I know it is only early in the season, but we have been in full training since last October and I have already played in three pretty physical games. A lot of people probably don’t realise that we have been at the club for six and seven days a week for most of the past five months.
We have stretching sessions, gym sessions, skills sessions, regular massage sessions – and those masseurs really dig into the bruises – and rehab sessions for those guys who are unfortunate enough to have injuries. That can mean a total of 13-14 sessions a week, so the commitment is significant.
You would be surprised at how physical our intraclub matches can be. Everyone on our squad is there because they are determined athletes who want to be their best – and be winners – so even playing against ourselves there is no quarter given.
I don’t know what it was like 10 or 20 years ago, but you don’t take any prisoners in the pre-season competition either. Our Round 1 NAB Cup win over Essendon at Carrara was full-on, and you could tell by our guys’ reaction at the end as to how pleased they were to win.
The match against Melbourne last week was just as intense. The bruising on my back is testament to that. I guess what I am saying is there is no quarter given by any player at any time.
That’s one of the reasons why the competition is so close. Over the last few years any of probably 14 teams have been in the running for finals spots late in the season. So even though tomorrow’s game against Port Adelaide at AAMI Stadium is only a practice match, you can bet both sides will be at each other from the first bounce.
