Training Training updates 2026.

[sr36]

Exactly. What's West got to do with Membrey ?

We lost Billy last week. No one can replace him, but someone will need to come in.

It'll come down to whether they want Buller for work rate and ruck chop out or West. I think it'll be Buller, but don't really care either way.

 

[Vicky Park]

From Annabele on fb and there is some comments about the new players



A grey blanket was overhead in drizzly rain (Jim Maxwell would call it mizzle) as the players filtered out. Saxena and Prindable were first, followed by newbie Pods who ran out enthusiastically.

The black and white clad appeared to provide some clue as to who might be playing so one got excited when Swadling strode out sporting the darker hue, only to change into white later on.

Who was missing? Hill, Moore, Steene, Reef and Elliott. I spotted Oscar on crutches as he arrived, he was smiling and shook the president’s hand. The veracity of the report suggesting that Bobby trained with the VFL has to be questioned as they didn’t officially train on the night the journo nominated and Jen who attends this squad’s training hasn’t spotted him. So it is concerning that he was absent again when the rest of those playing in the VFL were part of today’s main session.

Who was in rehab? Perryman, Hayes and Cochran were those working in this area today, though Pez and Joel did join some of the drills. Will did a lot of running but towards the end of the session, Heppell took them aside for some precision kicking practice and some general advice.

Point of interest - all the new draftees were present and their numbers are as follows: Pods is #46, Puncher is #47, while Coe is wearing #48. An interesting observation of their induction today was that all three were taken aside by the coaches and lined up to watch black clad essentially senior players demonstrate a stoppage drill, clearly in order to help them understand key aspects of our system. All wore white and so it appears none will be rushed into the team but the coaches want to expedite their integration into understanding our style of play. Thus these players were initiated into the code of the football style omerta.

Warm-up regimen today? It began for the early birds in front of the pavilion as they walked with weights above their head, while Houston, Q and Howe did theirs together. The rest then indulged in some desultory kicking. For the formal phase, there was work with the mini-hurdles, and some walking both sedately and aggressively with discs and weights aloft. Again there were separate groups partaking of the designated exercises.

Thereafter was the customary sprinting bracket which Pez and Cochran refrained from after completing the rest of the warming up phase with the whole cohort. Pez is clearly transitioning to full training as he did participate in some of the upbeat activities. Other drills were named after JDG with the Maynard multi occurring again. These were focussed around close-in handball following some different iterations of whole ground ball movement. As per usual there was some attention paid to ground ball retrieval with taller players strategically punching to ground for running players to swoop and clear.

The final item on the agenda before players focussed on their personal areas was the match simulation with AFL umpires officiating once again. From the positions and the shades worn by each player, it appears that Membrey will return to the team. He played forward and was prominent, while West sported the white so must be a candidate for omission. All of Allan, Long and Anderson were clad in white to keep onlookers guessing. Could they play all three, or just a couple of them. Surely Ed has earned his place. Roan Steele also wore white but he often does so this does not really presage selection.

General observations:

Frampton who is putting together an impressive body of work, outmarked West quite easily in the match simulation

Swadling looks like he must have a niggle he’s managing as he began working through the drills but then eschewed some of them to practise his goalkicking in isolation. He remained on the sidelines when the matchplay occurred so there would appear to be no chance of promotion which is a shame given his consistently promising form at the lower level.

Anderson - was noteworthy in the drills and match sim, kicking a goal in the latter but displaying lots of power, speed and evasiveness during activities

Nick still looks to be moving slightly gingerly but it was good to see Josh return to training after missing Tuesday’s session

All of the newbies showed something - Coe competed quite well with Cameron who looked like he was keen to show who was boss, Puncher looks to have an AFL shape body looking really disciplined and capable in the one-on-one stuff as well as moving smoothly and demonstrating neat skills and Pods led well for the ball, looked to be precise in his kicking and he appears to have good hands. One hopes what was on show translate to good performances in the VFL so that they can exert pressure on the incumbents and maybe plug gaps when required

Prindable seems to have lightning reflexes judging by his close-in work and he’s very clean in the way he picks up the ball from a wet deck.

Cameron returned to the fray and looked in fine fettle after taking time off on Tuesday for the birth of his daughter

‘McStationary’ clunked them well today.

Selection will be interesting as all of Jamie, Moore and Hayes need replacing

Membrey wasn’t setting the world on fire prior to his injury but he knows that Marvel graveyard well and will add some experience to the attack following the loss of Elliott.

For the record, renowned yoyo selection player Parker was in white today for the whole session

Disappointed to hear Swads might have a niggle, and if so, this could delay his debut.

Hope some of those who will lose their sh*t on here, if and when he’s not selected this week, read this first.

 

[sr36]

Disappointed to hear Swads might have a niggle, and if so, this could delay his debut.

Hope some of those who will lose their sh*t on here, if and when he’s not selected this week, read this first.

It'll be more entertaining if they don't. Plus there's a fair chance that West doesn't hold his spot - that'll be enough for this week's furore - got to hold some back for following weeks.

 

[gouki88]

Disappointed to hear Swads might have a niggle, and if so, this could delay his debut.

Hope some of those who will lose their sh*t on here, if and when he’s not selected this week, read this first.

I’ve read it, processed it, and will still lose my shit. Play the underdone teenager Craig, it’s the only way we win!

 

[Pragmatic Shill]

Membrey is a better footballer at senior level than West so I don’t get what the preemptive hand wringing is over? To add to that someone needs to replace Jamie and Membrey is as obvious as any doubly so given his record at Marvel…

Good laugh react on this comment.

 

[gouki88]

Good laugh react on this comment.

It’s bizarre - I want West to keep playing seniors as I think it’s the better route, but it’s inarguable that Skunk has been better

 

[Scodog10]

Good laugh react on this comment.

You weren’t around (at least in your current form) during the worst of the Buckley days between 2014-2017 when we were stuck in this doom spiral of start the season strong then drop off and miss the 8. It was basically the Shaw era 2.0 except we were a powerful club. The incessant and somewhat insidious thought process on here was around youth. Most posters wanted us to be young and used our youth as a shield from criticism directed towards Buckley. It was a vicious cycle and an ugly time on here. I doubt it would come as a shock to anyone that the poster that chose to laugh was front and centre.

The simple fact of the matter is West has averaged 6.5 possessions since returning to the seniors and been basically invisible since QT v Sydney. We’re in a winning phase so if he misses fair enough.

 

[Harry O]

How good is Ginbey though he's wasted at that club

Looks like he has roid rage at times though. Maybe the drug culture lives on

 

[Sea fog]

Looks like he has roid rage at times though. Maybe the drug culture lives on

Their young ones look suspiciously big.

 

[Jen2310]

Disappointed to hear Swads might have a niggle, and if so, this could delay his debut.

Hope some of those who will lose their sh*t on here, if and when he’s not selected this week, read this first.

I'm not sure what his issue is, but basically stood out of the play for most of the session. No match sim. Wasn't in the rehab group so it was a bit strange. Hard to know what was going on.

 

[The Royal Sampler]

I'm not sure what his issue is, but basically stood out of the play for most of the session. No match sim. Wasn't in the rehab group so it was a bit strange. Hard to know what was going on.

Sounds suspiciously like leather poisoning.

 

[unplugged]

Sounds suspiciously like leather poisoning.

Can you run some lines over his legs? I'd like us to have that covered, too.

 

[Rorzza]

It's likely 'the plan' man, it's probably a reduced load period, hopefully.

 

[The Royal Sampler]

Can you run some lines over his legs? I'd like us to have that covered, too.

Haha I’d forgotten that!

 

[ksardog]

Adding onto what Sco has said, I think people are forgetting both Hayes and Elliott are out this week. Two forwards coming in is a given, and Buller and Membrey are available. I don't think the melting is justified right now.

it should have been Buller and Harrison coming into the side for Elliott and Hayes
McStay to 10% ruck

we have got to eventually move past the 34 yr old slow forward, if he is not a massive upgrade on his competition ( West ) for a spot, i dont see much point in him getting games ahead of West

 

[ksardog]

I'm not sure what his issue is, but basically stood out of the play for most of the session. No match sim. Wasn't in the rehab group so it was a bit strange. Hard to know what was going on.

maybe not feeling well