TRAINING: Friday 16th January 2026

Demonland Trackwatcher Pickett Fence made the trek out to Casey Fields to watch the session from behind the locked fence to bring you his observations from preseason training.

PICKET FENCE'S PRESEASON TRAINING OBSERVATIONS

A shocking breeze was evident blowing across the ground, To give an example if you were kicking long allow a 20/25 metre cross inswing or outswing depending on which end you were at.

NO SHOWS Mc Adam, Both Picketts (well I’m sure I would have noticed if they were there), Tom Campbell.

REHAB Viney, Sharp, ( although he was running pretty freely), Melky (who looked very slow) AMW, Matthews, Big Maxxy, and later no 19 and 38, but 19 was not Harvey Langford? Brody Mihocek (who doesn’t look far off).

SKILLS.DRILLS AND MANOUVERS

1. Lots of running with skill drills incorporated around drill then Run throughs at top pace then Drills

2. High emphasis in running in waves from ball gather through back line to midfield to center corridor and conversion opportunities. Further it appeared that hesitation and any doubt has been erased preferring to take a risk and overlap rather than second guess the delivery

3. In drills where kicking was evident a higher emphasis seemed to be on taking an extra split second to ensure premium delivery

4. A great drill which I will call reverse herringbone followed a kick to receiver, back up runner to gather, another handball overlap, another overlap then kick or handball to multiple targets. Given the wind this worked quite well

MATCH SIM

Now this is where it became interesting, the Reds appeared to be the potential 1^ts and the White maybe the Ressies. Having said that Petty and Disco ( whites were up against  JVR and Jeffo).

The reds were clearly a bit stronger and moved the ball well utilising the drills which I have described, there were more overlaps but not overuse that I have seen for a long time. Given the conditions the skill levels were very good, to give you an example A chain of play overlap kick handball from Reds found Fritta in a forward pocket. A set shot for goal aimed outside the left goal post sailed out on the full on the opposite pocket!!, because of the wind!⁹

PLAYER WATCH

MAX HEATH: I think we have a smokey here, he rucked well against A.J and followed up with marks and involvement around the ground, he bore a comparison in style to Tom Lynch, I think he will be lock in the starting team

JAI CULLEY: I'm starting to believe the hype, his confidence and ball winning and using looked very good today

JVR: took some strong grabs and presented very well kicked a nice goal courtesy of Jeffo.

JEFFO: Played alongside JVR an I wonder is this might be Kings preferred set up? He dished off twice resulting in goals and took two strong grabs one of which a long shot 45 Just grazed the goal post

C.J: Another to impress with his athleticism, Selling candy and run of half back

LUKER KENTFIELD: has slimmed down and did some good things

LUAMON LUAL: (NO THIS ISN’T A MISPRINT), and he looks and plays just like C.J and if it was him, did not look out of place today, involved and did some nice things. If a LTI eventuated I would have NO hesitation putting him on the list.

Others to showed a bit were A.J Competitive in ruck and kicked a nice running goal, SPARROW, RIVERS, HOWES, SALEM and RICK LEVER.

NOTE THE MATCH SIM MAY HAVE GONE ON AFTER BUT I LEFT AT 11.45.