WHEN Richard Douglas sat down with Adelaide's fitness staff at the end of last season their feedback was clear – he was tiring too quickly after repeat efforts.
The 117-game midfielder admitted to AFL.com.au he had two or three efforts in him per contest last year but would take too long to recover, keeping him from influencing follow-up plays and restricting his output.
But an altered training regime, based on shorter bursts of exercise at a higher intensity and designed by strength coach Nick Poulos and runner/fitness coach Matthew Bode, has Douglas in the best shape of his career.
"This year I've trained a bit differently in terms of the running I've done, I've done a lot more what they call anaerobic running," Douglas told AFL.com.au.
"More repeat effort sort of stuff - I'm probably fitter than I've ever been."
As arguably his side's biggest improver this year, the 26-year-old's statistics so far in 2013 are telling.
For the first time since his club champion season of 2010, Douglas has averaged more than 20 disposals a game; his average marks (5.3) and tackles (3.7) a game are at career-best rates.
He's also averaging almost two goals a game, more than double the level he was at when he took home the gold jacket at the Crows' best and fairest three seasons ago.
"I sat down with Nick Poulos and Matthew Bode, who do a great job with our fitness and conditioning and we just thought that in games I had two or three efforts in me, but it'd take me a little time to recover," Douglas said.
"Now I feel like I can have four or five efforts at a time and certainly run out quarters and games better.
"That was one of my weaknesses before and now hopefully it can be one of my strengths."
Until now, Douglas had struggled to maintain the level he set in his best and fairest year.
In the two seasons that followed, his average possessions fell from 21 per game to 18 and 17 a match respectively, but more importantly, the impact he was able to have on games dropped off.
Douglas admitted he moved away from what he did best after reaching the highest point of his career but now had renewed confidence in his fitness.
"I just feel good about myself and feel that I'm going to play well when I enter games," he said.
"Games these days are quicker than ever and they certainly open up, especially late in quarters and in the second half.
"I've got the confidence now that when it gets to those points in games I'll still be feeling good and have the ability to use my speed which I think is a strength and have an impact on the game.
"At times over the last couple of years I've sort of forgotten that and gone away from it, but now I have a clearer picture and have stuck to it."
Harry Thring is a reporter for AFL Media. Follow him on Twitter: @AFL_Harry.
