Training 2025 Pre Season Thread

[Libbaaaa]

That video gets a like from me just for the mention that we kick too many points and have started the season poorly the past 3 years.

 

[LondonBulldog]

Sorry LB, you’re mixing up off season with pre season. Pre season is official training. The majority of which is made up of group session circuit training with the remaining strength and conditioning sessions and applicable rehab.

Between the player, his uncle, and you, something has been lost in translation.

No doubt being able to run a strong 10km is a good base for any athlete, it just doesn’t have any application in today’s game. Hence it’s not something clubs do often if at all and not something that makes up the testing of draft age players, as someone else noted.

The player your uncle knows has probably been given off season program to build up his base due to injury or whatever, but 10km runs certainly wouldn’t be something the clubs requesting players do as part of match level conditioning during season (pre season sessions included).

A player spending 40-60min per 10km run, multiple times a week on something not really needed, just doesn’t make sense.

As myself and other have stated, match conditioning is built up over shorter circuit type sessions. With fast laps, half and full ground sprints in between those. This mirrors how a matches play out, as opposed to jogging 3-4min kilometres across a 2 hour period.

Your such a know it all, who has no idea. Have you ever been around elite athletes. So many just naive on here. How do you think players build the tank and stamina to be able to run repeat 400 etc.....

The player in question is Harvey Gallagher and I know his Uncle very well see him weekly. I've loved hearing about his progression and being a mad doggies fan we talk footy regular.

Last year Harvey was identified as someone they thought could add to our midfield and was devised a plan to increase his running capacity (which was already good) He was running on average 40- 50k a week with planned recoveries from sep to dec excluding regular session training etc. Did you realise they tailor plans to players these days... Harvey is actually super strong in the weights room for his size and in CrossFit terms, probably top 5 for overall fitness. He got there through hard work and dedication. If you look through posts you will see that I knew he was earmarked to play a lot of games last year. I knew before the season started there was a push to add speed (I guess it wasn't a secret though).

Charlie, I've been on this forum for over 20 years, those who know me know I only post if my information is good. Thats enough from me on the topic

 

[Charlie Bucket]

Your such a know it all, who has no idea. Have you ever been around elite athletes. So many just naive on here. How do you think players build the tank and stamina to be able to run repeat 400 etc.....

The player in question is Harvey Gallagher and I know his Uncle very well see him weekly. I've loved hearing about his progression and being a mad doggies fan we talk footy regular.

Last year Harvey was identified as someone they thought could add to our midfield and was devised a plan to increase his running capacity (which was already good) He was running on average 40- 50k a week with planned recoveries from sep to dec excluding regular session training etc. Did you realise they tailor plans to players these days... Harvey is actually super strong in the weights room for his size and in CrossFit terms, probably top 5 for overall fitness. He got there through hard work and dedication. If you look through posts you will see that I knew he was earmarked to play a lot of games last year. I knew before the season started there was a push to add speed (I guess it wasn't a secret though).

Charlie, I've been on this forum for over 20 years, those who know me know I only post if my information is good. Thats enough from me on the topic

You need to not get so worked up LB.

I’ve played alongside players straight out of the elite level. I’ve coached alongside those straight out of the elite level. I’ve been in senior football for over 20 years around these types and have been involved in implementing these exact types of training programs.

That’s my experience.

You’ve taken what the uncle of one player has said to determine…
“You need players with good 2k time trails yet even more important is 10k”
For the whole of our team and the broader league.

Multiple posters who know far more about this stuff than you do, from experience, have told you otherwise, but because you have such a chip on your shoulder you refuse to believe it.

These people aren’t supporters getting third person info. They have lived experience.

It would be of some value to you if you listened to what they say, but all good. Carry on

 

[Charlie Bucket]

A light dig at more established/senior players too. No ones spot is certain, everyone has to earn it all over again. Our senior players were a let down in the final, to many went missing.

Daniel and Macrae missing early games last year and then eventually being traded probably suggests this has possibly been the dialogue at least for more than this off season.

I guess we’ll find out Rd 1 who’s not been putting in the effort.

 

[LondonBulldog]

You need to not get so worked up LB.

I’ve played alongside players straight out of the elite level. I’ve coached alongside those straight out of the elite level. I’ve been in senior football for over 20 years around these types and have been involved in implementing these exact types of training programs.

That’s my experience.

You’ve taken what the uncle of one player has said to determine…
“You need players with good 2k time trails yet even more important is 10k”
For the whole of our team and the broader league.

Multiple posters who know far more about this stuff than you do, from experience, have told you otherwise, but because you have such a chip on your shoulder you refuse to believe it.

These people aren’t supporters getting third person info. They have lived experience.

It would be of some value to you if you listened to what they say, but all good. Carry on

My point was that Harvey was on a specific running plan from sep to dec which involves running a lot of k and you in your stubbornness said this doesn't exist anymore. Well it does and it does at our club.

 

[El Rancho]

10k at competitive times builds the stamina required to run out a full game of football. Its building the base so you can do the repeat sprints. Beep tests are great as well and there is multiple facets to it, I agree but nothing beats kilometres into the legs on a regular basis.

Sorry, but as someone who works with athletes full time (professional and semi-professional), this is not at all correct. Aussie Rules is an intermittent sprint sport and doing 10km efforts is not going to lead to great speed/repeat efforts. AFL athletes should absolutely have a base level of fitness where they don't need to be doing long, slow distances.
This 10km run stuff is old school mentality which serves not much purpose for energy system and lactate threshold development (sorry for the technical stuff).
Repeat effort, mod-high intensities with decreasing volumes as intensity increases is absolutely the best way to go here. Cumulative km's at game like speeds and distances is much better that longer stuff. Basic physiology tells us this.
Keep it shortish and high intensity during pre-season. In the off season it's likely to be a bit different, but given the AFL: have extended the window of time off over xmas and teams are playing matches much earlier, you need to replicate the game ASAP.
This is generally speaking, there will of course be examples of a player here or there doing things differently, but there is likely a clear explanation for that.

 

[VitalDread]

As someone that can't run 10km

I think running 10km is overrated
/s

 

[grassman75]

Love the mention about being #1 defensively and #2 attacking (should have been #1) and now doubling down on that.

All the points we kicked…..Bevo can’t kick it for them as we keep telling everyone who blames him for guys missing from directly in front

 

[grassman75]

Hoping the Dogs come back to the Sunny Coast this year for another camp pre season.

Carlton are up here from the 16th of December and I believe Richmond are also coming up pre Xmas from what the guys at Maroochydore told me

Talk about putting it out there….just had an email from Sunny Coast Council….Dogs will be training in Maroochydore from 31st Jan to 6th Feb….which of you bludgers are coming up for a holiday?

 

[dogwatch]

Talk about putting it out there….just had an email from Sunny Coast Council….Dogs will be training in Maroochydore from 31st Jan to 6th Feb….which of you bludgers are coming up for a holiday?

You're sounding more and more like a dyed in the wool Queenslander every day GM.
This is not good.

 

[grassman75]

You're sounding more and more like a dyed in the wool Queenslander every day GM.
This is not good.

Sounds about right…aye!

Now where did i put my XXXX?

 

[ossie_21]

Sounds about right…aye!

Now where did i put my XXXX?

Hopefully down the drain where it belongs

 

[Mutt]

All the points we kicked…..Bevo can’t kick it for them as we keep telling everyone who blames him for guys missing from directly in front

Bevo won't allow a significant amount of goal-kicking practice—"less is more" is what he says about deliberate coaching and practising kicking for goals.

It's one of his massive blind spots, completely irrational, and I fear he is too proud and stubborn to back down from it. Goal-kicking will not improve unless we do something deliberately to change years of poor conversion.

 

[lachy]

Bevo won't allow a significant amount of goal-kicking practice—"less is more" is what he says about deliberate coaching and practising kicking for goals.

It's one of his massive blind spots, completely irrational, and I fear he is too proud and stubborn to back down from it. Goal-kicking will not improve unless we do something deliberately to change years of poor conversion.

Mutt not saying this is not correct, but is there a direct quote that shows this to be true?

On SM-S926B using BigFooty.com mobile app

 

[Ash1337]

Bevo won't allow a significant amount of goal-kicking practice—"less is more" is what he says about deliberate coaching and practising kicking for goals.

It's one of his massive blind spots, completely irrational, and I fear he is too proud and stubborn to back down from it. Goal-kicking will not improve unless we do something deliberately to change years of poor conversion.

Sounds taken out of context there. You sure this is what he wants? Johnno coming to club to teach goal kicking kinda contradicts things

 

[Mutt]

Mutt not saying this is not correct, but is there a direct quote that shows this to be true?

On SM-S926B using BigFooty.com mobile app

I'll try to find the quote. Johnno's hour a week proves my point. Less is more. I didn't say he said no goalkicking...but he did say we don't do much of it.

 

[Mutt]

Sounds taken out of context there. You sure this is what he wants? Johnno coming to club to teach goal kicking kinda contradicts things

I'm still looking for the quote, but I think it was from a video interview.

I easily uncovered newspaper articles in which Bevo expressed concern about our goal-kicking woes in 2018, 2019, 2020, 2022, 2023, and 2024.

 

[St 07]

Really did u forget he kick 43 of our goals this year I think u seem to have forgotten and was our leading goal kicker but yep lets put him in the vfl for the whole of next year ffs

JUH was playing his role. He is very talented, but he is still replaceable. He should be grateful to the club and it's members for his spot in the team. Maybe patting him on the arse isn't what he needs right now?

 

[TiAn_]

The game is heading this way. You need players with good 2k time trails yet even more important is 10k. This is the stamina clubs are looking for. Its happening all over the country at junior levels. The best kids are now athletes, involved in run clubs, cross countries etc.

Last year Harvey was identified as someone they thought could add to our midfield and was devised a plan to increase his running capacity (which was already good) He was running on average 40- 50k a week with planned recoveries from sep to dec excluding regular session training etc. Did you realise they tailor plans to players these days...

Sorry, but as someone who works with athletes full time (professional and semi-professional), this is not at all correct. Aussie Rules is an intermittent sprint sport and doing 10km efforts is not going to lead to great speed/repeat efforts. AFL athletes should absolutely have a base level of fitness where they don't need to be doing long, slow distances.
This 10km run stuff is old school mentality which serves not much purpose for energy system and lactate threshold development (sorry for the technical stuff).
Repeat effort, mod-high intensities with decreasing volumes as intensity increases is absolutely the best way to go here. Cumulative km's at game like speeds and distances is much better that longer stuff. Basic physiology tells us this.



Keep it shortish and high intensity during pre-season. In the off season it's likely to be a bit different, but given the AFL: have extended the window of time off over xmas and teams are playing matches much earlier, you need to replicate the game ASAP.
This is generally speaking, there will of course be examples of a player here or there doing things differently, but there is likely a clear explanation for that.

Reads like furious agreement to me

 

[JohnnySteel]

Would love if JUH could build his tank to have bursts through the midfield. He just has beautiful touch. Would make us a lot more dynamic through there as well.
Especially when we also get Hynes in the rotation.

 

[Charlie Bucket]

Would love if JUH could build his tank to have bursts through the midfield. He just has beautiful touch. Would make us a lot more dynamic through there as well.
Especially when we also get Hynes in the rotation.

If there’s one thing more certain in life outside death and taxes, it’s Marra not being a midfielder.

Couldn’t think of a less suitable player on our list.

 

[blagodellago]

If there’s one thing more certain in life outside death and taxes, it’s Marra not being a midfielder.

Couldn’t think of a less suitable player on our list.

Unleash the Buss

 

[Dogsfan1]

JUH was playing his role. He is very talented, but he is still replaceable. He should be grateful to the club and it's members for his spot in the team. Maybe patting him on the arse isn't what he needs right now?

I think he earned a spot on the team kicking 43 goals he would be in any teams best starting 23

 

[Golden_6]

If there’s one thing more certain in life outside death and taxes, it’s Marra not being a midfielder.

Couldn’t think of a less suitable player on our list.

I couldn't agree more, just a strange suggestion.

Now could he be a Jeremy Cameron type that pushes up the ground and burns opponents on the way back? Possibly but his tank is not even close to being able to do that.

Right now he is a stay at home full forward who can handle stints at higher half forward. When you watch the game you can see how buggered he gets after repeat sprints to the point where he stops chasing. Now whether that is fitness or a bit of laziness defensively is a different question.

 

[Smiley Boy]

Have been told last night from another player that JUH has only trained once the whole pre season and there's some serious doubt on him within the 4 walls of the club not good

Hope you're ok with this info Dogsfan1