MFC Training (Friday)

[Hanka 5]

MFC Training Pics 3/12/10 on Facebook

[e25 5]

Fitz so thin in the upper body.

Half the size of Moloney.

[Dee Fan 3,247]

MFC Training Pics 3/12/10 on Facebook

Can't see it you have to log on and I can't.

[Roger Mellie 4,103]

MFC Training Pics 3/12/10 on Facebook

Any chance you can post the pics on here so we can see them?

[Range Rover 1,935]

Fitz so thin in the upper body.

Half the size of Moloney.

I thought the same. He's got an unusual upperbody frame. Low-set shoulders. Got the job in front of him in the gym because he'd just get outbodied at senior level ...

Jurrah looking scarily fit ...

[FitZ 0]

Pictures as requested:-

[Deeoldfart 8,065]

Great to see Aussie back on the track!

[Harcourt 146]

That surface looks absolutely awesome, like a bowling green.

[Demon Disciple 12,274]

Fitz so thin in the upper body.

Half the size of Moloney.

I think you'll find that almost everyone is half the size of Moloney

[Pinball Wizard 326]

The boys were upbeat today and they worked hard in the hot and humid connditions at their new training ground adjacent to AAMI Stadium. Certainly, they would have been far more upbeat than their neighbours, the exponents of the round ball game who would have been hoping that the main ground at the facility would be featuring strongly in 2022. Alas, it was not to be.

Our boys were doing a lot of running and there was an air of enthusiasm about the group despite the conditions. The usual suspects all looked to be in outstanding knick and I speak of Colin Sylvia who is looking superb and James Frawley who is an absolute monster. Expect big seasons from both of them.

I think the word "big" is the order of the day for the MFC. The players are putting in a big effort and a number of players are getting bigger. We have some big boys (in terms of height) who have come to the club although by the look of them, they need some time to build up in size and fitness to match many of the now seasoned players at the club. The four draftees - Cook, Howe, Davis and Tom McDonald joined in some of the drills but didn't seem to be doing all of the really intensive stuff being done by most of the group - perhaps they are being slowly brought up to their levels.

The really big unit (apart from the Russian and Jake Spencer who are men mountains) is Lynden Dunn who really looks powerful and, if he continues in that vein, will have enormous confidence going into the 2011 season. Now, if only he could shave off that ridiculous looking moustache which he must be retaining as part of a bet.

Liam Jurrah looks stronger in the arms and shoulders but not overly so while Flash also seems to have more definition in the upper ams. They're not as big as Nathan Jones and Beamer but it's clear that a lot of work has been done in the off season so far.

It was great to see Aussie back on deck after his period of mourning. Whilst stockily built, I wouldn't say that he's carrying any excess weight and I wish him well - he's had a tough run.

Max Gawn was training. He said that his knee was fine, there are no problems and he's enjoying training.

Not everybody is really big and bulky. Cale Morton, Jack Watts are still slim by comparison and I suppose that's their metabolism.

Generally, I must say I loved the training, the ground is great, the facilities at AAMI are brilliant and everything's looking up at the club. Certainly, there's nobody breaking down like at a few other clubs so we'll keep our fingers crossed.

As from next Friday, training moves across to Casey Fields so I'm hoping some Demonlanders living over there can provide some reports. I noticed a few other interested spectators around this morning and I'd be interested to hear their views.

[e25 5]

Has anyone else been doing any reading on other clubs that do the high altitude training?

I know an ultra-positive spin is put on everything at this time of year, but I'd be really excited if the club could get involved in one of those.

I know very little about it, obviously, and I know we've been to China this year and Mansfield other years, but I just wonder how those trips compare to Utah, Colorado or NZ.

Obviously we've also just come out of debt, but I still think it's an expense the club should (most certainly already would) be looking at.

If the reports are true, the benefits are massive.

[DirtyDees DDC 187]

Has anyone else been doing any reading on other clubs that do the high altitude training?

I know an ultra-positive spin is put on everything at this time of year, but I'd be really excited if the club could get involved in one of those.

I know very little about it, obviously, and I know we've been to China this year and Mansfield other years, but I just wonder how those trips compare to Utah, Colorado or NZ.

Obviously we've also just come out of debt, but I still think it's an expense the club should (most certainly already would) be looking at.

If the reports are true, the benefits are massive.

A physio told me that they lose the benefits of altitude training when they come back to earth. If that is the case then why do they keep doing it? From memory the benefits are connected to the increased number of red corpuscles in the blood - allowing the athlete to carry more oxygen into the bloodstream.

I've heard that Collingwood maintain the benefits of altitude training by putting their players in Hyperbaric chambers, but i'm no expert here.

[e25 5]

Interesting.

I have actually heard the same thing.

There may not be physical benefits after a period, but the effect of them being able to get more training into them during preseason may be beneficial.

(Not as beneficial as if the effects were long-lasting).

For instance, when commentators bemoan the fact that goalkicking skills are poor and the reason given is that players cannot find the time for goalkicking practice and that it wears their legs out affecting their other training.

edit: this may be another thread in itself.

Edited December 3, 2010 by E25

[Redleg 41,478]

...

Thanks for the report Pinball. I am sure the players will miss AAMI Centre when they head to Casey next week.

Edited December 3, 2010 by Nasher
trimmed huge quote for readability

[DeeSpencer 26,083]

A physio told me that they lose the benefits of altitude training when they come back to earth. If that is the case then why do they keep doing it? From memory the benefits are connected to the increased number of red corpuscles in the blood - allowing the athlete to carry more oxygen into the bloodstream.

I've heard that Collingwood maintain the benefits of altitude training by putting their players in Hyperbaric chambers, but i'm no expert here.

I think any physiological effects of altitude training are gone within a few months, regardless of use of the 'altitude' chamber. Whether the players get the perfect training is also a query - I mean hiking and just running won't produce the body needed to play AFL.

However, I'm very confident in the psychological benefits. To work together as a team and climb a mountain in sub zero conditions pushes you to the edge. You come back from that training and know what is possible in normal training. Also when the season gets toward the pointy end you can be convinced that you had a training advantage.

The question is whether the costs (both financial and interruption to normal training) are worth the benefit. Maybe for a young team like us its not.

[DirtyDees DDC 187]

I think any physiological effects of altitude training are gone within a few months, regardless of use of the 'altitude' chamber. Whether the players get the perfect training is also a query - I mean hiking and just running won't produce the body needed to play AFL.

However, I'm very confident in the psychological benefits. To work together as a team and climb a mountain in sub zero conditions pushes you to the edge. You come back from that training and know what is possible in normal training. Also when the season gets toward the pointy end you can be convinced that you had a training advantage.

The question is whether the costs (both financial and interruption to normal training) are worth the benefit. Maybe for a young team like us its not.

Collingwood players have publicly raved about the trip - they say it's been the main reason for their improved performance. let's hope we get the same benefits out of the visit to China. Are we still going to Mt Buffalo this year?

[Fork 'em 6,991]

I've also heard the altitude benefits wear off within weeks of getting back to sea level .

Benefits are in the team bonding , Dawks did their bonding at Kokoda (not that it's relevant).

[Toad33 57]

I think you'll find that almost everyone is half the size of Moloney

I think you'll find that it's Lucas Cook.

Go Dees

[The O 39]

I think any physiological effects of altitude training are gone within a few months, regardless of use of the 'altitude' chamber. Whether the players get the perfect training is also a query - I mean hiking and just running won't produce the body needed to play AFL.

However, I'm very confident in the psychological benefits. To work together as a team and climb a mountain in sub zero conditions pushes you to the edge. You come back from that training and know what is possible in normal training. Also when the season gets toward the pointy end you can be convinced that you had a training advantage.

The question is whether the costs (both financial and interruption to normal training) are worth the benefit. Maybe for a young team like us its not.

There was big concerns with the 'results' at Nth after their recent altitude training in Utah. From within the FD, their was concerns that when the players got back to Aus their would be a 'let down' and the effects not fully realised. However the players have shown a signifcant improvement in the last week (particularly) with their first real time trials and big hitout since arriving back. Still is this improvement evident on the field or in the development of the individual.

Was it worth the cost? Do you get the actual results on the field and in players development? Well thats still up in the air. At $20K per player, for over 60 individuals it sure is a large expense which was in the major part assisted by primarily 2 very generous board members/supporters.

Edited December 3, 2010 by The O

[Toad33 57]

High Altititude Training

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Altitude_training

enjoy.

Whether it works or not will always be debated. Whether you need to leave our shores to do it won't. We have a few places high enough.

Go Dees

[dee-luded 2,959]

A physio told me that they lose the benefits of altitude training when they come back to earth. If that is the case then why do they keep doing it? From memory the benefits are connected to the increased number of red corpuscles in the blood - allowing the athlete to carry more oxygen into the bloodstream.

I've heard that Collingwood maintain the benefits of altitude training by putting their players in Hyperbaric chambers, but i'm no expert here.

I think it's a fine line between too hard a pre season & too easy. too hard & players can brake down, to easy & their underprepared. This is my guess.

I think that if you have too big a pre season, my thinking is the side could tire before the business end of the season. So, to me, a slightly easier & well managed pre season complimented by high altitude to top it off, may be a good recipe to see out a long season & finals campaign?

[jayceebee31 761]

I also attended most of the session today.Like Pinball-could not get over the height and build of the players. Also using alot more ball work than in previous years. Two players that do not get mentioned on this site very much- Jetta & Maric, very much impressed me.They looked fit enough to play next week.I had trouble recognising some- they may have to put no's on their training jumpers in future-albeit alot had them off today due to the conditions.I thought Nicholson the young guy from Uni Blues looked good too.

And the track is almighty for training on.

[Sideshow Bob 2,421]

The Collingwood boys were raving on earlier this year about getting maximal heart rates/effort for less work while in the camps, therefor less 'wear & tear' on the joints/muscles. So when the extra red blood cells were gone their base level was better with less soft tissue injuries. The psychological aspects are well documented

[don cordner 204]

was watching cook have shots at goal with green. he looked good and hardly missed

[Sir Why You Little 37,135]

Geezus Malloney is enormous in that shot, been lifting Trucks in the off season maybe!!!

Edited December 4, 2010 by why you little