AFL 2026

[PatowalongaPirate]

A bit of sniping will have the Suns missing a couple of players for Opening Round.

Coach pressers will be interesting.

[Brodlach]

Only a trial but have we over rated the Suns?


Brisbane missed up to 8 first choice players last night.

[wenchbarwer]

Only a trial but have we over rated the Suns?


Brisbane missed up to 8 first choice players last night.

I was thinking this, then I remembered we beat Geelong last year...

[Brodlach]

Only a trial but have we over rated the Suns?


Brisbane missed up to 8 first choice players last night.

I was thinking this, then I remembered we beat Geelong last year...

True, and Carlton have won the preseason Cup

I think they needed to show far more against the Brisbane line up last night

[Dutchy]

I wouldn't read too much into it, looking at last years preseason results - they had little guide to how the season proper played out

[whufc]

Results in trial games are no indication whatsoever.......for all the reasons we know.

One point of interest though......

Suns 54 hitouts to 23 yet lost the clearances 35 to 33. Having more hitouts but losing the clearances isn't completely uncommon BUT (and i am as far from being a ruckmen as anyone on the planet) should we expect to see more of this with the new rules.

For those ruckmen out there would it be much easier to get a hit out to advantage when you can use your body, plant your feet and core and then direct the tap vs flying in the air against the other ruckmen with his knees, legs, and arms coming at you from everywhere.

I wonder if we will see less affective hit outs this season from the big old guys like Witts and Xerri.

Albeit noting Brisbane won more stoppage clearance and GC won more centre clearances.

In a game where one small bounce or one percentage changes can affect an outcome i find it hard to believe the new ruck rules wont see small elements of certain players/teams thriving whilst others dont.

[Brodlach]

Brisbane didn’t have a ruckman at all, played two kids that are yet to play AFL.

[whufc]

Brisbane didn’t have a ruckman at all, played two kids that are yet to play AFL.

Yep which does make it a bit of anomaly that Brisbane could still win the clearances against a decent GC midfield that included Anderson, Petracca, Miller, Humphrey or is GC just stuffed without Rowell winning them the first footy.

[wenchbarwer]

Results in trial games are no indication whatsoever.......for all the reasons we know.

One point of interest though......

Suns 54 hitouts to 23 yet lost the clearances 35 to 33. Having more hitouts but losing the clearances isn't completely uncommon BUT (and i am as far from being a ruckmen as anyone on the planet) should we expect to see more of this with the new rules.

For those ruckmen out there would it be much easier to get a hit out to advantage when you can use your body, plant your feet and core and then direct the tap vs flying in the air against the other ruckmen with his knees, legs, and arms coming at you from everywhere.

I wonder if we will see less affective hit outs this season from the big old guys like Witts and Xerri.

Albeit noting Brisbane won more stoppage clearance and GC won more centre clearances.

In a game where one small bounce or one percentage changes can affect an outcome i find it hard to believe the new ruck rules wont see small elements of certain players/teams thriving whilst others dont.

Got to disagree there whuffer. Much easier to jump and palm the ball than it is to wrestle and get your arm up at the last moment. Can almost guarantee that 196cm Zakostelsky barely wins a hitout under 2025 rules, but gets 18 against 206cm & 209cm opponents.

Brisbane's midfield is top notch and guys like Dunkley, McLuggae, Neal and Ashcroft would have been all over the Suns mids, given Brisbane were running with a 20 year old key defender in the ruck.

[whufc]

Results in trial games are no indication whatsoever.......for all the reasons we know.

One point of interest though......

Suns 54 hitouts to 23 yet lost the clearances 35 to 33. Having more hitouts but losing the clearances isn't completely uncommon BUT (and i am as far from being a ruckmen as anyone on the planet) should we expect to see more of this with the new rules.

For those ruckmen out there would it be much easier to get a hit out to advantage when you can use your body, plant your feet and core and then direct the tap vs flying in the air against the other ruckmen with his knees, legs, and arms coming at you from everywhere.

I wonder if we will see less affective hit outs this season from the big old guys like Witts and Xerri.

Albeit noting Brisbane won more stoppage clearance and GC won more centre clearances.

In a game where one small bounce or one percentage changes can affect an outcome i find it hard to believe the new ruck rules wont see small elements of certain players/teams thriving whilst others dont.

Got to disagree there whuffer. Much easier to jump and palm the ball than it is to wrestle and get your arm up at the last moment. Can almost guarantee that 196cm Zakostelsky barely wins a hitout under 2025 rules, but gets 18 against 206cm & 209cm opponents.

Brisbane's midfield is top notch and guys like Dunkley, McLuggae, Neal and Ashcroft would have been all over the Suns mids, given Brisbane were running with a 20 year old key defender in the ruck.

Thats why i was posing it as a question, im 5ft nothing so have barely participated in a marking contest nevermind a ruck contest.

[wenchbarwer]

Nah, it's a good question. I like the new ruck rules, as an undersized ruck back in the day, I relied on my leap, and there was a fair bit of craft to go with it.

Having 3 of my 4 kids play as rucks, I take a fair interest in it, and I really hated the crap wrestling that peaked last year. That's not ruckwork, that's Stephen Silvagni's skillset in the 80's & 90's Nothing turns me off modern footy more than seeing a Reilly O'Brien v Jarrod Witts snoozefest...

I grew up watching Simon Madden play, who IMO is the greatest ruck the game has ever seen. Players like Paddy Ryder, Jeff White, John Barnes & Matt Clarke all showed that a lack of bulk could be made up for with a great leap and sublime palming skills. I love watching Matilda Scholz go about it as well, and these skills should definitely be promoted in the game, as it's unique to our code and definitely worth protecting.

[amber_fluid]

Nah, it's a good question. I like the new ruck rules, as an undersized ruck back in the day, I relied on my leap, and there was a fair bit of craft to go with it.

Having 3 of my 4 kids play as rucks, I take a fair interest in it, and I really hated the crap wrestling that peaked last year. That's not ruckwork, that's Stephen Silvagni's skillset in the 80's & 90's Nothing turns me off modern footy more than seeing a Reilly O'Brien v Jarrod Witts snoozefest...

I grew up watching Simon Madden play, who IMO is the greatest ruck the game has ever seen. Players like Paddy Ryder, Jeff White, John Barnes & Matt Clarke all showed that a lack of bulk could be made up for with a great leap and sublime palming skills. I love watching Matilda Scholz go about it as well, and these skills should definitely be promoted in the game, as it's unique to our code and definitely worth protecting.

Justin was better than Simon

[wenchbarwer]

Nah, it's a good question. I like the new ruck rules, as an undersized ruck back in the day, I relied on my leap, and there was a fair bit of craft to go with it.

Having 3 of my 4 kids play as rucks, I take a fair interest in it, and I really hated the crap wrestling that peaked last year. That's not ruckwork, that's Stephen Silvagni's skillset in the 80's & 90's Nothing turns me off modern footy more than seeing a Reilly O'Brien v Jarrod Witts snoozefest...

I grew up watching Simon Madden play, who IMO is the greatest ruck the game has ever seen. Players like Paddy Ryder, Jeff White, John Barnes & Matt Clarke all showed that a lack of bulk could be made up for with a great leap and sublime palming skills. I love watching Matilda Scholz go about it as well, and these skills should definitely be promoted in the game, as it's unique to our code and definitely worth protecting.

Justin was better than Simon

This preseason premiership has really got out of hand...

[amber_fluid]

Nah, it's a good question. I like the new ruck rules, as an undersized ruck back in the day, I relied on my leap, and there was a fair bit of craft to go with it.

Having 3 of my 4 kids play as rucks, I take a fair interest in it, and I really hated the crap wrestling that peaked last year. That's not ruckwork, that's Stephen Silvagni's skillset in the 80's & 90's Nothing turns me off modern footy more than seeing a Reilly O'Brien v Jarrod Witts snoozefest...

I grew up watching Simon Madden play, who IMO is the greatest ruck the game has ever seen. Players like Paddy Ryder, Jeff White, John Barnes & Matt Clarke all showed that a lack of bulk could be made up for with a great leap and sublime palming skills. I love watching Matilda Scholz go about it as well, and these skills should definitely be promoted in the game, as it's unique to our code and definitely worth protecting.

Justin was better than Simon

This preseason premiership has really got out of hand...

I’m running when the real season starts………