Training Training updates 2026.

[Timmy from Thomastown]

Cox was effectively holding Steene back, which was why it was the right decision to delist big Mase, as much as he's been great for us.
Time to move into the future.

It was however right to retain cox last year as insurance for a long term injury to Cameron.

I just would have liked to see Steene get a couple of games. Hopefully he gets chances this year but he’s competing with Buller and McStay for that second ruck/ forward role, West too . Possibly Condon! Depends how we want to set up.

 

[Rorzza]

At the end of summer and the start of the new season, Fly's going to pick the exact same team that got flogged by the Lions.

Fly will bet on the fitness of DeGoo and Pendles plus Josh as a mid . Long will spend more time on field but resting forward of centre. There will be minor changes due to injury and off season trading but in essence Fly will pick the exact same team that got flogged by the Lions. The only doubt I have is if Fly will go with one genuine ruck or two. My bet is one and an extra mid.

It's going to be interesting to see what transpires in the first 6 to 10 weeks. If the ledger is in red, watch heads roll.

 

[Seedsfan]

At the end of summer and the start of the new season, Fly's going to pick the exact same team that got flogged by the Lions.

Fly will bet on the fitness of DeGoo and Pendles plus Josh as a mid . Long will spend more time on field but resting forward of centre. There will be minor changes due to injury and off season trading but in essence Fly will pick the exact same team that got flogged by the Lions. The only doubt I have is if Fly will go with one genuine ruck or two. My bet is one and an extra mid.

It's going to be interesting to see what transpires in the first 6 to 10 weeks. If the ledger is in red, watch heads roll.

We aren’t sacking anyone FFS we are not Carlton

 

[stormskye]

At the end of summer and the start of the new season, Fly's going to pick the exact same team that got flogged by the Lions.

Fly will bet on the fitness of DeGoo and Pendles plus Josh as a mid . Long will spend more time on field but resting forward of centre. There will be minor changes due to injury and off season trading but in essence Fly will pick the exact same team that got flogged by the Lions. The only doubt I have is if Fly will go with one genuine ruck or two. My bet is one and an extra mid.

It's going to be interesting to see what transpires in the first 6 to 10 weeks. If the ledger is in red, watch heads roll.

He’s such a terrible coach.

 

[Bianconeri]

Pendles should not play mid. Game's gone past his legs. As a tagger, okay, but otherwise no thanks. If a slow 38 year old is one of our better mids, we have problems.

What difference did it make make when Pendles was a slow 36 year old? Or slow 32 year old? Or slow 28 year old?

 

[Kappa]

Cox was effectively holding Steene back, which was why it was the right decision to delist big Mase, as much as he's been great for us.
Time to move into the future.

I reckon Steenes mediocre vfl performances were what’s holding him back. If he performed strongly in the vfl he would’ve played plenty of football.

“Time to move into the future” - depends if u see 2026 as a rebuilding year or a last attempt at a flag with the current list.

 

[WanderingDude]

He’s such a terrible coach.

just swap Fly for Voss. They are mates, it will work.

 

[Seedsfan]

I reckon Steenes mediocre vfl performances were what’s holding him back. If he performed strongly in the vfl he would’ve played plenty of football.

“Time to move into the future” - depends if u see 2026 as a rebuilding year or a last attempt at a flag with the current list.

On the one hand you have a mature and experienced AFL ruckman playing in the twos and a young in experienced kid, Cox was always going to get the first ruck role and you’re never going to develop as a ruckman playing forward

 

[Hugg]

At the end of summer and the start of the new season, Fly's going to pick the exact same team that got flogged by the Lions.

Fly will bet on the fitness of DeGoo and Pendles plus Josh as a mid . Long will spend more time on field but resting forward of centre. There will be minor changes due to injury and off season trading but in essence Fly will pick the exact same team that got flogged by the Lions. The only doubt I have is if Fly will go with one genuine ruck or two. My bet is one and an extra mid.

It's going to be interesting to see what transpires in the first 6 to 10 weeks. If the ledger is in red, watch heads roll.

Did you miss your medication.
You can't be serious

 

[frizzle]

At the end of summer and the start of the new season, Fly's going to pick the exact same team that got flogged by the Lions.

Fly will bet on the fitness of DeGoo and Pendles plus Josh as a mid . Long will spend more time on field but resting forward of centre. There will be minor changes due to injury and off season trading but in essence Fly will pick the exact same team that got flogged by the Lions. The only doubt I have is if Fly will go with one genuine ruck or two. My bet is one and an extra mid.

It's going to be interesting to see what transpires in the first 6 to 10 weeks. If the ledger is in red, watch heads roll.

We were more competitive against the Lions than the rest of the comp. Geelong got smashed in the GF. Yeah we need an injection of youth & probably pace. I have high hopes for Harrison & Hayes to do that. Not having Bobby sucks, but we can't do much about that. The unknown for me is can Buller be a good replacement for Checkers? I expect us to drop off a little & teams lists improving in comparison to ours won't help us. But we definitely need some classy FA's moving forward. But Fly can only select from what is on the list.

 

[Vicky Park]

At the end of summer and the start of the new season, Fly's going to pick the exact same team that got flogged by the Lions.

Fly will bet on the fitness of DeGoo and Pendles plus Josh as a mid . Long will spend more time on field but resting forward of centre. There will be minor changes due to injury and off season trading but in essence Fly will pick the exact same team that got flogged by the Lions. The only doubt I have is if Fly will go with one genuine ruck or two. My bet is one and an extra mid.

It's going to be interesting to see what transpires in the first 6 to 10 weeks. If the ledger is in red, watch heads roll.

The same coach and team that got us to a prelim? OK.

The makeup of the team will change over the course of this year, because it has to. But if Fly was to play too many inexperienced players in the first few games, and we get smashed, then many of the posters calling for change would also go after the coach.

We fans might need some patience this year, a trait we’re not known for.

 

[Big Bryza]

At the end of summer and the start of the new season, Fly's going to pick the exact same team that got flogged by the Lions.

Fly will bet on the fitness of DeGoo and Pendles plus Josh as a mid . Long will spend more time on field but resting forward of centre. There will be minor changes due to injury and off season trading but in essence Fly will pick the exact same team that got flogged by the Lions. The only doubt I have is if Fly will go with one genuine ruck or two. My bet is one and an extra mid.

It's going to be interesting to see what transpires in the first 6 to 10 weeks. If the ledger is in red, watch heads roll.

Flogged?

 

[Big Bryza]

I reckon Steenes mediocre vfl performances were what’s holding him back. If he performed strongly in the vfl he would’ve played plenty of football.

“Time to move into the future” - depends if u see 2026 as a rebuilding year or a last attempt at a flag with the current list.

Last year was the last genuine tilt at a flag with the current squad, and let's be honest we weren't miles away from it. We rightfully moved along a number of 23 premiership heroes at the conclusion of 25. This season we are still littered with some genuine guns, including the best player in the game. We have a number of gaps to fill and it'd be great to see 4-5 new players step up and cement a role in the best 23, just like Ned did last season.

The end of 26 will be fascinating to see which direction we go. Most likely we'll see the retirement of 2 greats in Pendles/Sidey and a great leader in Howe. I'd love the kitchen sink to be thrown at Butters and King.

A finals tilt should be on the cards this year, but a regeneration in a number of positions has to be a priority.

 

[Dtennent94]

Last year was the last genuine tilt at a flag with the current squad, and let's be honest we weren't miles away from it. We rightfully moved along a number of 23 premiership heroes at the conclusion of 25. This season we are still littered with some genuine guns, including the best player in the game. We have a number of gaps to fill and it'd be great to see 4-5 new players step up and cement a role in the best 23, just like Ned did last season.

The end of 26 will be fascinating to see which direction we go. Most likely we'll see the retirement of 2 greats in Pendles/Sidey and a great leader in Howe. I'd love the kitchen sink to be thrown at Butters and King.

A finals tilt should be on the cards this year, but a regeneration in a number of positions has to be a priority.

If Sidey can have a productive year as a forward, I could see him staying on for one more while the others retire.

 

[WanderingDude]

A part of me wanted us to go again this year by topping up with a top end player. Did not happen. We have a year where it could be the end of celebrated players. It could be the start of wonderful careers. The changes could be small or substantial. I do know where the fence is. It’s going to be a wonderful watch. Go pies.

 

[Abdul_The_Bull]

Now Howe should have hung them up. But Pendles? Really? He's still got it, considering he's turning 47 this yea

Last year was the last genuine tilt at a flag with the current squad, and let's be honest we weren't miles away from it. We rightfully moved along a number of 23 premiership heroes at the conclusion of 25. This season we are still littered with some genuine guns, including the best player in the game. We have a number of gaps to fill and it'd be great to see 4-5 new players step up and cement a role in the best 23, just like Ned did last season.

The end of 26 will be fascinating to see which direction we go. Most likely we'll see the retirement of 2 greats in Pendles/Sidey and a great leader in Howe. I'd love the kitchen sink to be thrown at Butters and King.

A finals tilt should be on the cards this year, but a regeneration in a number of positions has to be a priority.

Butters, Yes. King, no.

 

[The Magnificent Seven]

just swap Fly for Voss. They are mates, it will work.

Leave the keys in the bowl of the club foyer

 

[Timmy from Thomastown]

Last year was the last genuine tilt at a flag with the current squad,

Thsts true of every club every year.

 

[Timmy from Thomastown]

Last year was the last genuine tilt at a flag with the current squad,

Thsts true of every club every year

 

[Timmy from Thomastown]

The club has moved on WHE mihocek Mitchell and cox along with Markov and Johnson. Next year they will move on a few more players in that age bracket. Howe should arguably have been walked last year as well but one player shouldn’t make a difference to the clubs prospects.

We will be fine. It will be fun watching. Plenty of talent in the ideal age bracket and plenty of opportunities for some fresh blood. Big seasons from name recruits like Houston and Shultz will also help to cover any gaps.

 

[Scodog10]

At the end of summer and the start of the new season, Fly's going to pick the exact same team that got flogged by the Lions.

Fly will bet on the fitness of DeGoo and Pendles plus Josh as a mid . Long will spend more time on field but resting forward of centre. There will be minor changes due to injury and off season trading but in essence Fly will pick the exact same team that got flogged by the Lions. The only doubt I have is if Fly will go with one genuine ruck or two. My bet is one and an extra mid.

It's going to be interesting to see what transpires in the first 6 to 10 weeks. If the ledger is in red, watch heads roll.

Can we confirm the tone of this message? Reading through comments some seem to be interpreting it as you shitting on Fly and others like me are interpreting it as the obvious move considering how close that squad was.

Realistically if the 23 we put out on PF day was healthy (by my count there were at least 5 guys who’d have missed if it were a HA match) we’re probably reigning premier right now and for that reason alone it seems abundantly clear we’d be rolling that 23 out for OR if possible.

If as you said we’re behind the ledger post AD it would continue a trend from post KB that was 50-50 win loss and would be clear that heads are rolling in the 23. To me it was all very obviously stated factual analysis so you’re tone is really key for this. The only people wanting us to promote youth to commence the season are either morons or want to see us fall down the ladder. Take Cornes he’s both a moron and someone that’s frothing at the thought of us sliding and what’s his primary narrative around our prospects?

 

[RobJD]

Flogged?

Exactly my reaction - lost Pendles in the first 5 minutes, JDG stuffed after half time and we we're one reasonable free kick to Billy away from being within 6 points early in the last - that non-free kick changed the momentum of the game.

The loss of Pendles was significant, I simply don't see the Lions kicking those stoppage goals where they stepped through the defence if he's out there.

Reckon we're still the side the Lions would not want to play in a final

 

[Big Bryza]

Thsts true of every club every year

You clearly know i meant.

 

[granniewolf]

The only people wanting us to promote youth to commence the season are either morons or want to see us fall down the ladder. Take Cornes he’s both a moron and someone that’s frothing at the thought of us sliding and what’s his primary narrative around our prospects?

For me, the most important start to the season is to not play ANYONE who is carrying a niggle.
I'd rather see 100% fit youth replacing players that aren't.

 

[Bianconeri]

At the end of summer and the start of the new season, Fly's going to pick the exact same team that got flogged by the Lions.

Fly will bet on the fitness of DeGoo and Pendles plus Josh as a mid . Long will spend more time on field but resting forward of centre. There will be minor changes due to injury and off season trading but in essence Fly will pick the exact same team that got flogged by the Lions. The only doubt I have is if Fly will go with one genuine ruck or two. My bet is one and an extra mid.

It's going to be interesting to see what transpires in the first 6 to 10 weeks. If the ledger is in red, watch heads roll.

With the extra rotation on the bench likely going to a mid another mid on top of that is superfluous. Buller will likely be the second ruck and 2 out West, Membrey and McStay will take the other kpp spots imo.