CHF

Sounds as if all the episodes will be good viewing. Will have a look at it before deciding if it was any good.

What will you be looking for this season? So much has changed for this season I was thinking about what are the most significant things that I will be watching for. Of course, I want to see us winning but I am realistic and understand that it will be a bit of an up and down year as the team and players develop. I have tried to keep to the 5 most important things to me. 1. See how the young players have developed after a full pre-season. The likes of Langford, Windsor, Lindsey and Tholstrup. Tholstrup in particular as I think he needs to take big strides to prove his worth. 2. I want to see if the forwards can perform better than last few seasons. Much will depend on delivery, but I want to see movement in the forward 50 to give the midfield some clear targets. 3. How we adapt to the ‘new’ game plan. Fast movement and are we going to be fit enough to support it? 4. Midfield. Who is where and how they gel. 5. How the young, newly drafted players are developed and used. The likes of Taylor, TOP (The Other Pickett), Matthews and Onley. So tell me, what are you going to be watching for?

How many times have you said that?

My red and blue heart is always going to be biased and have us performing better than anyone thought. My head, when looking at this season is a little bit confused. It may be age causing that. It may be more of a case that there are just so many unknowns stacked into our mix this season. It makes it hard, in my opinion to make any assessment. New coach with a new structure to his coaching team, a different game structure and a big turnover in the playing list all contribute to a sense of uncertainty for me. With regard to the coaching I like what I am hearing about the training sessions and the attitude of the players. they seem to be responding to the new coaching team. I am sure the players are looking at the situation as a 'clean sheet' re-start. I have also heard reports from a couple of people that King is very clear in his discussions with players at training as well as in private. I believe he is the same way with his coaching team. The playing list is what it is. We lost a couple of club champions and gained a couple of senior players. wins and losses, only time will tell which are which. I tend to think we made the right decisions to move on our ex/declining champions and look to make spaces in the team for younger developing players. In the defence I think we have a good mix of senior quality players and young developing players. If that is the case and we can organise that area of the ground to support our new game plan then I think it will hold up pretty well. The attacking area of the ground will be better than it has been since '21. it would have to show some improvement as it has been so bad for so long. The new game plan will improve the forward performance as long as the midfield delivers with intent and intelligence and the forwards are on the move rather than standing and wrestling. JVR, Fristch and Mihocek will be locks if fit but it will be interesting to see how the rest of the forward 0 is structured. There will be a number of players rotating between a stint in the forwards and other positions in the midfield or on a wing. Games are won and lost in the midfield...... so goes a tried and true cliche. I agree and it is the zone of the ground that we really know least about. We have a number of players that can perform on the wings. The real deal is what happens in the middle at the fall of the ball. Steele will be a big asset in there as will Pickett the Elder. the rest will get in there but so much of the performance in there relies on understanding how and where your teammates are going to be. it takes time to build those relationships and understanding. I expect us to run a bit hot and cold in the middle during this season and even within games. So the heart says we will surprise and end up 8-10 while the head says we will improve on 14th last season and be around 10-12th. P.S. in my heart of hearts we win the flag this year.

Thank you Redleg for the great report and the rundown on how some of the players went in the match sim. Was good to have read it prior to watching the sim highlights. Hard not to get excited given the training reports and the videos and pics we are getting from the club. Reports have highlighted not just the dills and player performances but, more importantly to my mind, the differences to the 'vibe' at training compared to the last couple of years. Given all the changes at the club in the last few months it is difficult to know how we are going to go until the pedal hits the metal after the first competitive bounce. I am optimistic and believe that we will improve on 14th this season. different game plan, different personnel and different attitude. There will be games that blow out but the players and coaches have to keep their belief in what they are doing and build on it. Watching the match sim video I loved the ball movement and the running but did not like the way our defenders lost their man when a grab was taken in a pocket. not so much the mark being taken but they were then allowed to play on to a player on their own in the goal square. I recall that happening twice..... once too often in my book. Roll on Mid-March. Go Dees!

Very possibly correct bing. I see 2-4 as a very good result given the situation we are in list and coaching wise. I also agree with your general outline of the areas of the ground with the midfield as an unknown. However, I am looking for an interesting ride in ‘26.

Given all the changes that the team list, the coaching staff and the Administration has been through over the last few months I find it hard to look for a 'pass mark' for '26. I want to see a true development of the game plan and a team of players week in week out enjoying their footy and being competitive. I can see this year as an opportunity for the coaches to have a good look at the players response under pressure of league footy, their adaption to the game plan and individual development. This pre-season is critical in establishing the standards on and off field. The first six games will give an idea of what we can expect for the season a there is a bit of travel and we play a good mixture of teams. R1 - Saints @The G (h) R2 - Dockers Perth (a) R3 - Carlton @ The G (a) R4 - Suns @The G (h) R5 - Bombers Adelaide (a) R6 - Brisbane @ The G (h) 4 at the G One in Perth and one in Adelaide. Come away from that with a couple of good wins and a couple of close games and then I will grade them.

Congratulations picket fence, I have just ticked over 20 years reading and posting on this site and you are the first and only poster I have put on ignore.

100% agree that he is very much a young man that has been given a chance on our list and I believe he will not be left wondering what might have been. He will give it his best shot and that is really all we can ask of any on our list. From reports, he has come back very fit and has put a lot of work in during the off season. He will take his chances as they come. Will show a lot more than a lot on here think.

Can we assume that there is a 'pecking order' with regard to any of the zones on the ground given that there has been so much change in the list, the coaches and the game plan? I think that new, clear eyes will be assessing everyone during the preseason. I know that there is historic form and evidence with all of the players but this is a very different club to what is was a couple of months ago. I think there will be a few surprises from players that will challenge us to alter our perceptions of them.

I am not a big one on bagging players on our list at any time. This pre-season in particular I cannot really understand knocking a player for what they might/may have done or not done. We have a new senior coach and a restructured coaching team, a new president and a new administration. Significant changes at all levels of the club including big changes to the playing list. As far as I am concerned, everyone starts with a clean sheet. Across the board. I will judge them by their actions and results as a team and as individuals. I will be excited to see what some of the lesser lights bring to the table during the pre-season. The likes of AJ, Laurie, Jefferson, Culley and Adams. Add to that the excitement of a few new names added through the draft and we have a lot to look forward to in 26.

An interesting observation GW. In a thread during the season I said Tholstrup was in danger of becoming known as 'The Hologram' as to me he was all image and very little substance. Sounds like I may not have been alone in those observations. I hope that he really steps up in this season with a really good strong pre-season.

A big thanks to the track watchers. I am smiling bigly on this side of the world.

I believe that the word 'larconic' was coined by the the Athenians around 500BC in reference to the Spartans who did not say much and were from the region of Larconia. #uselessfactoftheday

Firstly, let me say how much I appreciate the fearless reporters that post to all of the training threads during the pre-season. Resident where I am in N-W Europe it is really a critical off-season lifeline so that I can get a real feel for what the team is up to. A really big personal thank-you to all of you. Now, without putting too much pressure on all of you, the next 5 months leading into the ’26 season will be the most critical pre-season reporting period that we have had for many a year. So, no shirkers! A big turnover of senior players, new senior players coming to the club, a new coach and new assistant coaches, a couple of first round picks to run the eye over…… a new style of play… a different approach to training? So much we will all need feedback on Again, a big thanks to all the track watchers. I am looking forward to whatever reports land and I am very optimistic about next season the following ones. Go Dees in ’26!