Training Training updates 2026.

[stormskye]

There were a number of clips that looked like he was going one out with Smit 5 metres away flat footed. Unfortunately I think that training footage said more for Smit than Steene. That’s not writing off Steene’s ability to be the reserve ruck this year, but I would be writing off Smit’s ability to be number 3…

I’m not sold on either tbh but Steene atleast in the air is quite good. Lots to improve on size/strength wise if he’s to make it at the next lvl. Smit im just not sure what his strengths are. Composure and ball use for mine means he’s not a KPD at the required lvl

 

[Lingsface]

I’m not sold on either tbh but Steene atleast in the air is quite good. Lots to improve on size/strength wise if he’s to make it at the next lvl. Smit im just not sure what his strengths are. Composure and ball use for mine means he’s not a KPD at the required lvl

Just came on here to comment on Steene after watching Match Sim highlights, he looks like a jet!

 

[JoinDate]

Just came on here to comment on Steene after watching Match Sim highlights, he looks like a jet!

Interesting... a Geelong supporter residing in Perth, with a Brisbane Lions legend as their avatar (assuming you lost a bet), commenting on a Collingwood forum after watching their intra-club highlights on YouTube.

You're either really bored, or you realllly love your footy.

 

[Lingsface]

Interesting... a Geelong supporter residing in Perth, with a Brisbane Lions legend as their avatar (assuming you lost a bet), commenting on a Collingwood forum after watching their intra-club highlights on YouTube.

You're either really bored, or you realllly love your footy.

Yeah weird combo, I actually live in Taiwan to make it even more weird. Loved Voss as a player but big Cats supporter. Also follow the draft quite closely and am interested to hear updates on player like Sam Swadling, how has his pre season been?

 

[Rorzza]

What is evident watching this summers match sim highlights, Big roo is an impressive athlete. A 200 cm + frame and ability to run a sub 3 second 20 m sprint empowers Iliro to PRESSURE, pressure from second efforts, bone-jarring tackles, run downs and body aerial contests.

Fly loves players who constantly pressure, Numero Uno 'Beau'. While Iliro has a lot to work on regarding his kicking and marking, he has time. What I hope to see In 2026 in the VFL, Iliro using his athletic attributes to impose his will on the game, scrap, claw and fight, what ever necessary to win and hopefully we will see improvement in the fundamentals of footy too.

 

[Lingsface]

What is evident watching this summers match sim highlights, Big roo is an impressive athlete. A 200 cm + frame and ability to run a sub 3 second 20 m sprint empowers Iliro to PRESSURE, pressure from second efforts, bone-jarring tackles, run downs and body aerial contests.

Fly loves players who constantly pressure, Numero Uno 'Beau'. While Iliro has a lot to work on regarding his kicking and marking, he has time. What I hope to see In 2026 in the VFL, Iliro using his athletic attributes to impose his will on the game, scrap, claw and fight, what ever necessary to win and hopefully we will see improvement in the fundamentals of footy too.

So that wasn't Steene in black wearing number 21?

 

[Mick F]

Yeah weird combo, I actually live in Taiwan to make it even more weird. Loved Voss as a player but big Cats supporter. Also follow the draft quite closely and am interested to hear updates on player like Sam Swadling, how has his pre season been?

Scroll back a page, we are very happy with him. Though long way to go obviously.

 

[Lingsface]

Scroll back a page, we are very happy with him. Though long way to go obviously.

One play from Will Hayes looked very good, still looks 13 but has some real special assets.

 

[Jen2310]

So that wasn't Steene in black wearing number 21?

It def was Steene

 

[manicpie]

So that wasn't Steene in black wearing number 21?

Yes, definitely Steene

 

[jc37]

Completely irrelevant to this thread but I genuinely have zero recollection of Biden being president. Feel like Trump has been in office for 12 years straight.

Neither does Biden.

 

[LuckyLee]

Hey mate, we virtually guard space in defence but that's reliant on the grid used by our high half forwards and midfield. We have a midfield and defensive grid. What's going most important is that every player knows their role. They need to know when to press and when to run to space. Pendles going to defence is about his knowledge of our game plan. Sometimes players get confused as to where to guard space. Pendles will be yelling out to players so they know when and where to go. We make sides go around us which gives the defence time to set up. There's a hell of a lot more but that's the jist of it.

i actually do understand the structures and your explanation but let’s not kid ourselves - there will be lots of key moments in every match when the structures break down or are skilfully penetrated. At those times, every defender has to be able to perform core defensive functions - sprint to cut off a pass, chase down an opponent, lay a strong tackle or fight desperately to win the ball on the ground. Foot speed, turning speed and speed to get up off the ground all matter in those moments.

You, Apex and plenty of others clearly think that my favourite player since Peter Daicos will be able to do all those things in defence because of his experience, game reading ability and structures around him. I have big doubts, especially as we get deeper into the season and fatigue sets in.

It’s OK that we don’t see it the same way. It’s would be boring if we did. The debate is fun - when it doesn’t degenerate into condescending personal attacks. (That’s not directed at you, BTW.)

 

[901023]

What is evident watching this summers match sim highlights, Big roo is an impressive athlete. A 200 cm + frame and ability to run a sub 3 second 20 m sprint empowers Iliro to PRESSURE, pressure from second efforts, bone-jarring tackles, run downs and body aerial contests.

Fly loves players who constantly pressure, Numero Uno 'Beau'. While Iliro has a lot to work on regarding his kicking and marking, he has time. What I hope to see In 2026 in the VFL, Iliro using his athletic attributes to impose his will on the game, scrap, claw and fight, what ever necessary to win and hopefully we will see improvement in the fundamentals of footy too.

Re: Big Roo. Him being able to pressure requires being able to read the play. He's not good at that.

 

[jc37]

I would just like to see someone in the 2s knocking the door down for promotion. A solid 10-12 game block where he demands promotion. Can't remember the last player who really has done that in their first couple of years at the club (excluding Nick who bypassed that bit).

Charlie West last year did that. I think Steele and Parker's VFL performances have suggested they are a level up. Long also did it to get drafted.

 

[Scodog10]

I’m not sold on either tbh but Steene atleast in the air is quite good. Lots to improve on size/strength wise if he’s to make it at the next lvl. Smit im just not sure what his strengths are. Composure and ball use for mine means he’s not a KPD at the required lvl

It’s that aerial ability in the context of how we play that gives me hope with Steene. I think he’s a long way off being competitive in the ruck if/ when he’s called on because he’s yet to dominate a VFL game through the ruck so I fear for what a competent AFL ruck might do to him. Around the ground is where he might hold his own.

My guess with Smit is that he exhibits a couple of raw traits that could be valuable in a ruck, competitiveness and athleticism, and it’s why he’s been used down back. The problem is the game sense doesn’t appear to be there to even a state league level. I’m really just holding out hope that our current ruck depth, which is league worst, was a deliberate decision with Condon in mind because it’s the only way I can justify the decision to have those two as our alternatives to Cameron.

 

[Scodog10]

Zorko ~ Round: 7 Venue: Gabba Date: Thu, 17-Apr-2025 - we exploited him by shutting him down, then he lost the plot. 20 possessions were his 2nd lowest tally for the season, besides the 17 he had against GCS and the 19 he had against us in R22.

Whitfield ~ I can't recall him being beaten in 2025. The only game he didn't impact is when he went off with concussion against the Suns in Round: 16. They were afforded to rest him their following Round, which was a bye, then effectively another bye round when they took on WCE the week after. He returned against the Cats and racked up 32 possessions, receiving 3 coaches votes.
So much of GWS play goes through him off the HBF. How he only earned 1 vote in the 2025 Brownlow tally shows how out of balance towards the midfielders the voting is. Bloke missed 3 games and still had 659 disposals for the season (inc. 1 final)! That is Zorko level of the past 2 seasons.

I appreciate the context, but I’d consider scenarios where teams are trying to dampen the output of Pendles behind the ball a win. Whilst I don’t agree with their opinion LL’s concerns are more valid, IMO. I suspect though that in terms of being exploited Zorko might have got got v GC late season, but I haven’t looked into it. GWS had a really poor one v the Dogs where their system completely broke down and I suspect Whitfield was found out. It’s rare though.

 

[Piesinmyeyes]

Yes, definitely Steene

Steene is an interesting watch this yr.
Has had quite a bit of time to develop at a lower tier now.
Hasn’t been rushed or hastily promoted.
Interested to see how he will be utilised as obviously will be getting opportunities.
Has shown capabilities as a forward at times, less so defensively.
4th banana in attack?

 

[granniewolf]

So that wasn't Steene in black wearing number 21?

Oscar #21, Iliro #20

 

[granniewolf]

One play from Will Hayes looked very good, still looks 13 but has some real special assets.

You really should think about changing your allegiance
Will is going to be a magpie great, can feel it in my bones.

 

[Peters_Nuts]

Steene is an interesting watch this yr.
Has had quite a bit of time to develop at a lower tier now.
Hasn’t been rushed or hastily promoted.
Interested to see how he will be utilised as obviously will be getting opportunities.
Has shown capabilities as a forward at times, less so defensively.
4th banana in attack?

I think he's finally in a position to fill in for DC if he gets sore during the season. Based on the intraclub, it looks like he plays a similar style in floating back to help in defence. Buller can support if there's a ball up in the forward line.

 

[Piesinmyeyes]

I think he's finally in a position to fill in for DC if he gets sore during the season. Based on the intraclub, it looks like he plays a similar style in floating back to help in defence. Buller can support if there's a ball up in the forward line.

Let’s hope he’s now ready to blossom.
Curious as I’ve seen him show forward talent, thou yes Buller is an obvious choice re ruck.
Like Steene as a forward foil thou.

 

[Timmy from Thomastown]

I think he's finally in a position to fill in for DC if he gets sore during the season. Based on the intraclub, it looks like he plays a similar style in floating back to help in defence. Buller can support if there's a ball up in the forward line.

Arguably he was ready last year but they went the safe option with Mason Cox instead. Ideally Steene would have a couple of senior games under his belt by now. Our mid season form slump pribably didn’t help his chances to get selected.

 

[sr36]

Hey mate, we virtually guard space in defence but that's reliant on the grid used by our high half forwards and midfield. We have a midfield and defensive grid. What's going most important is that every player knows their role. They need to know when to press and when to run to space. Pendles going to defence is about his knowledge of our game plan. Sometimes players get confused as to where to guard space. Pendles will be yelling out to players so they know when and where to go. We make sides go around us which gives the defence time to set up. There's a hell of a lot more but that's the jist of it.

Do you think we're going to have to change things up due to the changes to stand rules?

 

[sr36]

I’m not sold on either tbh but Steene atleast in the air is quite good. Lots to improve on size/strength wise if he’s to make it at the next lvl. Smit im just not sure what his strengths are. Composure and ball use for mine means he’s not a KPD at the required lvl

Ruck changes are going to help Steene. The big issue last year was that he was monstered by the big experienced VFL rucks. Harder to do under the new rules - and his around the ground game is promising.

 

[Fruit]

How is St Kilda’s pre-season going? What can we expect Rd 1. All I know is that King is out which helps us.