Day 5: Friday, February 3
8am
One of the first sights this morning, at the University of the Sunshine Coast, is of a hobbling Craig Jennings.
The game analyst and education coordinator is still feeling the effects of his sprint with development coach Max Rooke on the athletics track on Thursday.
Jennings, who was a member of North Melbourne’s 1991 premiership in the last AFL under 19s Grand Final, says it’s a decent injury.
“If I was a player, they’re (the medicos) saying it’s a three-month hamstring – 12 weeks to get back, if you’re a player, so it’s a good one,” he says.
“The good thing is about presenting is that you only need one leg. When you’re teaching game style – one leg is enough.
“It’s disappointing for my fitness regime after losing 10kg over summer, so that put an end to that, but it was mostly Max Rooke’s fault, as I had him covered. I did my hamstring when I slowed down and let him catch up. It was when I took off again that it went. It’s a tendon, so I haven’t done one for 20 years.”
This morning, the players undertake three 45-minute sets.
The sessions are upper body weights, physio and massage and craft.
Alex Sakadjian, who is a key member of the strength and conditioning team, runs through the morning’s activities.
“The physios had a look over the boys before the big session tomorrow (Saturday),” he says.
“In the upper body weights, we did some power work with medicine ball throws, which gets competitive, as the boys’ measure how far they can throw them. That generates the training we’re trying to get out of them. The boys also slam the medicine balls into the ground, so it becomes a full body power movement.
“I think Garlo (Col Garland) got on top of [Max] Gawn in the medicine ball throws. [Sam] Weideman would’ve been the winner for the whole day. He was consistently throwing the furthest distance and to his partner, which was about 10 and a half metres. Sammy Frost was good as well, so those two boys were probably the best two for the morning.”
11am
The program takes the players to Alexandra Headlands for a swim/surf recovery, which the players relish – particularly the surfers among the group, such as Jesse Hogan explains.
“Today is a bit of low-key day with main training tomorrow, so the boys could come down to the beach and go for a bit of a surf,” he says.
“In saying that, there’s only about three or four surfers in the group, but it’s been a fun day and it’s always good to mix things up.
“Nut (James Harmes) rates himself a bit, but he was out there in the Speedos, which is a bit of weird look and frowned upon in the surfing community. He and Chunk (Jones) are probably the two that can surf, but Vines was having a crack.”
Hogan says there has been plenty gained out of the camp so far.
“It’s been good. We’ve tried to put a premium on training, so we’ve had a fair bit of time off, which means that when we’re training, it’s to the highest quality so it’s more quality over quantity,” he says.
“We’re already about five days in so it’s been a good start. Our biggest session is tomorrow, as we’re trying to emulate the game a bit.
“The boys will rest up this arvo to get them prepared for a big session tomorrow. We’ve got another big training session next week and then we’re pretty much done.”
Josh Wagner, the local among the Melbourne players, hailing from Brisbane, says he loves coming back to Queensland and the Sunshine Coast.
“I love it up here on the Sunny Coast – I’ve come up here heaps surfing,” he says.
“A lot of the boys love the surf and getting around each other.”
Entering his second pre-season, Wagner has had a couple of niggles, but has felt far more settled this time around.
“I had a bit of a quad injury early in the pre-season, but I came back and was training pretty well,” he says.
“I put on a few kilos, which they wanted me to do.
“I’m feeling a bit more comfortable in everything – and know what’s going on now. I didn’t really expect much in my first year and my days are not as crazy as last year, so I feel a bit more settled.”
After impressing out of defence in his debut season, Wagner has again been earmarked for a half-back role in 2017.
“I’ve been training there all pre-season,” he says.
1pm
The players have the afternoon off in readiness for Saturday’s training session, as the coaches have a training and planning meeting later in the day.
But there is also an optional craft session at Sebel Twin Waters and it’s impressive to see most of the squad in attendance.
Rookie Lochie Filipovic is one of the players involved in the session.
The developing ruckman who was drafted by the club last November is rooming with Tom Bugg, Dean Kent and Declan Keilty.
Bugg lets it known that Filipovic has had his first crack in the kitchen.
And Filipovic explains how it went.
“I cooked my first bit of mince, and a bit of a barbie for the boys – well, I got the plates, knives and forks out. Did I actually cook much? No, because I don’t back my cooking ability,” he says with a laugh.
“I left that to Kenty, Buggy and Decs.”
Filipovic says the camp has been a big help for his development.
“I’m really enjoying bonding in a different environment. You get to know everyone and the boys a bit better. You get to know their good habits and the rhythm of it all,” he says.
“There has been a bit of free time to get down to the beach as well, so that’s been good fun. Everyone is in good spirits, so I’m enjoying it a lot.
“The first month at the club was tough, not knowing anyone, and it was like starting at a new school. Since Christmas, it’s been in full swing – it’s been unbelievable. Hopefully I can prosper and flourish a bit and have a crack at it this year.”
