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Opinion
While Dow brothers Paddy and Thomson would much rather be at their AFL clubs playing footy, the reality is they’re at home on their Swan Hill farm in isolation.
Who would have predicted that for the first-year AFL brothers?
Whenever a footy’s been picked up – whether at the local Swan Hill oval or around the farm – the two have had each other as well as their younger brother Max and older brother Jedd to play with.
“It’s been easy to go for a kick or run with them when I need to,” Thomson said.
Strength and conditioning have consisted of them completing programs from their respective clubs. Thomson likened his Richmond program to what he did in the pre-season and explained while their programs were slightly different, the brothers have still been able to complete the majority of their gym and running sessions together.
The new Dow gym has been introduced in a room separate from the house, which has been filled with equipment from their respective clubs: Carlton for Paddy and Richmond for Thomson. Their running has been completed on the farm and at the local oval.
After completing some training sessions together, Thomson found that “it has helped get me motivated when I’ve got a brother in the same boat as me. We’ve been healthily pushing each other.”
Richmond players have also completed some training via Zoom, which has been a big hit at Richmond with players using it to do push-up challenges.
“We’ve been doing the ‘bring Sally up, bring Sally down’ push-up challenge, which is tough,” Thomson said.
The club has also used the video platform as a way of staying connected with players. Since being away from the club for the last two weeks, Thomson mentioned how he “doesn’t know any different” by being on his farm during this coronavirus crisis.
He has been occupied by “the little things on the farm like fixing the drippers” while keeping on top of his football commitments. The lemon-harvesting season is also coming up, which will keep him busy.
(Photo by Michael Willson/AFL Photos via Getty Images)
With the uncertainty surrounding the return of AFL footy, players could be stuck at home for weeks if not months. AFL footballers with access to spacious fields in rural settings can use this as an advantage in these times of isolation. It will certainly give the country folks an upper hand in the COVID-19 world we are living in.
Mentally, Richmond players have been provided meditation resources and advised to keep good routines, particularly with their wake-up and sleep times.
Thomson Dow, who was Richmond’s first pick in the 2019 draft, also highlighted the effect that the culture has had on him.
“When I first arrived, the first thing I remember hearing in one of the meetings was just to be ourselves and they’re going to accept us regardless of who we are, so just be exactly who you are and you’ll fit in easy,” he said.
Ever since that warm welcome, Thomson has loved his time at Richmond, playing in both pre-season matches and seeing himself develop among premiership players.
“We were really excited. He had five touches in 20 per cent game time and he looked comfortable at the level… I’d like to think he’d get more game time next week,” coach Damien Hardwick said after his first pre-season game.
“He very much reminds us of a young Shane Edwards. He’s got elite hands, backs himself in, sees things that others don’t.
“We’ve been very, very impressed with how he’s gone about it.”
Thomson also described how the club’s strong culture has led to on-field success.
“In regards to winning, when players can truly be themselves and you understand each other better, that’s when you want to play for your teammates and that’s when you win games,” he said.
“To be honest, I can’t really fault anything yet. Great group of boys. Outstanding coaching staff. I love all the coaches. Awesome culture. We’re winning games. It’s a pretty perfect situation to fit into.
“The main thing that a lot of players do, especially the senior boys, is they hold each other accountable. Anyone is accountable for their actions – even the little things around the club like putting drink bottles away because we know that’s how the club runs smoothly.”
Thomson takes his learnings from Punt Road Oval to Swan Hill where Paddy and the rest of the family will get to see their young Tiger in operation first hand. While the boys will be continuing their footy development, they will also be doing their bit to keep the all-important fruit farm running smoothly.
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