Barassi returns to the Demons ... 30 years on what’s changed?
Peter Maynard played eight matches for Melbourne from 1980-81. His second senior season was under Ron Barassi. Here, Maynard looks at the differences 30 years on. He is now Melbourne’s general manager - commercial operations.
AS THE 2011 DEMONS complete their pre-season, it’s 30 years ago since some other young Dees completed their pre-season under the guidance of the great Ron Barassi.
The Melbourne legend had finally returned to the club after stints at Carlton and North Melbourne and it was literally the return of the prodigal son.
Clearly, ‘Barass’ wasn't pleased with what he saw and what had become of this proud footy club. He cited a distinct lack of discipline as a problem, and a focus on youth was the way out of the doldrums.
Unfortunately, we were about to find out what he meant by lack of discipline starting with the pre-season of 1980-81.
For example, our leadership group was based on experience and age.
Just prior and during Barassi’s first-year, our leaders were: Brent Crosswell, Phil Carman, Peter ‘Crackers’ Keenan, Carl Ditterich and Mark Jackson. How’s that for a mix!
And while this was significant for those times, you will appreciate the contrast between our boys’ preparation today versus the team back then.
Water during training back then was a no-no. Only at designated team breaks could everybody have a drink. It was considered weak or you were unfit, if you needed to have water during training. (Back then, rehydration was the beer you had when you went out after training).
You trained in your full playing kit. This meant boots and socks were pulled up, and tight shorts and woollen match day jumper were worn.
Now, the players wear the latest hydrolyte socks, running shorts and the latest and greatest footwear and tops, which breathe and don’t sweat. (Chaffing was the scourge of pre-season back then, but now players wouldn't know what it means).
And if your pants were tight, you knew you were overweight. That’s against today’s skinfolds and weekly weigh-ins.
Can you imagine running 800s and 400s in your playing gear in 30 degrees?
How uncomfortable when you consider the sports science gear of today? Barass wanted discipline and pride in the jumper (we just wanted a drink!).
On one occasion, I couldn't quite take to water after a number of 800s and 400s.
I was hallucinating and swore I could see an ‘oasis’ in the middle of our training ground at Old Scotch Oval.
As my legs started to buckle at the 600-metre mark of the second lap, I unconsciously made a bee line for the ‘oasis’ in the middle of the ground.
I can still here Barassi's booming voice ringing in my ears.
"Maynard - what are you doing, get back to the running,” he said.
I was running, but straight to the water on the tables set up in the middle. I don't think I wanted to bluntly defy the great man, but by now I was not in control of my actions - water was my only thought!
Barassi made a bee line for the tables, but I beat him there. By the time he arrived, I was happily guzzling down whatever I could get my hands on.
This was fortunate as the water had given me back my faculties/reasoning - just in time to have Barass in my face.
He ordered me off the track and home. He sent me home from training! I felt like the little school kid who had been caught cheating in the maths test!
It was a shame really as I later found out that I would have gotten away with it (as Barassi and the other coaches were on the other side of the ground) but my then mate Kelly O'Donnell, pointed out to Barassi what I was up to.
It was Barassi's first year, so O'Donnell was doing anything to suck up to get a game ... please!
So, 30 years down the track, nothing has changed, but everything has changed.
Teams undergo their pre-season (and players have always had their best pre-season ever), new players join the Club full of hope and it’s a great time of year, as you are fit and healthy, but without the bumps and bruises of a game.
Everybody looks good, even if they can't play. You run, do weights and ball work, anticipation builds and every team enters the practice matches hoping it’s their season.
But thanks to the sports science gurus, the new age apparel supplied by New Balance and the like, the facilities available, the coaches, the personnel resources in every footy department, the money, the fitness levels and free range chickens ...
AS THE 2011 DEMONS complete their pre-season, it’s 30 years ago since some other young Dees completed their pre-season under the guidance of the great Ron Barassi.
The Melbourne legend had finally returned to the club after stints at Carlton and North Melbourne and it was literally the return of the prodigal son.
Clearly, ‘Barass’ wasn't pleased with what he saw and what had become of this proud footy club. He cited a distinct lack of discipline as a problem, and a focus on youth was the way out of the doldrums.
Unfortunately, we were about to find out what he meant by lack of discipline starting with the pre-season of 1980-81.
For example, our leadership group was based on experience and age.
Just prior and during Barassi’s first-year, our leaders were: Brent Crosswell, Phil Carman, Peter ‘Crackers’ Keenan, Carl Ditterich and Mark Jackson. How’s that for a mix!
And while this was significant for those times, you will appreciate the contrast between our boys’ preparation today versus the team back then.
Water during training back then was a no-no. Only at designated team breaks could everybody have a drink. It was considered weak or you were unfit, if you needed to have water during training. (Back then, rehydration was the beer you had when you went out after training).
You trained in your full playing kit. This meant boots and socks were pulled up, and tight shorts and woollen match day jumper were worn.
Now, the players wear the latest hydrolyte socks, running shorts and the latest and greatest footwear and tops, which breathe and don’t sweat. (Chaffing was the scourge of pre-season back then, but now players wouldn't know what it means).
And if your pants were tight, you knew you were overweight. That’s against today’s skinfolds and weekly weigh-ins.
Can you imagine running 800s and 400s in your playing gear in 30 degrees?
How uncomfortable when you consider the sports science gear of today? Barass wanted discipline and pride in the jumper (we just wanted a drink!).
On one occasion, I couldn't quite take to water after a number of 800s and 400s.
I was hallucinating and swore I could see an ‘oasis’ in the middle of our training ground at Old Scotch Oval.
As my legs started to buckle at the 600-metre mark of the second lap, I unconsciously made a bee line for the ‘oasis’ in the middle of the ground.
I can still here Barassi's booming voice ringing in my ears.
"Maynard - what are you doing, get back to the running,” he said.
I was running, but straight to the water on the tables set up in the middle. I don't think I wanted to bluntly defy the great man, but by now I was not in control of my actions - water was my only thought!
Barassi made a bee line for the tables, but I beat him there. By the time he arrived, I was happily guzzling down whatever I could get my hands on.
This was fortunate as the water had given me back my faculties/reasoning - just in time to have Barass in my face.
He ordered me off the track and home. He sent me home from training! I felt like the little school kid who had been caught cheating in the maths test!
It was a shame really as I later found out that I would have gotten away with it (as Barassi and the other coaches were on the other side of the ground) but my then mate Kelly O'Donnell, pointed out to Barassi what I was up to.
It was Barassi's first year, so O'Donnell was doing anything to suck up to get a game ... please!
So, 30 years down the track, nothing has changed, but everything has changed.
Teams undergo their pre-season (and players have always had their best pre-season ever), new players join the Club full of hope and it’s a great time of year, as you are fit and healthy, but without the bumps and bruises of a game.
Everybody looks good, even if they can't play. You run, do weights and ball work, anticipation builds and every team enters the practice matches hoping it’s their season.
But thanks to the sports science gurus, the new age apparel supplied by New Balance and the like, the facilities available, the coaches, the personnel resources in every footy department, the money, the fitness levels and free range chickens ...
"YOU ARE ALLOWED A DRINK OF WATER DURING A TRAINING DRILL".
What were they thinking back then!
What were they thinking back then!
