Training Training updates 2026.

[domus]

I thought we'd lost him as a player.

That Bobby's likely to give us something this season at all still feels like a big win.

To be at the stage where we are grateful that a contracted player "gives us something" is my reason for calling the situation farcical. I thought he was back and simply required a couple of good games in the VFL and now depending upon the breaking news, his return has been pushed back at least another month and probably longer. He would have been a huge addition in the finals last year had he been considered ready and would he have been the difference in those three games against Freo, Hawthorn and Sydney.

Beau's poor season has made Bobby's absence even more glaring than it otherwise might have been.

He really has cost us dearly with his absence.

 

[The Magnificent Seven]

To be at the stage where we are grateful that a contracted player "gives us something" is my reason for calling the situation farcical. I thought he was back and simply required a couple of good games in the VFL and now depending upon the breaking news, his return has been pushed back at least another month and probably longer. He would have been a huge addition in the finals last year had he been considered ready and would he have been the difference in those three games against Freo, Hawthorn and Sydney.

Beau's poor season has made Bobby's absence even more glaring than it otherwise might have been.

He really has cost us dearly with his absence.

I share some of your frustration - agree with the former, but can't agree that he would have been 'the difference'.

He had 2-3 incredible years, has had some very tumultuous recent years and of course everyone at a personal level would do everything that they could for him. But yeah, he's contracted and if you can't do your job do you place his needs above everyone else's?

 

[Travis Shanks]

To be at the stage where we are grateful that a contracted player "gives us something" is my reason for calling the situation farcical. I thought he was back and simply required a couple of good games in the VFL and now depending upon the breaking news, his return has been pushed back at least another month and probably longer. He would have been a huge addition in the finals last year had he been considered ready and would he have been the difference in those three games against Freo, Hawthorn and Sydney.

Beau's poor season has made Bobby's absence even more glaring than it otherwise might have been.

He really has cost us dearly with his absence.

Seems you're more interested in blaming Hill for his circumstances.

If blame is what you're about then fix it upon the players who have been on the field but haven't got the job done. Blame Beau. Blame Moore. Plenty to choose from.

 

[domus]

I share some of your frustration - agree with the former, but can't agree that he would have been 'the difference'.

He had 2-3 incredible years, has had some very tumultuous recent years and of course everyone at a personal level would do everything that they could for him. But yeah, he's contracted and if you can't do your job do you place his needs above everyone else's?

Oh, I think his pace and ball handling would absolutely have been the difference against Freo in slippery low scoring conditions and the Sydney game where the pill was on the deck most of the time in the second half. If Hayes kicked two and looked dangerous I'd imagine Bobby would have been even more dangerous.

Bobby wasn't quite there (in comparison to Pickett) as he has never had a run in the midfield, but he's the equal of Kasiah Pickett when in the forward line. Take Pickett out of Melbourne's line up and they become a completely different team.

 

[Travis Shanks]

Oh, I think his pace and ball handling would absolutely have been the difference against Freo in slippery low scoring conditions and the Sydney game where the pill was on the deck most of the time in the second half. If Hayes kicked two and looked dangerous I'd imagine Bobby would have been even more dangerous.

Bobby wasn't quite there (in comparison to Pickett) as he has never had a run in the midfield, but he's the equal of Kasiah Pickett when in the forward line. Take Pickett out of Melbourne's line up and they become a completely different team.

Bobby Hill wasn't available for selection. No reason to suggest he didn't want to play, but his circumstances didn't allow it.

Lamenting the absence of a player who hasn't been available for selection is one thing, but blaming them for it is strange and silly.

Torn ligaments or a busted brain, sometimes these things just happen.

 

[gouki88]

Bobby Hill wasn't available for selection. No reason to suggest he didn't want to play, but his circumstances didn't allow it.

Lamenting the absence of a player who hasn't been available for selection is one thing, but blaming them for it is strange and silly.

Torn ligaments or a busted brain, sometimes these things just happen.

Domie struggles to comprehend that mental health is just an extension of health

 

[Travis Shanks]

Domie struggles to comprehend that mental health is just an extension of health

The domicile does struggle with that one, and some other stuff. We should try to be more understanding.

 

[satty]

I thought we'd lost him as a player.

That Bobby's likely to give us something this season at all still feels like a big win.

As jen said , it seems Bobby has had his partner with him in vic for the last few months.

I guess the club will need a definitive answer from him in the next few months before the season ends on whether he sees Victoria as his home for the next 3-4 years.

We have essentially lost a years worth of his play, right when his new contract kicked in. We cannot afford any more long term absences from bobby going forward. As fly alluded to, they will be as understanding as they can be, but there is a time when performance starts to matter.

So the next few months will be crucial for determining Bobby's future at Collingwood. As a talent, he is someone we should never let walk out the door, but availability also matters a lot.

 

[Travis Shanks]

As jen said , it seems Bobby has had his partner with him in vic for the last few months.

I guess the club will need a definitive answer from him in the next few months before the season ends on whether he sees Victoria as his home for the next 3-4 years.

We have essentially lost a years worth of his play, right when his new contract kicked in. We cannot afford any more long term absences from bobby going forward. As fly alluded to, they will be as understanding as they can be, but there is a time when performance starts to matter.

So the next few months will be crucial for determining Bobby's future at Collingwood. As a talent, he is someone we should never let walk out the door, but availability also matters a lot.

The summary of what you've posted is that it would be good to have Bobby Hill playing football.

I agree.

 

[satty]

The summary of what you've posted is that it would be good to have Bobby Hill playing football.

I agree.

No doubt, but he also has to decide which is the best place for his long term future for him and his children.

Think everyone can agree that this is the last time Bobby will be given an extended leave of absence without serious questions about trading him popping up.

 

[unplugged]

I listened to the press conference and I'm not at all surprised that they asked 3 questions about Grundy and nothing about Swadling.

 

[yeah man]

I listened to the press conference and I'm not at all surprised that they asked 3 questions about Grundy and nothing about Swadling.

It was pretty much all coming from Tom Morris, he's never really been interested in things that matter. Can't let a real question get in the way of a manufactured story!

 

[gouki88]

I listened to the press conference and I'm not at all surprised that they asked 3 questions about Grundy and nothing about Swadling.

Most of our media are effing useless!

 

[tmpies01]

I listened to the press conference and I'm not at all surprised that they asked 3 questions about Grundy and nothing about Swadling.

This is getting extremely frustrating. More worried about fueling the clickbait media BS than actual footy.

The media department needs to crack down on what questions are being asked at mid week pressers. Or start allowing the fans to submit questions.

 

[tmpies01]

SwoopLuke reckons Bobby is in WA for the birth of his child.

 

[Scodog10]

I listened to the press conference and I'm not at all surprised that they asked 3 questions about Grundy and nothing about Swadling.

Glad I wasn’t the only one that noticed that! It felt like 5 minutes of a 9 minute presser was devoted to questions that Fly clearly didn’t want to answer after the first question. I did like how Fly ended the line of questioning though.

 

[Sea fog]

So we do get a report from Annabel this week This just came into my fb feed

Notes from training - the main session prior to the Pendlebury milestone match. A beclouded sky and slightly chilly conditions greeted the players and there was a reasonable turn-up, including a school group of Pie-crossed lovers, for the main session prior to the match in which Pendles further elevates himself in the taxonomy of footy’s elite.

Was anyone missing? Reef and Steene were absent for obvious reasons, but Hill who’s been unsighted at training for the past two weeks was not there again.

Who was in rehab? Two were in-patients today. Perryman worked with a trainer from the outset, using the resistance tape for the warm-up and later graduating to a solid running session with a break for a massage from the physio. The other in this category was Cochran who after some light skill work near the pavilion, crossed to the outer side and worked vigorously up that hill near the River End of the ground.

How did the main cohort warm up? They predominantly worked with the mini and high hurdles with most of the players in one group on the outer wing and the others sprinkled mainly by youngsters towards the River End goals. They also used sticks which they held aloft while limbering up and they were told to change groups if there was a paucity of sticks - there was also some aggressive scissor kicking with instructions constantly barked regarding the holding of positions to work various muscle groups.

What was on the menu in terms of drills? There were two groups which were mirror images of each other in terms of activities with each inhabiting a half of the arena. Nathan Murphy

28

Nathan Murphy

Age

26

Ht

192cm

Wt

90kg

Pos.

Def

Career

Season

Last 5

D

11.5

3star

K

6.5

3star

HB

5.0

4star

M

2.5

3star

T

1.5

3star

MG

176.5

3star

No current season stats available

D

11.5

3star

K

6.5

3star

HB

5.0

4star

M

2.5

3star

T

1.5

4star

MG

176.5

3star

was very explicit in guiding his troops and emphasised the work in relation to ground balls but the drill also involved handball chains and laying off to a kicker. This was followed by sprinting where the onlookers can gauge the pace of the players. As per usual this was staggered on the whistle and they received affirmation from the coaches after this short, sharp segment. Therein followed another activity targeting handball linking with the final recipient of the ball shooting for goal. This was completed in an intersecting diamond formation and largely featured slick ball movement. Following this was a move into line groups with the defenders completing a longish session of one-on-one marking, the rucks in the centre of the ground working with Stafford, while the forwards worked at the River End on goalkicking and connection and the on-ball brigade occupied the Glasshouse side wing practising their contesting, handballing and kicking. For the record the rucks receiving tutelage were: Smit, Cameron, McStay and Buller. The defenders who competed against each other consisted of: Howes, Moore, Frampton, Tew and Howe and they were later joined by those who were involved in the rucking practice. Interestingly, Nick rather than working with the onballers, kicked the balls to these tussling defenders and performed this task very well. The final drill before the match simulation was a whole ground ball movement exercise.

Match simulation on main session day is always instructive due to the prospect of spotting the changes to the team which is usually released later that day. Every player had walked onto the oval wearing blacks but half the squad had to don the whites prior to the matchplay. While there were a few regulars such as IQ wearing white, it was notable to spot Allan and Hayes still in black, while Buller, Parker and Steele reverted to white. Membrey, now seemingly ready for selection, was in white signalling the intention to play him in the VFL. There was an interesting moment when the whole team gathered around the coaches who may have been imparting team news among other pearls of wisdom but the players then all gathered around Crisp who shot accurately for goal to the applause of the thronging group.

The black team thumped the white clad today and after an initial hiccup with Frampton and Moore crashing into one another after the first ball went into their zone today, those wearing the darker strip connected and combined well and one can only hope that this translates into a team performing with cohesion in Pendles’ garlanded match in twilight time on Saturday.

Random observations:

Roan Steele clearly has an unfathomably big tank but surely he has to get the ball more often and be more constructive with it. He’s shown that he’s apt to kick timely goals, but the wing is a pivotal position in today’s football and he’s not as productive as many of his counterparts so might be due a spell in the VFL where he can get his hands on the ball more.

Nick - he still looks like he’s carrying an injury as he could be seen labouring in his movements in the middle of the ground when there were breaks in drills and match simulation. This could be a cue for him to play even more minutes in attack as the post matchplay drills involving mids suggested that Allan, Sidey and Crisp may be spending some more time at the coalface.

Allan - still can fire off the lazy handball and luckily for him in one instance, Nick cleaned up his mess, but he did conversely look very crisp in his delivery at other times and he certainly moves with alacrity and he covers a lot of ground.

Hayes - he seems to be improving all the time and when he bulks up may spend some time in the middle as during match sim he moves spontaneously up the ground and one can see that he has high footy IQ the way he anticipates ahead of the play and after reading it correctly steams off into attack; his pace may be underrated.

JDG - moved pretty well despite reports during the week that he was suffering shin soreness

Swadling - one has to feel for Sam. Any other week he may have been promoted but perhaps there’s some reluctance for any of SP’s long-time teammates to be rested, managed or dropped because it seems he’s not under consideration for selection judging by the white top in matchplay after he’s strung together a whole block of consistently prolific matches with the shortcoming of poorish disposal being rectified of late. Today he waltzed through packs, showed what an excellent overlap player he is and after remonstrating with himself when Maynard came over the top to take a big mark of a ball he was waiting under, he ran relentlessly to find himself marking forward and ready to shoot for goal in the match sim when the final whistle blew. Fans are champing at the bit for his promotion.

Smit - he was outjumping Cameron at centre square throw-ups so it could still be a matter of watch this space regarding whether he, or someone we may select in the impending mid-season draft is picked to accompany Darcy in the rucking stakes. Clearly our back-up of McStay, Buller and long shot Ben, are not really cutting the mustard at this juncture.

Moore - was moving and marking well today, which one hopes augurs well for this form to be seen on the big stage, after a checkered start to the season due to a combination of unusual circumstances. During the tussles between the rucks and defenders today he was outpointing all-comers which was a good sign for his marking touch which was great against GWS but absent against the others when the fist seemed to be the preference

Lippa - looked to be in fine fettle after the bout of concussion

Saxena - when he puts on more size he could be a great entertainer with his intoxicating cocktail of skills, speed, X-factor and footy smarts, not to mention the new fans we may poach from the largely cricket-loving Indian diaspora.

Lots of handballing drills again today which were largely executed well but one hopes that this muscle memory is replicated against the Weagles as lately there have been too many loopy loop loop deliveries by hand which demonstrate poor skill, but moreover allow the opposition to pounce on what should at times have been fundamental actions performed by AFL standard players.

Selection tips: Most likely based on prima facie evidence today:

In Cameron, Moore, 433 and Lippa



Out Steene, Parker, Steele and Steene

Of course there could be some surprises in store but McRae will surely be wary of making too many changes against a team which will see the opportunity to spoil the party with its group of burgeoning youngsters and old adversaries such as Yeo.

 

[WanderingDude]

So we do get a report from Annabel this week This just came into my fb feed

Notes from training - the main session prior to the Pendlebury milestone match. A beclouded sky and slightly chilly conditions greeted the players and there was a reasonable turn-up, including a school group of Pie-crossed lovers, for the main session prior to the match in which Pendles further elevates himself in the taxonomy of footy’s elite.

Was anyone missing? Reef and Steene were absent for obvious reasons, but Hill who’s been unsighted at training for the past two weeks was not there again.

Who was in rehab? Two were in-patients today. Perryman worked with a trainer from the outset, using the resistance tape for the warm-up and later graduating to a solid running session with a break for a massage from the physio. The other in this category was Cochran who after some light skill work near the pavilion, crossed to the outer side and worked vigorously up that hill near the River End of the ground.

How did the main cohort warm up? They predominantly worked with the mini and high hurdles with most of the players in one group on the outer wing and the others sprinkled mainly by youngsters towards the River End goals. They also used sticks which they held aloft while limbering up and they were told to change groups if there was a paucity of sticks - there was also some aggressive scissor kicking with instructions constantly barked regarding the holding of positions to work various muscle groups.

What was on the menu in terms of drills? There were two groups which were mirror images of each other in terms of activities with each inhabiting a half of the arena. Nathan Murphy was very explicit in guiding his troops and emphasised the work in relation to ground balls but the drill also involved handball chains and laying off to a kicker. This was followed by sprinting where the onlookers can gauge the pace of the players. As per usual this was staggered on the whistle and they received affirmation from the coaches after this short, sharp segment. Therein followed another activity targeting handball linking with the final recipient of the ball shooting for goal. This was completed in an intersecting diamond formation and largely featured slick ball movement. Following this was a move into line groups with the defenders completing a longish session of one-on-one marking, the rucks in the centre of the ground working with Stafford, while the forwards worked at the River End on goalkicking and connection and the on-ball brigade occupied the Glasshouse side wing practising their contesting, handballing and kicking. For the record the rucks receiving tutelage were: Smit, Cameron, McStay and Buller. The defenders who competed against each other consisted of: Howes, Moore, Frampton, Tew and Howe and they were later joined by those who were involved in the rucking practice. Interestingly, Nick rather than working with the onballers, kicked the balls to these tussling defenders and performed this task very well. The final drill before the match simulation was a whole ground ball movement exercise.

Match simulation on main session day is always instructive due to the prospect of spotting the changes to the team which is usually released later that day. Every player had walked onto the oval wearing blacks but half the squad had to don the whites prior to the matchplay. While there were a few regulars such as IQ wearing white, it was notable to spot Allan and Hayes still in black, while Buller, Parker and Steele reverted to white. Membrey, now seemingly ready for selection, was in white signalling the intention to play him in the VFL. There was an interesting moment when the whole team gathered around the coaches who may have been imparting team news among other pearls of wisdom but the players then all gathered around Crisp who shot accurately for goal to the applause of the thronging group.

The black team thumped the white clad today and after an initial hiccup with Frampton and Moore crashing into one another after the first ball went into their zone today, those wearing the darker strip connected and combined well and one can only hope that this translates into a team performing with cohesion in Pendles’ garlanded match in twilight time on Saturday.

Random observations:

Roan Steele clearly has an unfathomably big tank but surely he has to get the ball more often and be more constructive with it. He’s shown that he’s apt to kick timely goals, but the wing is a pivotal position in today’s football and he’s not as productive as many of his counterparts so might be due a spell in the VFL where he can get his hands on the ball more.

Nick - he still looks like he’s carrying an injury as he could be seen labouring in his movements in the middle of the ground when there were breaks in drills and match simulation. This could be a cue for him to play even more minutes in attack as the post matchplay drills involving mids suggested that Allan, Sidey and Crisp may be spending some more time at the coalface.

Allan - still can fire off the lazy handball and luckily for him in one instance, Nick cleaned up his mess, but he did conversely look very crisp in his delivery at other times and he certainly moves with alacrity and he covers a lot of ground.

Hayes - he seems to be improving all the time and when he bulks up may spend some time in the middle as during match sim he moves spontaneously up the ground and one can see that he has high footy IQ the way he anticipates ahead of the play and after reading it correctly steams off into attack; his pace may be underrated.

JDG - moved pretty well despite reports during the week that he was suffering shin soreness

Swadling - one has to feel for Sam. Any other week he may have been promoted but perhaps there’s some reluctance for any of SP’s long-time teammates to be rested, managed or dropped because it seems he’s not under consideration for selection judging by the white top in matchplay after he’s strung together a whole block of consistently prolific matches with the shortcoming of poorish disposal being rectified of late. Today he waltzed through packs, showed what an excellent overlap player he is and after remonstrating with himself when Maynard came over the top to take a big mark of a ball he was waiting under, he ran relentlessly to find himself marking forward and ready to shoot for goal in the match sim when the final whistle blew. Fans are champing at the bit for his promotion.

Smit - he was outjumping Cameron at centre square throw-ups so it could still be a matter of watch this space regarding whether he, or someone we may select in the impending mid-season draft is picked to accompany Darcy in the rucking stakes. Clearly our back-up of McStay, Buller and long shot Ben, are not really cutting the mustard at this juncture.

Moore - was moving and marking well today, which one hopes augurs well for this form to be seen on the big stage, after a checkered start to the season due to a combination of unusual circumstances. During the tussles between the rucks and defenders today he was outpointing all-comers which was a good sign for his marking touch which was great against GWS but absent against the others when the fist seemed to be the preference

Lippa - looked to be in fine fettle after the bout of concussion

Saxena - when he puts on more size he could be a great entertainer with his intoxicating cocktail of skills, speed, X-factor and footy smarts, not to mention the new fans we may poach from the largely cricket-loving Indian diaspora.

Lots of handballing drills again today which were largely executed well but one hopes that this muscle memory is replicated against the Weagles as lately there have been too many loopy loop loop deliveries by hand which demonstrate poor skill, but moreover allow the opposition to pounce on what should at times have been fundamental actions performed by AFL standard players.

Selection tips: Most likely based on prima facie evidence today:

In Cameron, Moore, 433 and Lippa



Out Steene, Parker, Steele and Steene

Of course there could be some surprises in store but McRae will surely be wary of making too many changes against a team which will see the opportunity to spoil the party with its group of burgeoning youngsters and old adversaries such as Yeo.

It is very difficult to select outs. Steene out feels like a double hit. Having him out twice is just cheating.

 

[Sea fog]

It is very difficult to select outs. Steene out feels like a double hit. Having him out twice is just cheating.

Gosh it would be good news is he did have an identical twin. I am guessing that instead of his twin the intention was probably Buller in light of what Jen posted.

 

[manicpie]

SwoopLuke reckons Bobby is in WA for the birth of his child.

Swoops been smoking fajitas

 

[Jen2310]

It all depends what they do with the 2nd ruck, whether Buller stays in or not.
You'd want someone to support West up forward if Mcstay is rucking. Unless Long 2nd rucks

 

[WanderingDude]

It all depends what they do with the 2nd ruck, whether Buller stays in or not.
You'd want someone to support West up forward if Mcstay is rucking. Unless Long 2nd rucks

When McStay rucked the forward line was lacking, when Long or Buller rucked the ruck was lacking. Those three as second to Cameron is better than last week with Steene up and then down. I just think leap from Smit would help.

 

[BillyElliott]

 

[Sea fog]

When McStay rucked the forward line was lacking, when Long or Buller rucked the ruck was lacking. Those three as second to Cameron is better than last week with Steene up and then down. I just think leap from Smit would help.

Do you think that with Frampton and Moore in defence that Howe could be released to play the Buller forward role? Reckon this is a possibility providing we do not get any in game injuries.

 

[manicpie]

When McStay rucked the forward line was lacking, when Long or Buller rucked the ruck was lacking. Those three as second to Cameron is better than last week with Steene up and then down. I just think leap from Smit would help.

If Buller gets dropped, I hope Smit gets a game. Might as well see how he goes and I like his forward craft, just his goal kicking needs some work