Agility will be the focus of Greater Western Sydney’s sports science manager John Quinn as he looks to bring the team’s old hands up to speed for another AFL season.
GWS have tempted Dean Brogan, 33, Chad Cornes, 32, James McDonald, 35, and 31-year-old Luke Power out of retirement and will be counting on the quartet to provide guidance and steel to the young list.
The key question is just how much on-field support the seasoned veterans will supply.
Quinn says his expectations will be shaped as the 2012 season unfolds.
“There’s a lot of flexibility built into their programs to cycle them through, but it’s not just the games that we’ll rest them from,” he said.
“It’s the way we manage them day to day, week to week and month to month – that’s the important thing.
“I look at more the bigger picture and then we adjust the picture as we go, based on how they present for each session.
“…You never quite know what each game is going to throw up.”
While Quinn’s uncertain how many matches the experienced foursome will play, he couldn’t be more assured of his program for them over the pre-season.
The rise of interchange rotations means the game is faster than ever, so speed will understandably be the focus.
“A lot of these players, they have more than a decade of AFL fitness in their bodies so they’re not going to lose fitness in that time,” he said.
“What they lose, most importantly, is speed and explosiveness.
“So we’ve got to be able to train them – short, sharp and intense.
“They don’t need to go to another meeting on player behaviour, they don’t need to go to yet another session on hydration.
“They need to train, be explosive, be intense, then rest.
“They’ll have different challenges for myself and my staff, but I think we’re ready for it.”
The Cattery
Roar Guru
Sheeds talking up the opening AFL game this year between GWS and the Swans, a stand alone game: http://www.smh.com.au/afl/afl-news/sheedy-ruffles-swans-feathers-to-kick-off-rivalry-20120101-1phag.html This article also mentions GWS' partnership with the Uni of Western Sydney. The interesting bit is that they will both collaborate on the uni's schools program, which operates in 400 schools in greater Western Sydney (that's the uni's description).
The Cattery
Roar Guru
NSW/ACT footballers from seven regions are about to commence state trials at Coffs Harbour for selection with the U18 NSW/ACT RAMS team. Being part of the U18 championships is an important stepping stone on the way to an AFL career. In the last five years 52 players from NSW and the ACT have been recruited to AFL clubs (19 were listed last year). Players from the GWS and Swans academies will also try out for the squad. The ACT and NSW South Coast form one of the seven regions. All the ACT clubs are represented, including Marist, who field an U18s team in the local comp. Three players from Batemans Bay, Pambula and Merimbula have also made the squad.
The Cattery
Roar Guru
January 1 means the AFL pre-season is only six weeks away. Here's a review of the big moments of 2011 and what to expect of 2012, and GWS get a few mentions: http://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/afl/the-year-of-the-geelong-cats/story-e6frf9jf-1226234068299
Steve
Guest
Clever move for the Giants. This might keep them off the bottom of the ladder in 2012. Also teach the younger players the game.
The Cattery
Roar Guru
The Giants really need these four veterans to stay on the paddock, otherwise, it will be an excruciating debut for the Giants next year.