While official club training ended a couple of Fridays back on 16 December and the players make their 2017 return to the club on 5 January, don't think that it's all turkey, cakes and beer for them over the Christmas/New Year period.

The days of players turning up after the break overweight and bloated are gone as the club's strength and conditioning manager, Rob Jackson makes it clear here - How do AFL players survive the Christmas festivities?

While Jackson concedes that it's pointless completely banning the occasional mince tart, the players will nevertheless "be busy calorie-counting and putting in the hard yards at the local footy grounds."

When the hard work over the last couple of months came to an end officially, every player on the list underwent a weight and skinfold assessment. That procedure will be repeated when they return on 5 January.

Says Jackson:-

"If you don't meet your targets, then you won't be able to train when you get back and your teammates are going to know that you've let them down.

"As much as you don't want it to, it does happen. It's a mistake that often first and second-year players make and you hope they learn their lesson, but if it happened to a senior player you'd be pretty disappointed because it's more a decision rather than lack of knowledge."

From all reports, the players are responding and it will be interesting to see how they shape up in a week and a half's time on their return. Such is the nature of the AFL that the players must maintain a professional approach even during their holiday break to enable their team to be competitive when the real action starts a few months down the track.

31 minutes ago, Whispering_Jack said:

While official club training ended a couple of Fridays back on 16 December and the players make their 2017 return to the club on 5 January, don't think that it's all turkey, cakes and beer for them over the Christmas/New Year period.

The days of players turning up after the break overweight and bloated are gone as the club's strength and conditioning manager, Rob Jackson makes it clear here - How do AFL players survive the Christmas festivities?

While Jackson concedes that it's pointless completely banning the occasional mince tart, the players will nevertheless "be busy calorie-counting and putting in the hard yards at the local footy grounds."

When the hard work over the last couple of months came to an end officially, every player on the list underwent a weight and skinfold assessment. That procedure will be repeated when they return on 5 January.

Says Jackson:-

"If you don't meet your targets, then you won't be able to train when you get back and your teammates are going to know that you've let them down.

"As much as you don't want it to, it does happen. It's a mistake that often first and second-year players make and you hope they learn their lesson, but if it happened to a senior player you'd be pretty disappointed because it's more a decision rather than lack of knowledge."

From all reports, the players are responding and it will be interesting to see how they shape up in a week and a half's time on their return. Such is the nature of the AFL that the players must maintain a professional approach even during their holiday break to enable their team to be competitive when the real action starts a few months down the track.

Col Sylvia would've been disappointed with this initiative.

I remember sharing the Caravan Park at Pambula Beach with Mark Jackson in 1982.  He was regularly seen pounding the pavement during the week that I was there and when he was not doing that he was riding his Malibu Surfboard. 

3 hours ago, Salems Lot said:

I remember sharing the Caravan Park at Pambula Beach with Mark Jackson in 1982.  He was regularly seen pounding the pavement during the week that I was there and when he was not doing that he was riding his Malibu Surfboard. 

With his fists? Anything was possible with Jacko.

2 hours ago, La Dee-vina Comedia said:

With his fists? Anything was possible with Jacko.

Ha!  No; I spent a moment in the reception area with him and got to hear his squeeky little voice up close.  That was novel in itself!!

8 hours ago, Return to Glory said:

Col Sylvia would've been disappointed with this initiative.

Clarry as well.

Or was he sick? I can't recall.

9 hours ago, Return to Glory said:

Col Sylvia would've been disappointed with this initiative.

Although, he might always have been able to realistically claim the 'lack of knowledge' defence.

 

I drove past Gosch's Paddock twice today and I can report there was not a single soul on the ground.

Gawn is in NZ. He has run, been to the gym and kicked a ball everyday including Xmas day, he is careful about what he eats and drinks  too.  His professionalism impresses me.

1 hour ago, Oliver Sholem said:

I drove past Gosch's Paddock twice today and I can report there was not a single soul on the ground.

not even H?

I see adam treloar in my local gym nearly every day

I suspect that is typical

If our guys are resting they are goin backwards

Let's also hope CP5 passed on any family games of basketball.

Great to see this article in this morning's HUN. Expecting a massive year from Gussy and Tyson to elevate his late season form and go toe to toe with Viney as our best mid. 

http://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/afl/teams/melbourne/christmas-break-not-really-a-holiday-for-afl-players/news-story/c326bda30274964110495fa9ea74a235

A snippet for those that cant access. "Angus Brayshaw completed a brutal running session on Christmas Day.“100 x hundred metre efforts for Christmas,” he posted on Instagram. “Santa gave us 35 degree heat to do it in. Cheers Santa #merrychristmas #4thyearsrunning.”This period is “really, really important”, especially for players trying to make their mark in 2017, Jackson said. 

Gussy looks in ripping shape

13 minutes ago, big_red_fire_engine said:

Great to see this article in this morning's HUN. Expecting a massive year from Gussy and Tyson to elevate his late season form and go toe to toe with Viney as our best mid. 

http://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/afl/teams/melbourne/christmas-break-not-really-a-holiday-for-afl-players/news-story/c326bda30274964110495fa9ea74a235

A snippet for those that cant access. "Angus Brayshaw completed a brutal running session on Christmas Day.“100 x hundred metre efforts for Christmas,” he posted on Instagram. “Santa gave us 35 degree heat to do it in. Cheers Santa #merrychristmas #4thyearsrunning.”This period is “really, really important”, especially for players trying to make their mark in 2017, Jackson said. 

Gussy looks in ripping shape

Hundred 100's. Bloody hell.

 

I would break a foofa valve doing a Hundred 10's. (truth be told, probably even a hundred 1's)

I have a vague recollection that at the start of this year, the first training session of the new year was on the Thursday at Gosch's followed by a session at Casey on the Friday... firstly, is my memory correct and if so, secondly, does anyone know if that is going to be the case again this time around? 

My son and I are driving down from Sydney and arriving on Tuesday, so I'm trying to organise things so that we can get to both sessions. 

The reason I'm asking here is that there is nothing as yet on the club's website and as there are a few here with all of the info about player movements etc, they must surely have the connections that can provide them with the training dates/times  

Can anyone confirm when training is back?

I have tomorrow off and was hoping they'd be back. 

Last Monday courtesy of 7 News.

 

 

 

 

Edited January 4, 20178 yr by Six6Six

1 hour ago, The team we love said:

Can anyone confirm when training is back?

I have tomorrow off and was hoping they'd be back. 

Website says 0930 tomorrow at Gosch's..

Thanks Cop. 

The funny buggers updated the training times in the last couple of hours!

I hope to get down - let me know if anyone wants any observations on a particular player?

Makes a slight change from the year Howe and Frawley made giant beer snakes in Bay 13 on national TV on Boxing Day ,  even as impressively constructed as they were.

 

Snippet of inside info (second hand):

Players had an exceptionally tough camp recently at Anglesea.

They had no more than about 2 hours sleep a night.

Lewis ran through Tyson in one training drill.  Tyson not rapt in the treatment.  Scuffle.  No apologies from Lewis.  (I'm guessing this is the standard of the ruthless club he comes from and the type of culture he's brought).

Salem concussed when something fell on his head during the camp.  Don't know more, but assume he's ok.

 

Edited January 4, 20178 yr by ProDee

1 hour ago, ProDee said:

Snippet of inside info (second hand):

Players had an exceptionally tough camp recently at Anglesea.

They had no more than about 2 hours sleep a night.

Lewis ran through Tyson in one training drill.  Tyson not rapt in the treatment.  Scuffle.  No apologies from Lewis.  (I'm guessing this is the standard of the ruthless club he comes from and the type of culture he's brought).

Salem concussed when something fell on his head during the camp.  Don't know more, but assume he's ok.

I believe young Bernie will shortly be announcing his engagement. 

Who exactly was at this camp?

Thanks PD, just noticed your new avatar; is that the result of another lost bet?

21 minutes ago, Salems Lot said:

Thanks PD, just noticed your new avatar; is that the result of another lost bet?

No.

Just won one.

Nice work!