Training Training updates 2026.

[thommo_legend]

Wonder if Will Phillips is a chance in the mid season draft, if he makes a good impression.

 

[TradeDraft]

Wonder if Will Phillips is a chance in the mid season draft, if he makes a good impression.

Would not 100% Rule it out.

IF we did get a Bad Injury during the Pre-Season he be half a Chance of being a SSP Signing

Like IF Sullivan was a Bad Injury(Glad it's Not) Phillips could been someone could fill that Spot

 

[sr36]

Wonder if Will Phillips is a chance in the mid season draft, if he makes a good impression.

Is he training with the AFL team like Ned did when we signed him to the VFL?

 

[Jen2310]

Wonder if Will Phillips is a chance in the mid season draft, if he makes a good impression.

That would be hoping we have a season ending injury.

 

[Jen2310]

Is he training with the AFL team like Ned did when we signed him to the VFL?

He trained with the afl boys this morning
Along with Oskar Faulkhead and Perryman's brother, Ed

 

[TradeDraft]

That would be hoping we have a season ending injury.

Have to be Prepared Just in Case

 

[TradeDraft]

He trained with the afl boys this morning
Along with Oskar Faulkhead and Perryman's brother, Ed

He would love doing that with how huge a Pies Fan he was as a Kid

 

[partypie]

Kind of what popped into my head when I saw it too. Needs to be more of a mongrel. It's so frustrating to watch.

It does take all types though, a smooth mover link player with good size who is difficult to pin down in a tackle and keeps running all day has a place in our team, if he can up that intensity a bit.

 

[BillyElliott]

It does take all types though, a smooth mover link player with good size who is difficult to pin down in a tackle and keeps running all day has a place in our team, if he can up that intensity a bit.

Intensity, mongrel.. whatever you want to call it. I hope he shows more of it this year.

 

[sr36]

It does take all types though, a smooth mover link player with good size who is difficult to pin down in a tackle and keeps running all day has a place in our team, if he can up that intensity a bit.

I'd be more confident if I'd seen the bolded, but I haven't seen any evasive tricks.

 

[Bianconeri]

Reef was giving me Murph-type vibes last year before he popped his knee, as in someone who pretty much everyone had drawn a line through suddenly "getting it". Time will tell if he can go on with that this year and realise a bit of that potential he's always had.

I saw nothing in Reef’s games last season
that showed he was anything like Murphy.

 

[The Phantom]

I saw nothing in Reef’s games last season
that showed he was anything like Murphy.

I saw nothing in Reefs games that suggest he’s a better defender than forward either.

 

[Jen2310]

I'm uploading some footage, but my write up might have to wait until tomorrow. Getting up early for vfl training.
Apologies.

 

[Mick F]

It does take all types though, a smooth mover link player with good size who is difficult to pin down in a tackle and keeps running all day has a place in our team, if he can up that intensity a bit.

True. It’s rare you have 23 absolute jets.

The older blokes might remember a Hawthorn side, that LOST the 1985 premiership, which had: Steve Malaxos, Greg Dear, Peter Knights, Peter Curran, Michael Byrne, Rodney Eade, Shane McGrath, James Morrissey, Greg Abbott, Chris Wittman, Gary Buckenara and Colin Robertson (Em. Ray Jencke, Andy Collins) running around in the curtain raiser that day.

 

[Harry O]

I saw nothing in Reefs games that suggest he’s a better defender than forward either.

I suggest Specsavers

 

[Timmy from Thomastown]

I saw nothing in Reefs games that suggest he’s a better defender than forward either.

All two of them.

 

[WanderingDude]

The club appears to be very committed to Reef and Reef in the back line. He did his knee and was extended rather than released. The choice to not acquire back depth also indicates confidence in the options available. It is early to judge. But with Howe at the end of his career there is an opportunity. Reef needs rehab and to then step up. Great to receive updates of his training progress.

 

[partypie]

I saw nothing in Reef’s games last season
that showed he was anything like Murphy.

You missed the point by a long way, read it again.

 

[Go Woods]

Re: reef.

He looks strong and fit.
No longer playing that deep defence role, but more like a third tall, that allows his pace and power to dash up the ground.
Now in 90% of drills

Hope he becomes entrenched in our back line in 2026, time to move Howe forward in what will be his final season.

 

[partypie]

I'd be more confident if I'd seen the bolded, but I haven't seen any evasive tricks.

For someone who apparently isn't "evasive" he doesn't seem get tackled a whole lot with how he moves away from congestion and just runs past opposition players. When opponents do get their hands on him he generally stands up in the tackle and/or has quick enough hands (and thinking) to get the ball out before they can pin him down.

Just went over a bunch of vision on him and, even though they are admittedly highlights, they are consistent with the impression I have and recollections of some of the (limited) work he has done at AFL level.

Must be a day for nit-picking methinks.

In the end he's only 21, has a bigger body, moves well, has good speed off the mark and a decent tank so there's a lot to work with and I'm not sure why people here are so down on him. Yes he's not a reincarnation of The Bont, but he doesn't need to be or even get close to that level to be an effective piece of the puzzle for us.

 

[sr36]

For someone who apparently isn't "evasive" he doesn't seem get tackled a whole lot with how he moves away from congestion and just runs past opposition players. When opponents do get their hands on him he generally stands up in the tackle and/or has quick enough hands (and thinking) to get the ball out before they can pin him down.

Maybe it's a terminology thing. To me, difficult to pin down in a tackle suggests you can hold onto the footy under pressure and either break through tackles or dodge them. I haven't seen Allan play that way at all. He gets rid of it, often in a rush, when a tackler is bearing down.

 

[WanderingDude]

Just remembering the path to now regarding back men ( and no that is NOT “back menu” thanks for stuffing it up badly ). The high profile backs to move have not been a success, some at large cost. That is McKay, Zerk-Thatcher and Ratugolea. Others have been injury prone including Doedee. Others have fallen away including Tomlinson, Burton and Francis. Dean as the best available VFL option did not work out. Getting the most out of Howe has been good. Now we have Frampton playing his role well and OOC 2026. We have Smit and Reef with physical attributes that are promising. I really like Reef as an interceptor/runner. The club believes the need for back depth is not urgent. May the youth develop well.

 

[WanderingDude]

Maybe it's a terminology thing. To me, difficult to pin down in a tackle suggests you can hold onto the footy under pressure and either break through tackles or dodge them. I haven't seen him play that way at all. He gets rid of it, often in a rush, when a tackler is bearing down.

The mysterious “him” is Allan. Had to go a long way back to find that gem and put context on the good conversation.

 

[sr36]

The mysterious “him” is Allan. Had to go a long way back to find that gem and put context on the good conversation.

I'll edit it.

 

[sr36]

Just remembering the path to now regarding back men ( and no that is NOT “back menu” thanks for stuffing it up badly ). The high profile backs to move have not been a success, some at large cost. That is McKay, Zerk-Thatcher and Ratugolea. Others have been injury prone including Doedee. Others have fallen away including Tomlinson, Burton and Francis.

Dees did pretty bloody well out of recruiting kpd from other clubs, as did Hawks before them. We've had a recent history of cheap successes in Dunn and Roughy. The blokes you've listed might have been high profile, but they weren't highly rated except perhaps for potential.