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Jackson Macrae has been on the Western Bulldogs list for less than two months but the determined 18-year-old has already added over five kilograms of muscle to his lean frame.
Improved fitness times and lower skinfolds also indicate the Bulldogs 2012 first round draft selection (pick 6 overall) is seeing pay off not only in the gym but out on the track, as he adapts to his new AFL lifestyle.
“[It’s] been really positive, putting on five or six kilos… and also improving in my fitness as well, so that has been really positive for me,” Macrae said.
“Hopefully I can keep pushing that weight up, up until the start of the season.”
Instead of relaxing throughout the Christmas break, Macrae got to work – following a comprehensive training schedule, handed out by the Bulldogs fitness staff.
“The strength and conditioning boys gave us a pretty hefty schedule… so every second day I was running and doing gym,” he said.
“I stuck to my program really well and skin folds were down and improved on the running from the pre-Christmas break so I was really, really happy with that.”
Now the easing-in period has ended, the polished midfielder has been given a more apt taste of pre-season training demands - with Senior Coach Brendan McCartney bringing more football skills and contested work into the daily training routine.
“Since we have returned, Mac has really stepped it up with the contested ball drills and the high intensity running is really incorporated in the drills,” Macrae said.
“All the bodies are responding really well and [I] haven’t missed a session to now… that has been good, so just keep fronting up and doing the best that you can do.”
While competing with the same physicality as Club veterans may be beyond him in his debut year, Macrae is not lacking in the competitive drive to win.
Regardless of who he is up against, the 18-year-old attacks each drill confident that if he exploits his assets, he is every chance to take another scalp.
“Growing up, the best advice I’ve ever had is just to back yourself… every drill I try to go in and you will be versing [Matthew] Boydy… but just back yourself and use your strengths to the best of your abilities and… give it a shot.”
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