With the season fast approaching, the Herald Sun seems to have ramped up its beefcake section and has a feature today with Nathan Buckley, Paul Licuria and Brodie Holland all showing off their muscled up torsos.

The funny thing is that I thought this year's go was all about producing slender, light bodies with the aim of better handling the extra speed of the game. It certainly appears to be the case at Melbourne where BB has them all trimmed down and ready for a more running type of game.

Am I missing something?

I presume Buckley will play mostly up forward this year so he's trying to bulk up, however with his dodgey hammies it seems like it could be a bit of a risk, hopefully this will mean it will be alot easier for his opponent to run off him.

I presume Buckley will play mostly up forward this year so he's trying to bulk up, however with his dodgey hammies it seems like it could be a bit of a risk, hopefully this will mean it will be alot easier for his opponent to run off him.

Agreed about Buckley. Will play forward and wont be as mobile as past years ... Like Riccuito.

Holland does it impress his girlfriend, get a small part of TV and to protect himself at his pretentious nightclubs.

Licuria is doing it to stop Collingwood thinking he is too old and to sign him again.

Jack you must remember that the Hun is the Collingwood newsletter

I believe it is all based on the best teams at the relevant times.

The focus of the 2000-2004 period was on strong bodies - Essendon and Brisbane leading the way with their strongly built midfielders and flankers.

2005-2006 has seen a shift to a more running game with WCE, Adelaide and Sydney covering plenty of ground as their midfielders and flankers run hard up and down the ground.

The current trend is endurance but strong bodies cannot be ignored. It's easy to look at WCE and Sydney and see running machines, but you cannot ignore the impact of Judd, Kerr, Cousins, Bolton, Kirk and other strong-bodied players who perform a key role with their grunt inside the packs. It obviously helps when you have someone like Judd who is brilliant inside and outside, but there's no doubt that come finals, inside grunt cannot be completely sacrificed in favour of a running game.

We have probably over-emphasised the strong-bodied type and are now trying to re-adjust to get a better balance.

We have probably over-emphasised the strong-bodied type and are now trying to re-adjust to get a better balance.

I'm with you Scoop but it appears to me that Collingwood is perhaps adjusting in the wrong direction. Its recruiting emphasis was on talls at the expense of young midfield talent and its midfielders are bulking up when, by and large, they are getting older and are deficient in pace if anything. On top of that, one of the better movers on their forward line (Tarrant) has gone and they look like going with Rocca and Cloke as their taller forwards (not much movement there). Medhurst isn't quick either.

I like the set ups that the last two grand finallists have had a lot better and if we're moving in their direction then well and good.

And BTW, the Brisbane teams that won 3 on end weren't just power teams, they had plenty of run as well - particularly in their midfield.

licuria will look great with that body in a williamstown jumper

I believe it is all based on the best teams at the relevant times ...

2005-2006 has seen a shift to a more running game with WCE, Adelaide and Sydney covering plenty of ground as their midfielders and flankers run hard up and down the ground.

Seeing Buckley's photo today the word 'gross' came to mind.

SEN recently discussed a study which pointed to the 'current' ideal footballer being 185 cm and about 85kg. i.e. similiar to Chris Judd and most gun playmakers.

I'm not sure I agree it depends on where you play, but I would love to be a defender lining up on Buckley this year

In the middle part of the article Buckley talks about the work that he, Licuria and Holland have all put in and that the rewards will come for them.

I happen to agree with this! Holland is putting in the hard yards now and his reward is a nice 5-6 week stint on the sidelines at the beginning of the season! Well done Brodie, with the work you have done in the off season and the dog act you did in last year's QF, you truly deserve your reward!!!

I'm far from an expert on body building , but it seems highly unlikely that someone of Buckley's age and normal body size could develop such an impressive torso without some sort of 'assistance'.

Am I wrong ?

As they say in the classics, it's not the size that matters but how you use it. Expect to see Mr. T, sorry Mr. B, in a 35 mtr arc from the goals.

Can't wait to see him going for the grab 30 cms off the ground with Nathan, Rivv or Buckets charging through from behind. Or in Rivv's case, the front. Looking forward to Queens Birthday already. Last year was one sweet moment.

Collingwood are STUFFED

The game just gets faster and faster, so what do they do? Put on weight

Cant wait to see the likes of Buckley, Licca and Holland trying to chase Bate, brock, Bartma, Travis, Bruce, Davey etcccc.

bring on Queens Birthday

holland is a hack! worst footballer in the comp! id rather take godders then this pretty boy who for everytime i see him takes his shirt off! his bum buddy dale thomas aint far behind he is just as worse! most overated player in the AFL

Relax DD36,

it's a hot night for all of us so keep your shirt on.

Beautiful goal he kicked to get us into the finals 2005

Our forward line improved 200 % when Holland arrived

and Neitz stopped getting team tagged.

I don't get it; everyone wants pretty boys now.

Relax, he'll never be a TJ.

BTW you made me laugh when you said Godfrey needs to step up

I'm far from an expert on body building , but it seems highly unlikely that someone of Buckley's age and normal body size could develop such an impressive torso without some sort of 'assistance'.

Am I wrong ?

No you're right. Someone helped him lift the weights.

Relax DD36,

it's a hot night for all of us so keep your shirt on.

Beautiful goal he kicked to get us into the finals 2005

Our forward line improved 200 % when Holland arrived

and Neitz stopped getting team tagged.

I don't get it; everyone wants pretty boys now.

Relax, he'll never be a TJ.

BTW you made me laugh when you said Godfrey needs to step up

haha he means holland from collingwood

Edited February 16, 200718 yr by Jaded
Please don't use offensive words, especially words such as 'retard'. Thank you.

Relax DD36,

it's a hot night for all of us so keep your shirt on.

Beautiful goal he kicked to get us into the finals 2005

Our forward line improved 200 % when Holland arrived

and Neitz stopped getting team tagged.

I don't get it; everyone wants pretty boys now.

Relax, he'll never be a TJ.

BTW you made me laugh when you said Godfrey needs to step up

Seeing Buckley's photo today the word 'gross' came to mind.

SEN recently discussed a study which pointed to the 'current' ideal footballer being 185 cm and about 85kg. i.e. similiar to Chris Judd and most gun playmakers.

I'm not sure I agree it depends on where you play, but I would love to be a defender lining up on Buckley this year

Not sure I agree there, if you were a regular fullback, Buckley would be too quick and clever for you (yes, even though he will have lost pace, a slowing midfielder

is better than a behemoth full-forward for sustained pace not just over 10 meters.),

If you put a flanker on him, he may be able to out-muscle them.

Not that I'm a member of the Nathan Buckley fan club, I can't stand the arrogant sod. However as someone else has pointed out, he'll now play a Riciuto-type role

probably for the rest of his career. I went and watched Collingwood play the Lions at the MCG (don't asky why!), and he got moved to Full-Forward and single handedly

won the game for them. Not saying this will happen every week but he will be a handful for teams at times...

Nothing i'm sure Riv or Fergs or Belly couldn't handle though!

haha he means holland from collingwood

Woops, sorry DD36

With the season fast approaching, the Herald Sun seems to have ramped up its beefcake section and has a feature today with Nathan Buckley, Paul Licuria and Brodie Holland all showing off their muscled up torsos.

The funny thing is that I thought this year's go was all about producing slender, light bodies with the aim of better handling the extra speed of the game. It certainly appears to be the case at Melbourne where BB has them all trimmed down and ready for a more running type of game.

Am I missing something?

No you're not missing a thing.

I've noticed that every year it's a ritual with Collingwood. We see them all built up at this stage and they tell us what a big year they are about to have. There is no necessary corelation between having big bodies and having an adequate preparation for a long football season. Not the way the game is played these days.