Did we err in our pre-season training?

[Bornadog]

This stat says a fair bit about our fitness.

We just lack the running power to keep going after 1/2 time... I know the coach wants us to get bigger & stronger, but we also need to be able to run out games.

This quote got me thinking. Under the past 3 to 5 years we were one of the fittest clubs going around. Bill Daveron an Olympic Coach was hired after the Beijing Olympics (successfully training the ladies Tri-Athlete Gold medallists and others).

The past pre-season we changed our training to do more ball work. Traditionally clubs don't touch the ball till after the new year and just concentrate on training, fitness etc. We were practising contested posession and doing skill work with the ball very early into our pre-season.

Are we now paying for it in the second half of the season with a lack of fitness which is killing us in the second half of games?

[Desipura]

Re: Did we err in our pre-season training?

This quote got me thinking. Under the past 3 to 5 years we were one of the fittest clubs going around. Bill Daveron an Olympic Coach was hired after the Beijing Olympics (successfully training the ladies Tri-Athlete Gold medallists and others).

The past pre-season we changed our training to do more ball work. Traditionally clubs don't touch the ball till after the new year and just concentrate on training, fitness etc. We were practising contested posession and doing skill work with the ball very early into our pre-season.

Are we now paying for it in the second half of the season with a lack of fitness which is killing us in the second half of games?

With playing so many kids who's bodies are not yet developed, we were always going to struggle in the 2nd half of the season.
After 3-4 pre-seasons, the kids bodies will turn into men.

[SquirrelGrip]

Re: Did we err in our pre-season training?

The past pre-season we changed our training to do more ball work.

We've actually been doing more ball work? Anyone who has seen our skill level this year knows this surely couldn't be true!!

[SlimPickens]

Re: Did we err in our pre-season training?

This quote got me thinking. Under the past 3 to 5 years we were one of the fittest clubs going around. Bill Daveron an Olympic Coach was hired after the Beijing Olympics (successfully training the ladies Tri-Athlete Gold medallists and others).

The past pre-season we changed our training to do more ball work. Traditionally clubs don't touch the ball till after the new year and just concentrate on training, fitness etc. We were practising contested posession and doing skill work with the ball very early into our pre-season.

Are we now paying for it in the second half of the season with a lack of fitness which is killing us in the second half of games?

I actually don't think we have been that fit in previous years and that is the issue.
Fitness encompasses a whole number of different facets, cardio being one, strength and muscles conditioning etc. For a number of years particularly 10/11 IMO we struggled to run out games and when it came to playing in big games (finals) against the bigger bodied sides we really struggled (our finals record is testiment to that).

I've been reasonably critically of Daveron approach over previous years, yet this pre-season saw a big change in ethos to training, focusing more on getting our boys big and strong. No doubt under Maccas instruction.

The size that some (not all) of the lads has put on has been impressive and yes you will lose conditioning in terms of muscle bulk over the year. However the ability of a number of our players to cope with the change in body shape has been less impressive. Although not entirely surprising, we have dropped away considerably as the season has gone on.

This new heavily focused strength conditioning (Get Big/Get Strong) appraoch will pay dividends but we need to give it time.

[Remi Moses]

Re: Did we err in our pre-season training?

At least 9 have only played 50 or less games.
Could be a reason why they're struggling after half time.
Not sure on Roughead and Grant, and Veszpremi looks like he needs the Ambos after 5 minutes.

[Cyberdoggie]

Re: Did we err in our pre-season training?

This quote got me thinking. Under the past 3 to 5 years we were one of the fittest clubs going around. Bill Daveron an Olympic Coach was hired after the Beijing Olympics (successfully training the ladies Tri-Athlete Gold medallists and others).

The past pre-season we changed our training to do more ball work. Traditionally clubs don't touch the ball till after the new year and just concentrate on training, fitness etc. We were practising contested posession and doing skill work with the ball very early into our pre-season.

Are we now paying for it in the second half of the season with a lack of fitness which is killing us in the second half of games?

McCartney mentioned it in his after match conference yesterday that they deliberately sacrificed fitness work in order to build up some young bodies to try and be more competitive in contested situations.

He said they knew at some stage the lack of fitness would come back to bite them as the season went on.


I guess we can rule out blaming Davoren at least.

[Bornadog]

Re: Did we err in our pre-season training?

McCartney mentioned it in his after match conference yesterday that they deliberately sacrificed fitness work in order to build up some young bodies to try and be more competitive in contested situations.

He said they knew at some stage the lack of fitness would come back to bite them as the season went on.


I guess we can rule out blaming Davoren at least.

I am not blaming Davoren at all. I guess I am asking did we do the right thing in our training methods?

[AndrewP6]

Re: Did we err in our pre-season training?

I actually have had this thought over the last couple of years.

[Desipura]

Re: Did we err in our pre-season training?

I actually have had this thought over the last couple of years.

Is this a thought you can/want to share with us?

[AndrewP6]

Re: Did we err in our pre-season training?

Is this a thought you can/want to share with us?

Haha.. Don't know that there's any great wisdom to be had! Just a feeling that we've struggled the last couple of seasons as the season has worn on. Yes, I know all teams get sore/tired etc... I've just thought it a few times.

[Desipura]

Re: Did we err in our pre-season training?

Haha.. Don't know that there's any great wisdom to be had! Just a feeling that we've struggled the last couple of seasons as the season has worn on. Yes, I know all teams get sore/tired etc... I've just thought it a few times.

I can see the merit in what BMac is trying to do by building the bodies up, unfortunately it's to the detriment of fitness which has brought some massive losses.
Another preseason under the belt of the likes of Roughy, Cordy, Libba and Wallis will do them wonders!
Unfortunately our list is not good enough which means there will be a decent turnover of players. We then have to wait a few years until the new crop get a few preseasons under their belts.

[Mantis]

Re: Did we err in our pre-season training?

I think our fitness levels were pretty good come rd 1, but they seemed to have dropped off over the course of the season.

I know we are young and inexperienced, but I would be very interested to know what our training entails now, how much running are we actually doing? And how does this compare to what we did in the past and what other teams are doing?

[Mofra]

Re: Did we err in our pre-season training?

I know we are young and inexperienced, but I would be very interested to know what our training entails now, how much running are we actually doing? And how does this compare to what we did in the past and what other teams are doing?

We must be doing substantially less running now - both Hall & Aker mentioned that we did alot more running in the Eade era than their old clubs.

Given we were "building bodies" last pre-season I'd assume the running will ramp up this time round. I do remember Howard mentioning he had to "learn how to run with the extra weight".

[Cyberdoggie]

Re: Did we err in our pre-season training?

I think our fitness levels were pretty good come rd 1, but they seemed to have dropped off over the course of the season.

I know we are young and inexperienced, but I would be very interested to know what our training entails now, how much running are we actually doing? And how does this compare to what we did in the past and what other teams are doing?

Some good points there, also if we did focus more on strength and conditioning then has that actually been a success for what they were trying to achieve?

[Go_Dogs]

Re: Did we err in our pre-season training?

I actually don't think we have been that fit in previous years and that is the issue.

This new heavily focused strength conditioning (Get Big/Get Strong) appraoch will pay dividends but we need to give it time.

Great post, interesting read.

It's an interesting observation that we haven't been that fit in previous years. I thought back in the 05/06 years we were regularly running out games well, and even being behind at half time wasn't a concern. Without going back and checking that stats, I'd say that period would be one of our best for winning after being down at half time. In more recent times I suspect you are on the mark.

Really looking forward to seeing the transition for our players into big bodied beasts who thrive on the contest. As you say, it'll take a while but the results should be well worth it.

(Knowing our luck, the game will transition to McMahon types being the sought after shape/type and all our hard work not worth it. )