It seems that the "average" player's weight in kilos is their height in centimetres minus 100. For example, an "average" player of 194cm weighs 94kg. We have a number of skinny players on our list, such as Morton, Cook, Gysberts and Watts, all of whom are more than 100 less than their height and all have had more than one pre-season on the list.

Does anyone know how hard it is to add weight to bodies? How is it done? Weight training plus protein supplements? And most importantly, did the MFC, particularly under the Bailey regime (it's too early for Neeld), know what to do in this area?

Putting on lean muscle is easy for some and bloody difficult for others. It has to do with genetics, metabolism, diet and training regime.

Some like Tapscott can look at a dumbbell and grow, whilst others like Morton really struggle.

Plus these guys are all trying to maintain a high level of aerobic fitness which makes lean muscle gain even harder because the energy stores that would usually have plenty in reserve for muscle building are being depleted by aerobic activity.

That is why the club went hard to get blokes like Misson and Craig. Experts in this field.

It is also why they have dietitians and sports scientists measuring everything.

Hopefully with the new fitness panel comes a vetted ability to improve the size and strength of our players. But it will take time- a couple of preseasons at least.

Hope this helps explain it a bit better for you.

Thanks.

Well, if Adelaide crows are anything to go by, it must be possible to increase muscle mass etc in a relatively short time:

"The pre-season focus on strength has seen a handful of Crows increase their muscle mass in the space of two months. Rory Sloane is leading the charge with a 3.5kg increase, and Brodie Smith (2.5kg), Rick Henderson (2.4kg) and David McKay (2.3kg) aren't far behind him."

http://www.afl.com.au/tabid/208/default.aspx?newsid=127517

I've heard that GWS have a new conditioning coach........

And he advocates the parma to gain weight.

I reckon it's as simple as, "never shirk a contest-wanna own it".

I still reckon we are too lean and need a lot more upper body strength, would assume we are probably one of the lighter teams running round, (I'm not big on research, surf ,golf takes a lot of time u no....lol). Tappys size + Rangas desire= Scary

Sheesh, just posted this on tough & brutal thread then find this thread

Well, if the Adelaide crows are anything to go by, they are putting on weight since The Coach arrived from Geelong.

The Cats I think had a philosophy of Big bodies, ahead of skinny fitness and outright speed.

I know that Jake Melksham has put on 8kg this preseason, the most at Essendon.

He said he was put on a new weight gain diet at the beginning of the offseason, and for his first meal he was instructed to eat 1&1/2 bbq chickens.

Surely we should be doing something similar.

Although, it looks like guys like Gysberts, Watts and Morton have actually put on a bit of size.

Some more than others.

It can be bloody impossible to gain weight, that being said, we want strength rather than weight.

If the players can be at the same weight and fitness but be significantly stronger then that sounds like a bonus to me

yeah some guys just naturally gain it more easily than others. Guys like Cloke are just freaks. 196cm and 108kg, and able to run with the midfielders.

Watts definitely at least needs to get up to about the reiwoldt size, around 95kg should do, then he'll have a bit more confidence to throw himself into packs. It naturally gives you that confidence to back yourself against another player. He seems to have lost a couple kg since last year though.... but definitely looking fitter.

Most of all, I want to see these players develop a killer attack and hunger for the ball. My concerns about some of the players mentioned on this thread are not really to do with their size - it's more about their underlying ambition and mental hardness.

I expect some players can be really strong and fit without actually looking like the Michelin Man. Equally, size can probably operate the opposite way too. For instance, Tapscott hasn't exactly been available for selection for much of the time he's been with us, despite looking like a bull elephant at a very young age.

Most of all, I want to see these players develop a killer attack and hunger for the ball. My concerns about some of the players mentioned on this thread are not really to do with their size - it's more about their underlying ambition and mental hardness.

I expect some players can be really strong and fit without actually looking like the Michelin Man. Equally, size can probably operate the opposite way too. For instance, Tapscott hasn't exactly been available for selection for much of the time he's been with us, despite looking like a bull elephant at a very young age.

+1

James McDonald

James McDonald

salt into the wounds!

The Geelong (Bomber Thompson) mantra was"size matters".

Wocjinski ,Stokes , Christiansen and other top players find it hard to get a regular game there because of it .

It's a good policy (although a crumber would be great for us)