern. We had Longy break through last year. We need at least another 3-4 to come through this season.

There's still plenty of talent in the senior lineup, a sprinkling of youth coming through to the senior group could be exactly what we need this season.

I think Steele and Parker will cement their spot in the best 23 quite early. Most of this board agreed that Parker should've realistically played in the prelim instead of Howe. He's ready to go.

If we can get those two, plus one or two of Allan, Reef, West and Harrison locking a senior spot then happy days. Any contribution from Cochran, Jiath, Steene, Prindable, Anderson, Swadling or Smit in 2026 is a bonus.

 

[Cousin of Daicos]

Nick training with the main group

Daughter got incredibly embarrassed because of how close the entire group got to us as we got here lol. Doing their stretching drill with Bruz swearing his ass off lol

Told Darcy Cameron to f**k off lmao

 

[Cousin of Daicos]

Separate rehab group of McStay, Moore, Q, Howe and Beau. Doing very basic light skills

 

[NMBB]

Nick training with the main group
Daughter got incredibly embarrassed because of how close the entire group got to us as we got here lol. Doing their stretching drill with Bruz swearing his ass off lol
Told Darcy Cameron to f**k off lmao

So refreshing to know that Bruz was on his best behavior in front of young spectators

 

[Cousin of Daicos]

So refreshing to know that Bruz was on his best behavior in front of young spectators

Yeah dude was going off (in a playful way) but there were kids all over the shop lol

 

[Cousin of Daicos]

Hayes looks noticeable “thicker”.

That academy kid. He’s 17 and wearing number 10. He’s f**king massive lol

It’s actually frightening the size of him at that age

 

[Cousin of Daicos]

Swadling has some height on him. Or at least looks tall for a mid which is good.

 

[NMBB]

Yeah dude was going off (in a playful way) but there were kids all over the shop lol

Should there be hazard/ warning signs around the ground? eg

"Enter at own risk - profane language will be heard which may affect moral development"

 

[Finnishpie]

It’s not all doom and gloom.

If we finish anywhere from 1st-10th we play finals. If we finish anywhere from 8th-18th we get a top 10 pick in the draft.

That’s the way I’m approaching this season.

Surely it’s time we did some tanking!

 

[BillyElliott]

 

[Cousin of Daicos]

God I can’t wait for Charlie West to cement a spot

Looks so good

 

[Peters_Nuts]

Have missed your updates Cousin of Daicos

 

[Cousin of Daicos]

Match sim in two groups now