BACKLINE coach Jade Rawlings says the players have returned in significantly better condition this pre-season, as opposed to the same time last year.
Rawlings, now in his second season with Melbourne after coaching Richmond and being an assistant at the Brisbane Lions, said the squad had worked hard over the off-season, in readiness for an arduous pre-season.
“The guys are just in much better shape. They were ready to train, whereas last year, it was a shock to the system with the program and it really hit them,” he told melbournefc.com.au.
“They were very anxious and sore with the workload and intensity [last year], so they’re in better condition.
“Their attitudes for wanting to train are much better, so we think we’re well ahead compared to where we were last year.”
Rawlings said elite performance manager Dave Misson and strength and conditioning manager Rob Jackson had designed a program that would test the players this pre-season.
“It’s pretty demanding, but the boys have been throwing themselves in it,” he said.
Melbourne is now in its second week of pre-season training and Rawlings said the first week was all about testing and measurements.
“Early in the week, the guys were really keen to acquire as much information about the players as possible, from their time away, so there was a lot of screening and a lot of minor level testing and a lot of information on the players,” he said.
“The players had the three-km [time-trial] and the times were pretty solid. They had skinfold testing, which is always a reflection of their professionalism away from the club.
“The skinfold results we had this season, compared to this time last year was significantly different, so it gives them a chance to launch into the pre-season.”
Rawlings said last Saturday’s three-km time-trial around Princes Park, which was tied between Tom McDonald and Daniel Nicholson, was a strong indication of how hard the players have worked in their break.
“It’s a pretty good indication of how they followed their program and at what intensity they did it. The high percentage of times was a significant improvement from last year, which is a great indication of their professionalism in the off-season,” he said.
“You need to be able to relax and mentally switch off in the off-season, but you can’t let your body go, so we were pretty happy across the board about how they came back and their performances.”
Rawlings said the assistant coaches were also working closely with the players at this stage of the pre-season.
“The first four to six weeks is generally taken in control by the strength and conditioning [staff], but still in our program, a lot of time is taken up by our area meetings and reviewing trainings,” he said.
“We still include a lot of footy work and try and educate [the players] individually, so they can improve and keep working on their strengths.”
Rawlings, now in his second season with Melbourne after coaching Richmond and being an assistant at the Brisbane Lions, said the squad had worked hard over the off-season, in readiness for an arduous pre-season.
“The guys are just in much better shape. They were ready to train, whereas last year, it was a shock to the system with the program and it really hit them,” he told melbournefc.com.au.
“They were very anxious and sore with the workload and intensity [last year], so they’re in better condition.
“Their attitudes for wanting to train are much better, so we think we’re well ahead compared to where we were last year.”
Rawlings said elite performance manager Dave Misson and strength and conditioning manager Rob Jackson had designed a program that would test the players this pre-season.
“It’s pretty demanding, but the boys have been throwing themselves in it,” he said.
Melbourne is now in its second week of pre-season training and Rawlings said the first week was all about testing and measurements.
“Early in the week, the guys were really keen to acquire as much information about the players as possible, from their time away, so there was a lot of screening and a lot of minor level testing and a lot of information on the players,” he said.
“The players had the three-km [time-trial] and the times were pretty solid. They had skinfold testing, which is always a reflection of their professionalism away from the club.
“The skinfold results we had this season, compared to this time last year was significantly different, so it gives them a chance to launch into the pre-season.”
Rawlings said last Saturday’s three-km time-trial around Princes Park, which was tied between Tom McDonald and Daniel Nicholson, was a strong indication of how hard the players have worked in their break.
“It’s a pretty good indication of how they followed their program and at what intensity they did it. The high percentage of times was a significant improvement from last year, which is a great indication of their professionalism in the off-season,” he said.
“You need to be able to relax and mentally switch off in the off-season, but you can’t let your body go, so we were pretty happy across the board about how they came back and their performances.”
Rawlings said the assistant coaches were also working closely with the players at this stage of the pre-season.
“The first four to six weeks is generally taken in control by the strength and conditioning [staff], but still in our program, a lot of time is taken up by our area meetings and reviewing trainings,” he said.
“We still include a lot of footy work and try and educate [the players] individually, so they can improve and keep working on their strengths.”
